Writing Services: Essay Structure

There are many advantages of having a well structured paper (clear intro, body paragraphs, and conclusion), but some of the most common ones are listed below.

• The paper is easier to write: when you know what content goes where, you have structure to your paper before you even sit down and write. 
• The paper is more organized and easier to read: it will be easier for the reader (ex: instructor) to follow your train of thought when your paper is complete. 

It might be helpful to think of an essay as a story that has a:

1. Beginning (introduction)
2. Middle (body paragraphs) and
3. End (conclusion)

Please note that each body paragraph needs a focus (main idea) with supporting points. 

Introduction

There are three parts to an introduction:

1. Hook: draws the reader in by introducing the general topic (1st sentence)
2. Transition sentences: provides background or context for your topic, and eventually leads to the thesis.
3. Thesis: provides a clear, specific focus for your paper. It tells your reader what your paper is about. The thesis is usually the last sentence in the introduction. 

Check out the example introduction to the right.

Notice how general (broad) the hook is compared to how specific the thesis statement is.

Image source: Radix Tree - General Essay Writing Tips

Thesis Statement

The thesis is a very important part of the introduction. The thesis clearly states what your paper is about. This gives the reader a sense of what's coming up in your paper.

See the example to the right.

Notice how specific the thesis statement needs to be. 

Example has been adapted from:  The Canadian Writer's World: Paragraphs and Essay, 2nd Canadian Edition.

For more information on hooks or grabbers, check out the handout below from George Brown College. For examples of different kinds of thesis statements such as analytical or argumentative, have a look at OWL Purdue's webpage.

It's helpful to think of body paragraphs as their own mini-story with a beginning (topic sentence), middle (supporting sentences), and end (wrap-up sentence).

• Topic sentence: this sentence opens your paragraph and states the main idea. Your paragraph should focus on only one main idea. 
• Supporting sentences: this is where you build your idea and support it with quotes, paraphrases, or examples. 
• Wrap-up: concluding sentence. Usually this is where you close the paragraph before moving on to the next one. 

Source: example to the right is from RMIT University's English Teaching Materials. 

Check out the link below for extra guidance on how to write a coherent paragraph:

The goal of the concluding paragraph is to summarize the main ideas. You could try the following when writing your conclusion:

• Restate the thesis but use different words and expressions
• Summarize the main key points (but don't include details or supporting ideas)
• Wrap-up with questions for further study, solutions, or recommendations. We only suggest this if it is part of your instructions for your paper/assignment. 

Want a quick video on writing a well structured essay? Check out the link below.