FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY
Today, we will talk about the universally accepted fundamental structure of the essays and why it is necessary to always follow this basic structure.
What is the fundamental structure of the essay?
Essays are the extended but formal write-ups that attempt to define, describe, discuss, analyse or argue on a specific subject. Like every formal piece of prose, essays also follow a particular pattern.
The most common method followed around the world is the one that includes an introduction, body paragraph and a conclusion.
Although there are some deviations, such as writing the issue and its extent, those methods do not have universal acceptability. Therefore, one should stick to the age-old formula of IBC method.
Why is it necessary to follow a certain structure of the essay?
Following a particular structure gives the writer clarity of purpose. If the essayist jumps from one method to another, it would not only cause confusion with respect to the ideas, but the quality of the essay will also be marred by the disorganization of the idea.
Therefore, in order to keep the essay simple, organized and attractive, it is extremely important that a particular format of the essays is followed.
What is an introduction?
The introduction is the opening paragraph of the essay. Being the first paragraph, you can also call it the face of your essay which is the first identification.
The introduction of the essay has three main parts. The first one is the background information. In this part, a writer is supposed to provide some relevant information related to the subject. But it is not necessary that each essay should require background information.
Mostly, the essays need a direct start from a particular point. This particular point from which a direct start is taken is the second part which is called the thesis statement.
The thesis statement is the main idea around which the essay revolves. The stronger the thesis statement, the more marks you will get in your essay. The thesis statement is the part which makes or breaks the essay.
You can also check my blog on thesis statement on my page.
The third part is the roadmap of how you will tackle the essay i.e. whether you will give comparison and contrast, the causes and effects, or you will discuss the process. You may also go on giving some hint about the main arguments of your essay if you are writing an argumentative essay.
What is the body paragraphs?
The body paragraphs make up around 80 per cent of your essay. This is where all the information, facts, analysis, or the arguments go. Each body paragraph is centred around an idea which supports the thesis statement.
While you outline the essay, look for the outlines of the body paragraph. If the idea for the body paragraph is not in consonance with the thesis statement, then you must strike it down.
While you write the body paragraph, you will have to follow this format.
How to write the body paragraphs?
First comes the topic sentence of the paragraph that supports the main idea or the thesis statement. This is followed by at least 5 other sentences that define, discuss or analyse the main idea.
These sentences must also include evidentiary support.
Without evidence which may be in the form of facts, figures, examples etc., the body paragraph will not have the desired impact. The last sentence is the concluding sentence or the transitional sentence. This sentence indicates the start of another body paragraph.
What is the conclusion?
The conclusion is the last part of the essay, it is the climax or the pinnacle of your piece of writing. The main purpose of writing the conclusion is to reach the logical end of the arguments or the discussion in the body paragraphs.
In other words, it is the distilled summary of the preceding ideas and the pinnacle of the thesis statement.
How to write a conclusion:
Most people think that the conclusion of the essay is just a reworded introduction. IT IS NOT!
The purpose of the introduction is to introduce the topic; hence you start with the background, thesis and the roadmap.
However, in conclusion, you always invariable start with the position that you took and take the reader through what you have written in support of that position along with an ending note which should generally be positive.
Also, keep in mind that the conclusion should NEVER include any new evidence or piece of information. If it contains something new, it would be considered a new body paragraph because that would not be the logical end of the arguments, then.
Summary
I hope that by now you are familiar with the basic structure of the essay, and you will be feeling more confident about writing essays. So, do not wait for another moment, just take a pen and paper and start writing your first short essay.
As Julia Carney is said to have said:
Little drops of water, little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land.
So, the little minutes, humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages of eternity.
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Best wishes ahead.
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