What is an essay?
An academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence.
Essay structure means that there is a format or template for types of writing. It is a way of outlining what you will say in your assessment that keeps your writing on track and helps you organise your thoughts. It can otherwise be known as an Essay Plan.
Writing an essay plan is very useful as a lot of the hard work when it comes to assessment writing is nutting out what to say. Once you have a plan for each paragraph the actual writing can seem a lot less daunting.
Essays have three main components.
Section 1. Introduction
Section 2. Body
The body of your paragraph is where you will provide information and evidence to support your main argument. This may include your arguments, critiques, analysis, reflections.
Paragraph Structure
Note: If you are introducing a new idea - start a new paragraph.
Section 3. Conclusion
The conclusion ties together the essay, it provides a summary of what has been presented.
Note: Do NOT include any new material here.
Use the 'Essay planning template' below to get started.
Now that you have your essay plan it is important to pay attention to your writing skills. There are often a few mistakes students make when it comes to writing that you need to be aware of.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is where you change the structure and words of somebody else's work but maintain the original 'meaning'.
Note:
How to Paraphrase
Quoting
A quote provides evidence to support your argument using another author's authoritative voice.
How to Quote
Writing reflectively requires a personal style of writing that you may not be used to. Most assignments at university are discursive, using reason and evidence to present an argument. This style of writing is impersonal and is usually written in the third person. Reflective writing, however, in centred on first-person experiences, supplemented with references to the literature alongside personal thought. First person writing involves talking from a personal perspective (this involves the using the first-person singular pronoun "I" or the first person plural, "we"). The table below contrasts discursive and reflective writing:
Discursive writing |
Reflective writing |
Based on broad reading of the subject area, uses reason to develop an argument |
Examines personal responses to experiences, events, ideas and information |
Impersonal style (written in the third person) |
Personal style (written in the first person) |
Examines the strengths and weaknesses of the theories, arguments and research of others, compares and contrasts ideas and theories |
Looks for meaning, analyses the significance of personal responses to opinions, experiences, events, thoughts and feelings |
Limited to academic evidence |
Not limited to academic evidence |
Presents and justifies arguments |
Looks for solutions to problems |