Structure is a working method as well as a shape
Essay structure is usually described as a finished shape: introduction, body, conclusion. It is more useful to think of it as a sequence of decisions made while working. Requirements vary, so check your brief; the sequence below suits many argumentative and analytical essays.
Step 1: Understand the question
Before you plan anything, read the question carefully, more than once.
- Instruction words tell you what to do: describe, explain, compare, evaluate, discuss, critically analyze. “Describe” and “evaluate” call for quite different essays.
- Topic words tell you the subject.
- Limiting words narrow the scope, such as a time period, a place or a particular group.
Rewrite the question in your own words. If you cannot, ask your instructor for clarification. Note the word limit, the deadline and what the marking criteria reward. A common cause of poor marks is answering a different question from the one that was set.
Step 2: Gather and note
Do enough reading to form a view. Take notes in your own words, with source details recorded as you go, so you can cite correctly later. Effective note-taking methods keep ideas organized by theme instead of by source, which makes planning easier. Be sure to keep quoted material clearly marked, as discussed in the guide to avoiding plagiarism.
Step 3: Form a position
For most essays, you need an answer to the question, which is your central argument. Write it in a sentence or two as a working thesis statement. It may change as you write, and that is fine. Having a working version gives you something to test every paragraph against.
Step 4: Build an outline
An outline is a plan of the essay’s route. It can be a list, a diagram or a table, whichever you prefer. A basic version might look like this:
- Introduction: context, the question, your thesis, the route the essay will take.
- Body section 1: first main point, with evidence.
- Body section 2: second main point, with evidence.
- Body section 3: third point, or a counter-argument and your response.
- Conclusion: answer to the question, what follows from it.
Under each body section, list the evidence and sources you plan to use. Then check the order. Does each section follow from the one before? Common ways to order sections include:
- Strongest first or last. Many writers save the most important point for later so the essay builds.
- Chronological. Useful when sequence matters.
- Thematic. Group related ideas together.
Concept maps and mind mapping can help if you think visually before you commit to a linear order.
Apportion your word count. If the essay is, say, 1,500 words, you might budget roughly 150 for the introduction, 150 for the conclusion and about 1,200 across the body sections, adjusted to the number of points. These are rough guides: 150 + 150 + 1,200 adds up to 1,500, and the split can be changed to suit the question.
Step 5: Draft the body first
Writing the introduction first is the usual instinct, but many writers find it easier to start with the body. The reason is that your introduction needs to describe what the essay actually argues, and you often only know that after drafting.
For each body section, work through your points in the order you outlined. A paragraph structure such as point, evidence, explanation and link keeps each paragraph focused, and the guide to the PEEL pattern covers that in detail. Do not stop to perfect each sentence. Get the argument down, mark gaps with a note such as “[add evidence]”, and keep moving.
Use topic sentences and transitions so the reader can follow the line of argument. Each section should clearly relate to your thesis.
Step 6: Write the introduction
Once the body exists, write the opening. A typical introduction does four things, briefly:
- Sets the context. Why does this topic matter, or what is the background?
- Narrows to the question. What exactly is at issue?
- States the thesis. Your answer or central claim.
- Signals the route. A sentence on how the essay will proceed.
Avoid long preambles and sweeping generalizations, and state the actual argument.
Step 7: Write the conclusion
The conclusion answers the question, based on what you have shown. It should:
- Restate your main argument in fresh words, not by copying the introduction.
- Pull together the key points in a way that shows how they add up.
- Say what follows: an implication, a limit or a question left open.
Do not introduce new evidence or major new arguments here. Also avoid overclaiming. If your evidence supports a cautious conclusion, write a cautious conclusion. It is acceptable, and often admirable, to acknowledge limits.
Step 8: Revise for structure
Once you have a complete draft, put it aside briefly, then read it as a whole. Ask:
- Does the introduction match what the essay actually does?
- Does each paragraph contribute to the thesis? Move or cut any that do not.
- Is the order logical, and are the transitions clear?
- Is the balance right: is any section thin or overlong?
- Does the conclusion actually answer the question?
Reverse outlining helps: write one line summarizing each paragraph, then read that list as an outline. Gaps and repetition become easier to see.
Step 9: Polish
Only after the structure works should you edit sentences, check citations against your required citation styles, and proofread.
When the plan changes
Plans are working documents. Writing often reveals that an argument is weaker than expected, and it is normal to revise your outline mid-draft. Leave enough time in your schedule for that.