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What is essay structure, and why does it matter?

 Please watch the following video which gives an overview of essays and may answer some of your questions about essay structure.

Please watch this video presentation by S2S Community.

 

Whether you are sitting down to your computer to write an email to a friend, an essay for a history class, or a report for an incident on an oil platform, chances are you'll be writing more than one paragraph. When we speak of weaving together ideas in a single document, usually in a cohesive form, we are discussing multi-paragraph compositions.

 

Essay Structure

 

 

 

Multi-paragraph compositions of all forms share a structure: they begin, they are developed, and they end. In a more formal structure, we call this an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In different contexts, these elements may look very different.

 

 

 

 

 

Consider the following example contexts:

 

An Email

You are writing a short email to your best friend explaining the date you had the previous night. Though the message may be short, you orient your friend to the context or situation: information he or she may not have. You might explain with whom you went or where you went. You may indicate, even in the opening, if this had been a good experience.

Then you explain what took place. Finally, you end the email is some way, perhaps concluding your thoughts or perhaps leaving room for more conversation. Still, you conclude writing for that period of time. Then you hit "send."

 

An Essay

You were tasked with summarizing your thoughts on a historical novel for a history class.   After reading the texts and taking notes, you begin to write. First, you indicate the name of the text you read and necessary background information. You might even include your preliminary thoughts on the text. Then, in several paragraphs, you explain two or three points you found particularly interesting. You conclude by giving your overall analysis of the text and by summing up your thoughts.  

 

An Incident Report

You were on the scene when a small incident took place on an oil platform. You are asked by your supervisor to fill out an incident report and summarize what happened. You first explain the situation and then, in several paragraphs, you give the details of what unfolded.   You are not required to give your opinion, so you conclude the report with the final details of what occurred.

 

In each of the above contexts, the purpose of your writing is to communicate effectively. The purpose of a multi-paragraph composition is to discuss a subject in more depth than can be covered in one paragraph. Within this writing, you may have a goal to share a story, provide information, or persuade someone of your opinion, but in any case this must be communicated clearly and effectively.

 

Multi-paragraph compositions are made up of the building blocks we discussed in the prior unit:   paragraphs. In a multi-paragraph composition, like an essay, email, or report, your task is to develop effective paragraphs that are linked together as a cohesive whole.

 Image of Structure of an Essay

 

Readers often look for essay structure when reading. They expect information at the opening that orients them to the topic and focus at hand.

 

 

They expect those ideas to be fully developed with supporting details.

 

 

 

They also want a summation at the end of the text.  

 

 

 

Think about your own reading. If you are skimming an article, you may be looking for key ideas in the opening, topic sentences, or headings that outline the structure, and a brief synopsis in the close. Readers often look in specific places for these items, so following this structure can be very helpful.  The structure of the essay helps guide the reader and gives internal cues. This is essential to make your writing communicate effectively.

 

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