CNF
GENERAL ESSAY TEMPLATE
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Sentence 1: Hook- Captures readers' attention
 Quote
 Story
 Startling Statement
Sentence 2-3: Context/Background- Helps
readers understand where the essay fits into the
scholarly discourse by providing background
information on the essay topic.
Sentence 4: (The) Thesis statement
Sentence 5: Essay map/sign post- This may look
like a "map" where you state the main arguments
you will make in your essay.
Paragraphs 2-10+: Body Paragraphs
Sentence 1: Topic sentence - Summarizes the
main argument or point of the paragraph.
Sentence 2: Present evidence - Present evidence
in the form of quotes or paraphrasing from
authoritative primary or secondary sources,
which supports the paragraph main idea, as well
as the thesis main idea.
Sentence 3: Analyze, interpret, and explain
evidence - Use your own words to do so. While
what the information means may be clear to you,
the writer, you should not assume that readers
will understand the information. Explain
everything within reason.
Sentence 4: Contextualize evidence - Show how
evidence relates to and supports your thesis
statement
Sentence 5: Transition - Introduce the next
paragraph topic by using a linking word, phrase,
or idea. This will improve your essay's
organization and "flow."
Final Paragraph: Conclusion
Sentence 1: Restate thesis statement- State the
thesis using new words. This helps readers
remember the focus of the essay.
Sentence 2-3: Briefly summarize main
arguments- Present a summary of the essay's
main arguments. Again, this reminds readers of
your main points in case they have forgotten.
Sentence 4-5: Explain the significance -
Indicate the significance of your analysis and/or
research to other scholars in your field/scholars
of the subject or topic/society in general. This is
also called the "takeaway."
A good question—in a professional
environment—is a query you can rely on to get
the information you need from colleagues, team
members, and supervisors.
Good questions are to the point, open-ended,
and clear in their intent. To ask a good
question, you need a mixture of curiosity,
personal clarity of thought, and emotional
intelligence.
1. Develop rapport- This means greeting
and asking basic and easy questions to
ask how they're doing and set a
comfortable atmosphere or mood
between you and the interviewer.
2. Listen- Make it a point of listening
more than talking more.
3. Make your questions brief and clear-
You don’t have to seem smart by using
big words to impress them.
4. Ask the difficult questions- BUT
prepare them for it.
5. Use negative assumption when asking
possibly offensive questions- This
means that you'll assume the negative
trait is universal or common to many
people before implying that its the same
for them.
 Nonfiction aspect
1. Fact. The writing must be based on fact,
rather than fiction. It cannot be made up.
2. Extensive research. The piece of
writing is based on primary research,
such as an interview or personal
experience, and often secondary
research, such as gathering information
from books, magazines, and
newspapers.
3. Recording. The writer must be able to
document events or personal
experiences.
4. Personal experience and personal
opinion. Often, the writer includes
personal experience, feelings, thoughts,
and opinions. For instance, when writing
a personal essay or memoir.
5. Explanation/Exposition. The writer is
required to explain the personal
experience or topic to the reader.
6. Essay format. Creative nonfiction is
often written in essay format. Example:
Personal Essay, Literary Journalistic
essay, brief essay.
3. Setting and scene. The writer creates
scenes that are action-oriented; include
dialogue; and contain vivid descriptions.
4. Plot and plot structure. These are the
main events that make up the story. In a
personal essay, there might be only one
event. In a memoir, there are often
several significant events under one
overarching experience.
5. Figurative language. The writer often
uses simile and metaphor to create an
interesting piece of creative nonfiction.
6. Imagery. The writer constructs “word
pictures” using sensory language.
Imagery can be figurative or literal.
7. Point of view. Often the writer uses the
first person “I.”
8. Dialogue. These are the conversations
spoken between people. It is an
important component of creative
nonfiction.
9. Theme. There is a central idea that is
weaved through the essay or work.
Often, the theme reveals a universal
truth.

Creative aspects

1. Storytelling/narration. The writer needs

to be able to tell his/her story. A good
story includes an inciting incident, a
goal, challenges and obstacles, a turning
point, and resolution of the story.

2. Character. The nonfiction piece often

requires a main character. Example: If a
writer is creating his/her memoir, then
the writer is the central character.