Essay Structure

Academic essays

What is an academic essay?

There are a few traditional essay styles, such as:

• Argumentative
• Expository
• Narrative
• Descriptive

We will focus on argumentative and expository essays as these are the most common (so you may already be familiar with writing them!). Let's look at them in more detail:

Argumentative essay

As the title suggests, an argumentative essay focuses on developing and strengthening an argument. This is done through the analysis and interpretation of evidence, and is used to persuade the reader of your side of the argument.

Argumentative essays are written in the third person (he/she/they).

The structure of an argumentative essay might go a little something like this...

This type of essay tests your ability to research effectively and also develop a strong argument. You will usually write an argumentative essay for a final project (i.e. as part of coursework) as it is a chance for you to show off your knowledge about a topic.

Expository essay

Like an argumentative essay, an expository essay focuses on the argumentative aspect of writing and is written in the third person - however, it does differ slightly. An expository essay is usually shorter and relies less on extensive research/preparation.

You may be asked to write an expository essay in class, or for an exam (e.g. as a timed exercise). Because of this, the number of paragraphs depends on how much you are able to write in a particular time frame.

FIg. 1 - Try planning your essay before typing it out.

Essay structure: example

Argumentative and expository essays should contain the following three things:

1. Introduction

2. Main body

3. Conclusion

Let's look at these in more detail.

Essay introduction structure

An introduction is an opening paragraph that states the purpose and outlines the main objectives of your essay.

An example of an introduction structure is as follows:

A hook - a memorable sentence to draw your reader in and give them something to think about.

Background information - context for your reader, giving them a better understanding of the topic you are exploring in your essay.

Essay brief and outline of main points - a brief is the main idea of your essay; it tells the reader what your essay is about. Outlining your main points means briefly stating what you are going to talk about in your essay and what you are going to expand on. It lets the reader know what to expect throughout the rest of your work.

Not all introductions include these exact elements - this is simply an example of how you could structure an essay introduction.

Essay introduction example

Blue: hook

Pink: background information

Green: essay brief and outline of main points

Worldwide, around 1.35 billion people speak English. The use of the English language is becoming increasingly prominent, particularly within political and economic communication around the world. Due to its global influence, English is now regarded as a lingua franca (global language). But how and why has English become so powerful? Through the analysis of language globalisation, this study will explore the positive effect English has on both global communication and language learning. It will also consider the ways in which English could be used in the future to further develop learning potential.

Main body structure

The main body of your essay is divided into different paragraphs and allows you to expand on your ideas and/or your argument. It is your chance to think critically and analyse and interpret information. It shows the reader that you have a deep understanding of the topic!

An example of a structure to follow for the body of your essay is the PEE paragraph structure, which is most often used for academic essays. PEE stands for: point, evidence, explain.

Point - a statement relating to your essay brief

Example - back up your point with evidence (this is where your research comes in handy!)

Explain - analyse your evidence; go into detail about what it shows and how it relates to your topic.

PEE Paragraph example

Blue: Point

Pink: Evidence

Green: Explain

Williams uses the motif of a paper lantern throughout the play to represent Blanche's concealing of the truth and her insecurities. An example of this is shown when Blanche declares "...put a—paper lantern over the light ... It isn’t enough to be soft. You’ve got to be soft and attractive. And I—I’m fading now! I don’t know how much longer I can turn the trick" (A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947, p. 92). The use of this motif shows Blanche's attempt to manipulate the truth, as she wants to be seen in a more flattering light and appear more attractive than she is. She wants to gain respect from others, so instead of revealing her true self in a realistic light, she creates an unrealistic illusion. Further, this portrays Blanche as an insecure character who deceives those around her in order to appear pure and young, as she cannot face the harsh reality of growing old.

Essay conclusion structure

A conclusion is a final paragraph that summarises the main points of your essay and brings it to a close.

An example of a conclusion structure is as follows:

1. Review the main point of your essay brief (what your essay is about).

2. Summarise the main points made in your essay.

3. Offer a recommendation/improvement/question (to help with future studies and leave the reader with something to think about).

Not all conclusions include these exact elements - this is simply an example of how you could structure an essay conclusion.

Essay conclusion example

Blue = revisited essay brief

Pink = summary of the argument

Green = ending on a rhetorical question

Overall, the effect of social media on teenagers' communication is negative. Social media use among teens decreases communication skills and causes face-to-face interactions to feel disconnected. It also encourages laziness and conveys inauthentic emotions. Due to a lack of emotional connection, it also gives teens the ability to be spiteful online, which impacts the well-being of others. Will social media continue to negatively affect how young people communicate in the future?

Reflective essay structure

Another type of essay is the reflective essay. As the title suggests, a reflective essay is used to reflect on an experience. Unlike both argumentative and expository essays, a reflective essay is written in the first person, as it is used to recount a personal experience. For example, reflecting on a project or study you carried out.

The structure of a reflective essay is the same as an academic essay, consisting of an introduction, main body, and conclusion. However, there is more of a focus on individual thoughts and feelings as opposed to creating an objective view and argument.

Fig. 2 - Reflective essays require deep thought.

The introduction of a reflective essay should briefly tell the reader about the project or study you carried out. For example, something like:

The main body of the essay should expand on your experience carrying out the project/study and your feelings towards it. Be honest about what happened and what you found out from it. For example, you could take into account the following things:

• What did I find out from this experience?
• Did this experience have a positive or negative impact on me?
• Which elements went well?
• Which elements could have been improved?

The conclusion should summarise what you found out about the experience and your feelings towards it.

You could also consider how things could improve if you were to carry out the experience again. For example, you could write something like:

It is important to note that, while a reflective essay is about describing something that happened, it should also be critical. This means you should consider not only how your experience relates to your own life, but also the wider world and the experiences of others. Ask yourself the following questions:

How does my own experience link to society as a whole?

Have I recognised and appreciated the views of others?

Does my own experience differ from others?