Essay Writing: Structure

The introduction of an essay is very important because it establishes the purpose and scope of the essay. What problem is the essay is addressing and what specific aspects of the problem will be examined? It should act as a guide to the reader, indicating that you will be taking them on a planned and orderly journey. The introduction may include the following elements:

1. Establish the issue that the essay addresses and why it is interesting or significant
2. Provide academic context - theoretical perspectives, history of the issue (space permitting)
3. Indicate your aim and your approach (are you applying a particular theoretical lens?)
4. State your thesis (what view will you put forward?) 
5. Outline the essay structure (introduce the separate parts of the essay, or aspects of the issue, in the order that they will be discussed)

The introduction should take about 10% of your word count, which can help you decide how much weight to give each of the elements above. A short, 200-word introduction should briefly deal with 1, 3, 4 and 5 above. 

Writing a good essay opener

The first few sentences of an essay should hook the reader in and make them want to read more, but how can you make your introductions exciting? In this video we look at 3 ways to start an essay, and some things to avoid.

Link to Writing a Good Essay Opener video - YouTube

Writing thesis statements

A thesis statement introduces the main ideas of your essay, acts as a guide the the reader, and gives structure to your work. 

Link to Writing Thesis Statements - YouTube

In the body of the essay, you will develop arguments to support your thesis. The tips below will help you to write the body of your essay effectively:

• Develop a plan for your points.
• Group together related points.
• Decide which points should be discussed first. Progress from general points to more specific points (for example, move from theory to application of theory to cases).
• Ensure your points are supported by evidence.
• Periodically return to the overall point you're making (your thesis) so that the reader understands how your points relate to it.  
• Longer essays may be divided into headings and sub-headings (check module leader's guidance - some departments discourage the use of headings). 

Strong paragraphs are essential to a well-written essay.  

Paragraphs

A paragraph is a group of sentences that are linked coherently around one central topic/idea. Paragraphs are the building blocks of academic writing. Each paragraph should do a specific job, moving the argument forward and guiding the reader through your thought process.

Paragraphs should be 10-12 lines long, but variations are acceptable. Do not write one-sentence long paragraphs; this is journalistic style, not academic.

Strong paragraphs

Strong paragraphs present a topic, discuss it and conclude it. 

Topic sentence: States the topic the paragraph will deal with (what do you want to talk about?)

Development: Expand on the point you are making: explain, analyse, support with examples and/or evidence.

Concluding sentence: Summarise how your evidence backs up your point. You can also introduce what will come next.

PEEL technique

This is a strategy for writing strong, argumentative paragraphs:

Point: State a point (make an assertion: XYZ is the case)

Evidence: Provide evidence (academic reading, government report, statistics etc.)

Evaluation: Show that the evidence does in fact support your point. Offer an interpretation.

Link: Return to your point, stated in more developed form. Or, indicate the next point you will make. Or, discuss how this point relates to the larger argument. 

Example of a strong paragraph using the PEEL technique:

Paragraph bridges

Paragraphs may be linked to each other through "paragraph bridges". One simple way of doing this is by repeating a word or phrase.

Example 1:

Example 2:

In many respects, the conclusion is the most important part of your essay, and it is also the simplest. During your essay you have presented the evidence, and now you must round up the argument. You will need to:

1. Summarise the key themes and key points discussed 
2. Return to the question the essay addresses and summarise your view
3. Consider recommendations (if appropriate) or broader implications (for example, consider issues requiring further research; consider the significance of those issues)
4. Do not add new material (all evidence should be discussed within the body of the essay)

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