Structure in writing an essay matters a ton. Sure, there is the basic structure of an essay, but it is much more than an intro, body, and conclusion. Moreover, a good essay structure has more sub-components that are not instantly visible.
So, how should an essay be structured? Eduboard's professional paper writers and academic helpers are here to explain all that to you. Here is your full guide!
What Is Essay Structure, And Why Is It Important?
Let us start with the essay structure definition.
Essay structure is the framework of an academic paper that consists of several distinct parts or components. Structuring an essay with a clear and logical layout helps readers understand what will be discussed in each section and why. The sequence of ideas, arguments, and evidence creates an essay's logical progression.
Essay structure also helps guide the writer when they are writing their paper. It ensures that all essential parts are included and organizes the paper. While the content of the essay is important, its structure plays an equally significant role in helping readers comprehend it and argue for or against one's perspective. So, it ensures...
Readability
A good structure of essay papers guarantees your readers follow your ideas logically. That means they will clearly understand what you are discussing and why. It helps readers to connect with your ideas and respond to them by processing your content better and drawing optimal conclusions.
Focus
The structure of the essay helps writers stay focused on their chosen topic. It also prevents them from getting lost in irrelevant topics or details that could distract them from their main point. By having a well-defined structure, writers can ensure that their main message is delivered clearly and accurately.
Persuasiveness
A well-structured essay helps the reader to follow the writer's arguments and evidence more effectively. That makes it easier for readers to understand why a certain position is taken and how it can be supported. As a result, well-structured essays are more persuasive than poorly-structured ones.
Logical concept delivery
An essay's structure allows writers to present their ideas, arguments, and evidence logically. That helps the reader understand what is being discussed and why it is relevant. By doing this, a writer can ensure that readers understand their concepts effectively and are more likely to be persuaded by them.
Simplifying comprehension for your reader
As a writer, it is important to take into account the level of comprehension of your audience. That can be achieved by using an appropriate structure that allows readers to follow the arguments presented in the essay easily. By doing this, writers can ensure their paper is understandable and not too complex for their readers.
The Basic Essay Structure
What are the parts of an essay? Ummm, introduction, body, conclusion...
Yeah, the basic structure of an essay has those three sections you must write. All those parts of essay assignments have a purpose...
Introduction
Almost any structure of an essay paper starts with an intro. That is when you, as an Author, meet your Audience and give it an opening statement that explains...
- What is your text about?
- Why is your text about this?
- For what reason should your readers pay attention to it?
- How do you approach the topic?
This small section of 3-6 sentences is your curtain-raiser that only gives a general idea of the concept discussed. This foreword must be concise yet informative to ensure your reader proceeds to the next part. To guarantee that, you should also bring in something relevant, meaning you state that the topic picked is significant because this particular matter influences our lives. For instance, compare the following examples of the introducing parts of essays:
Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor. He is now most famous for the printing press mechanisms [...]
Such an intro is boring, crude, and lifeless from the start. Like, okay, why should I care about that? Johannes Somebody did something cool, alright, but why do you choose to tell about him?
Johannes Gutenberg's printing mechanisms have altered how we perceive information. Being the first person to print the Bible, he catalyzed the cultural revolution, as more people got chances to read and interpret the Holy Story, which got them free from obtrusive, propagandist, and manipulative interpretations of the Middle Ages. That was when humanity switched to the visual reading culture — the dominant one today — making the audial information perception manner secondary.
Yo-o-o, now you are talking! There is relevance because his invention has changed human perception, and there have been undeniable effects. Furthermore, there used to be negative things before he changed them with his inventions. Tell me more!
Essay body structure
Your paper's body is a hub of facts, expert thoughts, contrasts, debates, and situations. That is the biggest of all components of an essay, and it is your chance to provide solid argumentation, tell a story, explain a phenomenon, and engage with your audience better.
How should an essay be structured in this section? The versatile option looks like the following:
- Statement
- Fact presentation
- Fact interpretation
- Example
- A brief sub-conclusion
- Transition to the next thought (connecting the events, objects, figures, etc.)
- Repeat until done.
Many things influence how your audience reads this section. First and foremost, sustain the tone you have started with because your reader has already adjusted to it and expects the same vibe. Second, students must pick the most appropriate facts from reputable sources, such as
- Scopus
- Web of Science
- Google Scholar
- And other verified scientific databases and journals.
Third, never be scared to use opposing expert thoughts; that is your chance to debunk them and develop good counter argumentation. Hence, it is advisable to research the topic from all angles and consider what different experts/witnesses state.
Another significant thing to sustain here is logic. Of all the parts of an essay, this is the biggest one, and it might become too easy to get lost. Thus, ensure you add transitions between the thoughts and discuss them systematically.
Conclusion
The concluding part finishes your paper; thus, it should be as good as an intro. The summary must contain the restatement of the thesis statement and the most important facts in the body section.
Do not introduce new ideas here; just wrap up the existing ones and make your reader understand why this topic matters and its effect on people.
Remember, you will have to restate your opening thought. Nevertheless, note that it has overgrown with facts, meaning that it has an enhanced message now. So, you are now presenting the full picture, and it must motivate your reader to contemplate, think, and continue developing the discourse.
The must-haves of this part are:
- Clarity
- Concise idea delivery
- A solid argument
- The recap of the body section.
More Essay Structures and Their Differences
We have covered the basic structure of an essay, but there are more variations. For instance, there is a rather distinct difference between a regular essay plan and an outline for a dissertation. So, what other components of an essay can there be, and what alternative essay plans might you have to develop?
Chronological s. (Pyramid)
This type of plan is suitable for historiographical, biographical, and other papers that tell the story of an event or a person. Here, you need to narrate the facts chronologically, meaning that you start with the oldest events and move your way up to modern ones.
The Inverted pyramid
In some papers, you must first provide the most crucial information and then proceed with the less important facts. As a rule, this paper structure is used in journalism practice. So, we can see how it performs in news articles, investigative pieces, and texts where you should immediately grab the reader's attention. Here, you start with a hook immediately in your introduction and move to the background story in the body.
Square
The Square paper structure is a rarity when working with several equally relevant objects with slight differences. Such structures of an essay mean you place each object under another, usually with argumentation about why it takes this place. For instance, you might be asked to write about several worst or best things that happened to you during a course.
Contrastive s.
Such plans are best for comparison pieces. Your aim here is to compare and contrast two or more objects and prove which one is better. Such papers may have an extensive body separated into two vast sections, each focusing on one of the observation objects. Another option is creating a table that antagonizes the presented objects, but it can be inconvenient and look raw.
Problem — Method — Solution
Such a plan focuses on providing a solution to a particular problem. You present the issue in the introduction, provide research and data that prove its existence in the body, then offer an applicable method of elimination or mitigation in the conclusion.
How to Structure Your Essay?
How should an essay be structured practically? Follow this plan to get an optimal structure of a good essay!
- Step 1 — Start with the body of your essay
You have to get some facts in one place. That is why you must begin with the body, where you present information and arguments that support your idea. Explain all points gradually, and remember to create solid bridges between them to help your reader navigate and comprehend what you deliver better.
- Step 2 — Write a conclusion, having all the evidence at hand
Once you have the body of your essay ready, you will already know what to sum up in your conclusion. That is why it is so important to write this part now — in such a way you can develop an unbiased opinion and ensure your reader has enough information to understand it fully.
- Step 3 — Add an intro only after that
Now it's time to introduce your topic in the essay. You must provide a hook and explain why this matter is essential and interesting. Don't forget to add a thesis statement that briefly conveys your main argument.
- Step 4 — Proofread everything carefully
When all parts of the essay are ready, it's time to review the paper. Check for grammar, punctuation, spelling mistakes, typos, etc. Also, ensure you have provided enough evidence to support your argument and that all sentences are properly linked.
Example of an Essay Structure
Hook — The opening point that makes your reader want to learn more.
Background/context — The information you provide about the chosen topic.
Thesis statement — A sentence that sums up your main argument.
Point 1 + evidence + interpretation + bridge to the next thought
Point 2 + facts + example + transition to the following situation
Point 3 + example + backing-up facts [...]
Point N + optimal additions, like facts, references, explanations, expert opinions, etc.
Conclusion — Recapitulation of all the facts and a summary of your opinion on the subject.
Final Words on Essay Writing Structure
It is essential to understand the structure of your paper since it reflects its content. Without a good plan, you will not be able to convey your message effectively, so you must pay attention to it.
While there are no strict rules, starting with the body paragraphs and then moving to the conclusion and introduction is best. Ensure all your points are backed up by evidence, and don't forget to proofread everything before submitting your essay! Good luck!
