How to Write a Subpoint in an Essay
Writing a subpoint in an essay can be a daunting task. After all, it demands that you craft a complete point while providing minimal space to your readers. If you’ve struggled with this process in the past, keep reading! This article explores the different ways you can write a subpoint in your essay and incorporate it into your thesis statement. Let’s begin by addressing common concerns surrounding this type of writing structure.
What is a subpoint?
A subpoint is a particular way to write an introduction to an essay. The first section of the essay to be written consists of a few sentences. A subpoint is like an appetizer for your main course. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay without taking too much room to explain. A subpoint introduces your main points and helps readers understand the overall argument of your essay. It also acts as a bridge from the introduction to the main body of your essay. The subpoint must provide enough information to allow your readers to understand the main point of your essay but not enough to leave them bored. A subpoint should not be confused with a sidebar, which is an additional information section in the essay. Your subpoint should not be longer than three sentences. However, you can use subpoints as your essay transitions between different sections of your essay.
Why Write a Subpoint?
You might be wondering why you need to write a subpoint at all. Hasn’t the piece of writing been written? Don’t we just show the essay to our readers and let them figure out the argument? This might happen with a short introduction, but usually, the essay has a longer introduction. So why write a subpoint? While it might seem like a waste of time, it serves an important purpose. A subpoint introduces your main points, explains sidebar issues, and sets the tone for the rest of the essay. It also provides structure to the essay so you don’t lose momentum by jumping from one topic to another. A subpoint is also a good way to focus your essay’s arguments. You can use a subpoint to introduce one argument and transition to another by using a subpoint. For example, you can write an essay about the harmful effects of social media and subvert it by introducing the topic of stress.
What is the main point?
It is important to identify and explain the story’s main point to show understanding. The main point is one of the larger ideas you want to discuss about any given topic. In a story, the main point is the general idea of the story, which is communicated and understood through the plot and characters. If you are going to write a one or two-sentence summary of a story, you will convey the main idea.
What is an example of the main point?
If you were to write an essay on how spending a long time on electronic gadgets such as computers and phones can be harmful to humans, the main points would be :
- Main point 1: They can cause dry eyes.
- Main point 2: They can stunt brain development.
- Main point 3: They can cause insomnia.
What is an example of a Subpoint?
From the given list of main points, you can develop some subpoints to support these main points. From the above main points, our subpoints will be:
- Subpoint 1: This is called eye strain.
- Subpoint 2: The brightness makes our eyes work harder
- Subpoint 3: We usually blink less when looking at computers or phones.
What is the difference between the Main points and Subpoints?
The main point is one of the larger ideas you want to discuss on any given topic, whereas A subpoint is an idea that supports the main idea. It usually adds information you have gathered from sources or other details that are important to say.
What makes a good subpoint?
The subtopic of the introductory paragraph needs to be rephrased to determine the purpose of the paragraph. Then you should provide supporting evidence or examples that support the subtopic. Although these examples may contain opinions, your writing should flow logically and effectively. Some essays require outside sources that lend authority to your statements. Each sub-point ends with a transition phrase or sentence that leads seamlessly to the next sub-point, so the main body is organized as if it were one long paragraph divided into three sections.
Different Types of Subpoints in an Essay
Summary – The summary subpoint is the first subpoint of your essay and focuses on the main issues and thesis. With the summary subpoint, you aim to summarize the essay’s main points and key issues.
Introduction – The introduction subpoint introduces your essay and sets the tone for the rest of the essay. You can use this to explain the type of essay you’re writing, the issues you want to discuss, and your overall thesis.
Topic Weight – In the topic weight subpoint, you focus on the details of one issue while leaving the rest of the issues out of focus. You can leave the detail with this issue or expand on it.
Accessory – The accessory subpoint focuses on issues that support or provide additional details of the issue you highlighted in the topic weight subpoint. For example, in an essay about the harmful effects of social media, the accessory subpoint can discuss the negative effects of gaming.
How to Write a Subpoint in an Essay, Step by Step
Let’s take a look at how to write a subpoint in an essay. The steps below can help you produce a strong subpoint for your thesis statement. Follow each step below to create a subpoint that works for your essay.
Select an Issue – Before you can write a subpoint, you must select an issue for your essay. A subpoint is the introduction to an essay. Therefore, you must select an issue relevant to your thesis.
Create a Focus – Create a clear focus for your essay. Your focus is the issue you selected and your thesis. Make these two ideas clear to your reader while showcasing how they relate to one another through your essay.
Explain Sidebar Issues – Next, add in the other issues you want your readers to consider. These may be topics related to your focus or sidebars relevant to your main argument.
Create a Rhetorical Strategy – Last, create a rhetorical strategy to help your readers understand the subpoint you’ve created. You can do this by using its introduction, examples, and supporting facts to explain your idea.
How to Write a Subpoint in Your Thesis Statement
The thesis statement for your essay acts as a subpoint. In this section, you use the thesis statement to position your argument. You also provide evidence and examples to back up your argument. The thesis statement for an essay can be found in your introduction, subpoint, or at the end of your essay. It’s best to aim for the end of your essay or at the very end. Your thesis statement should include the author’s position on the issue you’ve selected for your essay. The thesis statement for your essay should also explain the underlying stance you’re taking on the issue you’ve selected. For example, you can state that social media is negatively affecting society.
Conclusion
A subpoint is a simple yet effective way to kick off your essay. You can also use it to introduce your main points, explain sidebars, and transition between different issues in your essay. A subpoint should not be longer than three sentences. It must also serve as a transition between different issues and not become a standalone point by itself. A well-crafted subpoint will also allow your readers to understand the overall argument of your essay. Subpoints are essential for any essay, especially for those with a thesis. They help readers understand the argument without reading through a lengthy body of text. If you’d like to learn more about the best way to write an essay, consider taking one of our online essay lessons.
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