Basic Essay Structure

Basic Essay Structure Now let's try and identify the essential elements to a paragraph by looking at an example taken from our assignment question. You’ll notice the first sentence is the topic sentence which clearly states the theme of the paragraph. This is followed by the explanation or argument and then substantiated through the integration of evidence and demonstration of examples. Notice that it is important to include some form of critical analysis or observation. It is absolutely critical to prepare your reader with this type of background information-do not immediately launch into your argument. Writing Essays takes you through the whole essay writing process â€" from preparing and planning to completion. Writing essays is structured progressively and I recommend that you use it in this way. However, you will see from the sidebar that the guide is divided into a number of main sections. Click on any one of these and you will see that it’s divided into shorter sections or subsections. So you can either read it straight through from start to finish or you can go straight to the area that’s most relevant to you. If the object of the essay is to explain a process , then write down a step in each circle. If your essay is intended to be informative or explain , write the major categories into which information can be divided. Once you have defined the purpose of your essay, it's time to brainstorm. The body is where you demonstrate your knowledge and grasp of the material that you have read. It’s also where you develop a discussion or argument. In order to substantiate your argument, you will also need to offer evidence. This could include examples or quotations from authoritative sources. This is designed to orientate the reader and provide them with some sort of context beforehand. Essays are a common form of assessment in many tertiary-level disciplines. The ability to construct good essays involves understanding the process and the conventions of essay writing. The more experience you get in writing essays, the more comfortable you will become with this genre. While like an expository essay in its presentation of facts, the goal of the persuasive essay is to convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view or recommendation. Please keep in mind the keywords ‘in red’, which we will identify in our sample conclusion in a moment. Always recall the essay question as you write and continually link your body paragraphs to the essay question. To ensure your writing is cohesive and coherent - use linking words. Try to synthesise your evidence into each body paragraph in order to substantiate your points. Whenever you do use evidence you should follow the referencing guidelines that have been specified by your tutor or lecturer. Finally, your concluding statement should articulate your voice or opinion. The body of your essay will consist of paragraphs which function as building blocks in the construction of your overall paper. If this is persuasive essay, write your arguments. If this an essay to inform, write the major categories into which information will be divided. If the purpose of your essay is to explain a process, write down each step of the process. In each smaller circle, write a main idea about your topic, or point you want to make. If this is persuasive essay, then write down your arguments. Take some time to consider, contrast and weight your options. Get out a piece of paper and make a list of all the different topics that fit the purpose of your essay. Once they're all down on paper, start by eliminating those topics that are difficult or not as relevant as others topics. Also, get rid of those topics that are too challenging or that you're just not that interested in. Pretty soon you will have whittled your list down to just a few topics and then you can make a final choice. In a previous online tutorial video we introduced you to a real-life assignment question and talked about how to structure the introduction to an essay. Notice the keywords including academic learning and literacy centres and the most effective approach. It’s very important to ensure that you fully analyse and understand the question before you start writing. Ultimately, your conclusion must demonstrate that you have fully answered the question.