Go with the flow

     People talk about the flow of an essay. What does flow mean?  Think about a river flowing. The water flows easily along as it goes down the river. A good essay has good flow, starting with the first paragraph. In the introduction, you get the reader interested in your topic with a good hook, set the stage for the essay with some background information, and then tell the reader what main points you are going to cover in the essay in the thesis statement. Then in the body you write about each of these points, with good transitions so one paragraph flows easily into the next. Finally, in the conclusion you leave your reader with a summary and a final thought. After finishing the essay, the reader should feel that he or she has taken a nice, smooth trip with you floating down a river from one point to another, and has enjoyed the ride.