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Students outline the topic sentence, evidence, explanation and linking/concluding sentence to present their argument. I would recommend that they use a to assist with gathering evidence for this section. Once the retrieval chart is complete, much of the essay is written. Here are some small caveats when writing the body paragraph:
The concluding paragraph restates the thesis statement and summarises key information outlined in the essay. New information should not be introduced and students need to offer a recommendation or sum up the argument addressed. Ultimately, what understanding do you want the reader to walk away with?
Below I have outlined an essay structure. This section does not explain how to teach essay writing, but demonstrate a template that you might like to use along with identify minor nuances with implementing the document (For example, what each section of the essay should include).
2. Do you want to write about them?
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A good structure to your academic work is vital to make it understandable, easy to read and engaging. An essay or report tells a story, so as any good story does, it needs a beginning, a middle and an end. It's not just the work as a whole that needs structure but your paragraphs too. This section includes guidance on how to create a good overall essay structure. For more information about creating structure for your individual paragraphs.
Yes, while expert recommend following an essay structure, early career researchers may choose how best to adapt standard essay structures to communicate and share their research in an impactful and engaging way. However, do keep in mind that deviating too far from established structures can hinder comprehension and weaken the overall effectiveness of the essay,
By understanding the basic elements of essay writing and employing appropriate structures such as chronological, problem-methods-solutions, or compare and contrast, researchers can effectively organize their ideas and communicate their findings with clarity and precision.
Find out how to structure an essay in the next section.
An essay structure serves as a framework for presenting ideas coherently and logically. It comprises three crucial elements: an introduction that communicates the context, topic, and thesis statement; the body focusing on the main points and arguments supported with appropriate evidence followed by its analysis; and a conclusion that ties together the main points and its importance.
Short videos to support your essay writing skills
This structure of essay writing is ideally used when two or more key subjects require a comparison of ideas, theories, or phenomena. The three crucial elements, introduction, body, and conclusion, remain the same. The introduction presents the context and the thesis statement. The body of the essay seeks to focus on and highlight differences between the subjects, supported by evidence and analysis. The conclusion is used to summarize the key points of comparison and contrast, offering insights into the significance of the analysis.
Tips on writing longer pieces of work
Where the essay focuses on a specific problem, the problem-methods-solutions structure can be used to organize the essay. This structure is ideal for essays that address complex issues. It starts with presenting the problem, the context, and thesis statement as introduction to the essay. The major part of the discussion which forms the body of the essay focuses on stating the problem and its significance, the author’s approach or methods adopted to address the problem along with its relevance, and accordingly proposing solution(s) to the identified problem. The concluding part offers a recap of the research problem, methods, and proposed solutions, emphasizing their significance and potential impact.
This resource covers key considerations when writing an essay.
Also known as the cause-and-effect approach, this is a straightforward way to structure an essay. In such essays, events are discussed sequentially, as they occurred from the earliest to the latest. A chronological structure is useful for discussing a series of events or processes such as historical analyses or narratives of events. The introduction should have the topic sentence. The body of the essay should follow a chorological progression with each para discussing a major aspect of that event with supporting evidence. It ends with a summarizing of the results of the events.
Further examples of linking words in academic writing:
The main nourishment in a hamburger comes from the fillings. But without the buns, the fillings would be very messy and difficult to eat. Likewise, the bulk of the argumentation or ideas in your paper appear in the body paragraphs. But without the introduction and conclusion, readers might not be able to digest your ideas. The introdution lets readers know what to expect, so they will not be confused by your points or wonder where your argument is headed. The conclusion sums up so that readers leave the essay with the most important ideas from your paper in their minds. Together, the introduction and conclusion create a neater package that allows readers to make sense of the body paragraphs.