7 Things You Need To Remember About Essay Structure
These work no matter what type of essay you are writing
- Planning & structure. This may sound basic but if you spend time on your planning it makes the process of structuring your essay a lot easier.
- Answering the question. Many students fail right from the start because they did not read the question properly. No matter how easy the work sounds read it several times.
- Generating ideas.. Once you feel that you know exactly what is required of you, then brainstorm the ideas that you have. Then look at how your ideas can flow.
- Beginnings: The way that you introduce your work will influence whether the reader feels that they are drawn to read your work or not.
- Get some attention: Start with a brief anecdote; an appropriate joke; a quote or a statement of why you are drawn to the topic.
- Look at examples: If you are not sure of how to start your work then take some inspiration for tactics that other writers have used, look at books and articles.
- Introduction: This is the part of your work that sets the scene for the whole of your essay. If you get this part right the rest of the structure should follow.
- What to include in the Introduction: Remember that the introduction should be the taster. Give a brief outline of what the reader should expect.
- What to leave out of the Introduction. Don't overload your reader at this point. Stick to the main points that you will be covering.
- Main. This should be divided up into the two or three major points that you have chosen to focus on. Try to keep to the plan rather than confuse your reader.
- Treat each topic as a mini essay. Each topic area should have its own introduction, main part and discussion/conclusion. The introduction and conclusion may be brief.
- Logical progression. Make sure that the topics follow a logical progression of ideas, rather than jumping from one unrelated subject area to another.
- Conclusion/ Discussion: This is your opportunity to summarise the arguments or points that you have put forward in the main section of your essay.
- Draw the point together: Don't assume that the reader will be bring together all of the issues that you have covered, Guide them trough the process.
- Comment: The topic area has obviously interest you so add your own spin on the topic, make sure that it is supported by evidence.
- Acknowledge sources: For some essays it may not be appropriate to include a reference section, but let your reader know where you have accessed supporting evidence.
- Evidence: Was it a news story? An article in a journal? Is your work based on a subject area that has a personal interest?
- Inspiration: Were there any particular sources that inspired your focus in this essay? Do you think that they can be inspirational to others?
- Making changes: Once you have written your first draft then go back and critically read through your work. Ideally get someone else to read it as well.
- Editing: Remember that if you make a change in one part of your essay you may need to make other changes, especially in the context of the use of tenses and verbs.
- Proofreading: When you think you have finished then go back and proofread from the beginning again.