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How to Write the Perfect Essay
06 Feb, 2024 | Blog Articles , English Language Articles , Get the Edge , Humanities Articles , Writing Articles
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You can keep adding to this plan, crossing bits out and linking the different bubbles when you spot connections between them. Even though you wonât have time to make a detailed plan under exam conditions, it can be helpful to draft a brief one, including a few key words, so that you donât panic and go off topic when writing your essay.
If you donât like the mind map format, there are plenty of others to choose from: you could make a table, a flowchart, or simply a list of bullet points.
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Thanks for signing up, step 2: have a clear structure.
Think about this while you’re planning: your essay is like an argument or a speech. It needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question.
Start with the basics! It’s best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs. Three main paragraphs is a good number for an exam essay, since you’ll be under time pressure.Â
If you agree with the question overall, it can be helpful to organise your points in the following pattern:
- YES (agreement with the question)
- AND (another YES point)
- BUT (disagreement or complication)
If you disagree with the question overall, try:
- AND (another BUT point)
For example, you could structure the Of Mice and Men sample question, “To what extent is Curleyâs wife portrayed as a victim in Of Mice and Men ?”, as follows:
- YES (descriptions of her appearance)
- AND (other people’s attitudes towards her)
- BUT (her position as the only woman on the ranch gives her power as she uses her femininity to her advantage)
If you wanted to write a longer essay, you could include additional paragraphs under the YES/AND categories, perhaps discussing the ways in which Curleyâs wife reveals her vulnerability and insecurities, and shares her dreams with the other characters. Alternatively, you could also lengthen your essay by including another BUT paragraph about her cruel and manipulative streak.
Of course, this is not necessarily the only right way to answer this essay question â as long as you back up your points with evidence from the text, you can take any standpoint that makes sense.
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Step 3: Back up your points with well-analysed quotations
You wouldnât write a scientific report without including evidence to support your findings, so why should it be any different with an essay? Even though you arenât strictly required to substantiate every single point you make with a quotation, thereâs no harm in trying.
A close reading of your quotations can enrich your appreciation of the question and will be sure to impress examiners. When selecting the best quotations to use in your essay, keep an eye out for specific literary techniques. For example, you could highlight Curleyâs wifeâs use of a rhetorical question when she says, a”nâ what am I doinâ? Standinâ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs.” This might look like:
The rhetorical question âanâ what am I doinâ?â signifies that Curleyâs wife is very insecure; she seems to be questioning her own life choices. Moreover, she does not expect anyone to respond to her question, highlighting her loneliness and isolation on the ranch.
Other literary techniques to look out for include:
- Tricolon â a group of three words or phrases placed close together for emphasis
- Tautology â using different words that mean the same thing: e.g. “frightening” and “terrifying”
- Parallelism â ABAB structure, often signifying movement from one concept to another
- Chiasmus â ABBA structure, drawing attention to a phrase
- Polysyndeton â many conjunctions in a sentence
- Asyndeton â lack of conjunctions, which can speed up the pace of a sentence
- Polyptoton â using the same word in different forms for emphasis: e.g. “done” and “doing”
- Alliteration â repetition of the same sound, including assonance (similar vowel sounds), plosive alliteration (“b”, “d” and “p” sounds) and sibilance (“s” sounds)
- Anaphora â repetition of words, often used to emphasise a particular point
Donât worry if you canât locate all of these literary devices in the work youâre analysing. You can also discuss more obvious techniques, like metaphor, simile and onomatopoeia. Itâs not a problem if you canât remember all the long names; itâs far more important to be able to confidently explain the effects of each technique and highlight its relevance to the question.
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Step 4: Be creative and original throughout
Anyone can write an essay using the tips above, but the thing that really makes it “perfect” is your own unique take on the topic. If youâve noticed something intriguing or unusual in your reading, point it out â if you find it interesting, chances are the examiner will too!
Creative writing and essay writing are more closely linked than you might imagine. Keep the idea that youâre writing a speech or argument in mind, and youâre guaranteed to grab your readerâs attention.
Itâs important to set out your line of argument in your introduction, introducing your main points and the general direction your essay will take, but donât forget to keep something back for the conclusion, too. Yes, you need to summarise your main points, but if youâre just repeating the things you said in your introduction, the body of the essay is rendered pointless.
Think of your conclusion as the climax of your speech, the bit everything else has been leading up to, rather than the boring plenary at the end of the interesting stuff.
To return to Of Mice and Men once more, here’s an example of the ideal difference between an introduction and a conclusion:
Introduction
In John Steinbeckâs Of Mice and Men , Curleyâs wife is portrayed as an ambiguous character. She could be viewed either as a cruel, seductive temptress or a lonely woman who is a victim of her societyâs attitudes. Though she does seem to wield a form of sexual power, it is clear that Curleyâs wife is largely a victim. This interpretation is supported by Steinbeckâs description of her appearance, other peopleâs attitudes, her dreams, and her evident loneliness and insecurity.
Overall, it is clear that Curleyâs wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other peopleâs judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curleyâs wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity â a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences.
Both refer back consistently to the question and summarise the essayâs main points. However, the conclusion adds something new which has been established in the main body of the essay and complicates the simple summary which is found in the introduction.
![how to write about structure in an english essay Hannah](https://www.oxfordscholastica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/hannah-patient.png)
Hannah is an undergraduate English student at Somerville College, University of Oxford, and has a particular interest in postcolonial literature and the Gothic. She thinks literature is a crucial way of developing empathy and learning about the wider world. When she isn’t writing about 17th-century court masques, she enjoys acting, travelling and creative writing.Â
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- Tips for Reading an Assignment Prompt
- Asking Analytical Questions
- Introductions
- What Do Introductions Across the Disciplines Have in Common?
- Anatomy of a Body Paragraph
- Transitions
- Tips for Organizing Your Essay
- Counterargument
- Conclusions
- Strategies for Essay Writing: Downloadable PDFs
- Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines
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College essays are an entirely new type of writing for high school seniors. For that reason, many students are confused about proper formatting and essay structure. Should you double-space or single-space? Do you need a title? What kind of narrative style is best-suited for your topic?
In this post, weâll be going over proper college essay format, traditional and unconventional essay structures (plus sample essays!), and which structure might work best for you.Â
General College Essay Formatting Guidelines
How you format your essay will depend on whether youâre submitting in a text box, or attaching a document. Weâll go over the different best practices for both, but regardless of how youâre submitting, here are some general formatting tips:
- Thereâs no need for a title; it takes up unnecessary space and eats into your word count
- Stay within the word count as much as possible (+/- 10% of the upper limit). For further discussion on college essay length, see our post How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
- Indent or double space to separate paragraphs clearly
If youâre submitting in a text box:
- Avoid italics and bold, since formatting often doesnât transfer over in text boxes
- Be careful with essays meant to be a certain shape (like a balloon); text boxes will likely not respect that formatting. Beyond that, this technique can also seem gimmicky, so proceed with caution
- Make sure that paragraphs are clearly separated, as text boxes can also undo indents and double spacing
If youâre attaching a document:
- Use a standard font and size like Times New Roman, 12 point
- Make your lines 1.5-spaced or double-spaced
- Use 1-inch margins
- Save as a PDF since it canât be edited. This also prevents any formatting issues that come with Microsoft Word, since older versions are sometimes incompatible with the newer formatting
- Number each page with your last name in the header or footer (like âSmith 1â)
- Pay extra attention to any word limits, as you wonât be cut off automatically, unlike with most text boxes
Conventional College Essay Structures
Now that weâve gone over the logistical aspects of your essay, letâs talk about how you should structure your writing. There are three traditional college essay structures. They are:
- In-the-moment narrative
- Narrative told over an extended period of time
- Series of anecdotes, or montage
Letâs go over what each one is exactly, and take a look at some real essays using these structures.
1. In-the-moment narrative
This is where you tell the story one moment at a time, sharing the events as they occur. In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you . This structure is ideal for a specific experience involving extensive internal dialogue, emotions, and reflections.
Hereâs an example:
The morning of the Model United Nation conference, I walked into Committee feeling confident about my research. We were simulating the Nuremberg Trials â a series of post-World War II proceedings for war crimes â and my portfolio was of the Soviet Judge Major General Iona Nikitchenko. Until that day, the infamous Nazi regime had only been a chapter in my history textbook; however, the conferenceâs unveiling of each defendantâs crimes brought those horrors to life. The previous night, I had organized my research, proofread my position paper and gone over Judge Nikitchenkoâs pertinent statements. I aimed to find the perfect balance between his stance and my own.
As I walked into committee anticipating a battle of wits, my director abruptly called out to me. âIâm afraid weâve received a late confirmation from another delegate who will be representing Judge Nikitchenko. You, on the other hand, are now the defense attorney, Otto Stahmer.â Everyone around me buzzed around the room in excitement, coordinating with their allies and developing strategies against their enemies, oblivious to the bomb that had just dropped on me. I felt frozen in my tracks, and it seemed that only rage against the careless delegate who had confirmed her presence so late could pull me out of my trance. After having spent a month painstakingly crafting my verdicts and gathering evidence against the Nazis, I now needed to reverse my stance only three hours before the first session.
Gradually, anger gave way to utter panic. My research was fundamental to my performance, and without it, I knew I could add little to the Trials. But confident in my ability, my director optimistically recommended constructing an impromptu defense. Nervously, I began my research anew. Despite feeling hopeless, as I read through the prosecutionâs arguments, I uncovered substantial loopholes. I noticed a lack of conclusive evidence against the defendants and certain inconsistencies in testimonies. My discovery energized me, inspiring me to revisit the historical overview in my conference âBackground Guideâ and to search the web for other relevant articles. Some Nazi prisoners had been treated as âguiltyâ before their court dates. While I had brushed this information under the carpet while developing my position as a judge, it now became the focus of my defense. I began scratching out a new argument, centered on the premise that the allied countries had violated the fundamental rule that, a defendant was ânot guiltyâ until proven otherwise.
At the end of the three hours, I felt better prepared. The first session began, and with bravado, I raised my placard to speak. Microphone in hand, I turned to face my audience. âGreetings delegates. I, Otto Stahmer would like toâŠâŠ.â I suddenly blanked. Utter dread permeated my body as I tried to recall my thoughts in vain. âDefence Attorney, Stahmer weâll come back to you,â my Committee Director broke the silence as I tottered back to my seat, flushed with embarrassment. Despite my shame, I was undeterred. I needed to vindicate my directorâs faith in me. I pulled out my notes, refocused, and began outlining my arguments in a more clear and direct manner. Thereafter, I spoke articulately, confidently putting forth my points. I was overjoyed when Secretariat members congratulated me on my fine performance.
Going into the conference, I believed that preparation was the key to success. I wouldnât say I disagree with that statement now, but I believe adaptability is equally important. My ability to problem-solve in the face of an unforeseen challenge proved advantageous in the art of diplomacy. Not only did this experience transform me into a confident and eloquent delegate at that conference, but it also helped me become a more flexible and creative thinker in a variety of other capacities. Now that I know I can adapt under pressure, I look forward to engaging in activities that will push me to be even quicker on my feet.
This essay is an excellent example of in-the-moment narration. The student openly shares their internal state with us â we feel their anger and panic upon the reversal of roles. We empathize with their emotions of âutter dreadâ and embarrassment when theyâre unable to speak.Â
For in-the-moment essays, overloading on descriptions is a common mistake students make. This writer provides just the right amount of background and details to help us understand the situation, however, and balances out the actual event with reflection on the significance of this experience.Â
One main area of improvement is that the writer sometimes makes explicit statements that could be better illustrated through their thoughts, actions, and feelings. For instance, they say they âspoke articulatelyâ after recovering from their initial inability to speak, and they also claim that adaptability has helped them in other situations. This is not as engaging as actual examples that convey the same meaning. Still, this essay overall is a strong example of in-the-moment narration, and gives us a relatable look into the writerâs life and personality.
2. Narrative told over an extended period of time
In this essay structure, you share a story that takes place across several different experiences. This narrative style is well-suited for any story arc with multiple parts. If you want to highlight your development over time, you might consider this structure.Â
When I was younger, I was adamant that no two foods on my plate touch. As a result, I often used a second plate to prevent such an atrocity. In many ways, I learned to separate different things this way from my older brothers, Nate and Rob. Growing up, I idolized both of them. Nate was a performer, and I insisted on arriving early to his shows to secure front row seats, refusing to budge during intermission for fear of missing anything. Rob was a three-sport athlete, and I attended his games religiously, waving worn-out foam cougar paws and cheering until my voice was hoarse. My brothers were my role models. However, while each was talented, neither was interested in the otherâs passion. To me, they represented two contrasting ideals of what I could become: artist or athlete. I believed I had to choose.
And for a long time, I chose athlete. I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and viewed myself exclusively as an athlete, believing the arts were not for me. I conveniently overlooked that since the age of five, I had been composing stories for my family for Christmas, gifts that were as much for me as them, as I loved writing. So when in tenth grade, I had the option of taking a creative writing class, I was faced with a question: could I be an athlete and a writer? After much debate, I enrolled in the class, feeling both apprehensive and excited. When I arrived on the first day of school, my teacher, Ms. Jenkins, asked us to write down our expectations for the class. After a few minutes, eraser shavings stubbornly sunbathing on my now-smudged paper, I finally wrote, âI do not expect to become a published writer from this class. I just want this to be a place where I can write freely.â
Although the purpose of the class never changed for me, on the third âsubmission day,â â our time to submit writing to upcoming contests and literary magazines â I faced a predicament. For the first two submission days, I had passed the time editing earlier pieces, eventually (pretty quickly) resorting to screen snake when hopelessness made the words look like hieroglyphics. I must not have been as subtle as I thought, as on the third of these days, Ms. Jenkins approached me. After shifting from excuse to excuse as to why I did not submit my writing, I finally recognized the real reason I had withheld my work: I was scared. I did not want to be different, and I did not want to challenge not only othersâ perceptions of me, but also my own. I yielded to Ms. Jenkinâs pleas and sent one of my pieces to an upcoming contest.
By the time the letter came, I had already forgotten about the contest. When the flimsy white envelope arrived in the mail, I was shocked and ecstatic to learn that I had received 2nd place in a nationwide writing competition. The next morning, however, I discovered Ms. Jenkins would make an announcement to the whole school exposing me as a poet. I decided to own this identity and embrace my friendsâ jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me. I have since seen more boys at my school identifying themselves as writers or artists.
I no longer see myself as an athlete and a poet independently, but rather I see these two aspects forming a single inseparable identity â me. Despite their apparent differences, these two disciplines are quite similar, as each requires creativity and devotion. I am still a poet when I am lacing up my cleats for soccer practice and still an athlete when I am building metaphors in the back of my mind â and I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.
The timeline of this essay spans from the writerâs childhood all the way to sophomore year, but we only see key moments along this journey. First, we get context for why the writer thought he had to choose one identity: his older brothers had very distinct interests. Then, we learn about the studentâs 10th grade creative writing class, writing contest, and results of the contest. Finally, the essay covers the writersâ embarrassment of his identity as a poet, to gradual acceptance and pride in that identity.Â
This essay is a great example of a narrative told over an extended period of time. Itâs highly personal and reflective, as the piece shares the writerâs conflicting feelings, and takes care to get to the root of those feelings. Furthermore, the overarching story is that of a personal transformation and development, so itâs well-suited to this essay structure.
3. Series of anecdotes, or montage
This essay structure allows you to focus on the most important experiences of a single storyline, or it lets you feature multiple (not necessarily related) stories that highlight your personality. Montage is a structure where you piece together separate scenes to form a whole story. This technique is most commonly associated with film. Just envision your favorite movieâit likely is a montage of various scenes that may not even be chronological.Â
Night had robbed the academy of its daytime colors, yet there was comfort in the dim lights that cast shadows of our advances against the bare studio walls. Silhouettes of roundhouse kicks, spin crescent kicks, uppercuts and the occasional butterfly kick danced while we sparred. She approached me, eyes narrowed with the trace of a smirk challenging me. âReady spar!â Her arm began an upward trajectory targeting my shoulder, a common first move. I sidestepped â only to almost collide with another flying fist. Pivoting my right foot, I snapped my left leg, aiming my heel at her midsection. The center judge raised one finger.Â
There was no time to celebrate, not in the traditional sense at least. Master Pollard gave a brief command greeted with a unanimous âYes, sirâ and the thud of 20 hands dropping-down-and-giving-him-30, while the âwinnersâ celebrated their victory with laps as usual.Â
Three years ago, seven-thirty in the evening meant I was a warrior. It meant standing up straighter, pushing a little harder, âYes, sirâ and âYes, maâamâ, celebrating birthdays by breaking boards, never pointing your toes, and familiarity. Three years later, seven-thirty in the morning meant I was nervous.Â
The room is uncomfortably large. The sprung floor soaks up the checkerboard of sunlight piercing through the colonial windows. The mirrored walls further illuminate the studio and I feel the light scrutinizing my sorry attempts at a pas de bourrĂ©e , while capturing the organic fluidity of the dancers around me. â ChassĂ© en croix, grand battement, pique, pirouette.â I follow the graceful limbs of the woman in front of me, her legs floating ribbons, as she executes what seems to be a perfect ronds de jambes. Each movement remains a negotiation. With admirable patience, Ms. Tan casts me a sympathetic glance.  Â
There is no time to wallow in the misery that is my right foot. Taekwondo calls for dorsiflexion; pointed toes are synonymous with broken toes. My thoughts drag me into a flashback of the usual response to this painful mistake: âYou might as well grab a tutu and head to the ballet studio next door.â Well, here I am Master Pollard, unfortunately still following your orders to never point my toes, but no longer feeling the satisfaction that comes with being a third degree black belt with 5 years of experience quite literally under her belt. Itâs like being a white belt again â just in a leotard and ballet slippers.Â
But the appetite for new beginnings that brought me here doesnât falter. It is only reinforced by the classical rendition of âDancing Queenâ that floods the room and the ghost of familiarity that reassures me that this new beginning does not and will not erase the past. After years spent at the top, itâs hard to start over. But surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become. In Taekwondo, we started each class reciting the tenets: honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet.Â
The thing about change is that it eventually stops making things so different. After nine different schools, four different countries, three different continents, fluency in Tamil, Norwegian, and English, there are more blurred lines than there are clear fragments. My life has not been a tactfully executed, gold medal-worthy Taekwondo form with each movement defined, nor has it been a series of frappĂ©s performed by a prima ballerina with each extension identical and precise, but thankfully it has been like the dynamics of a spinning back kick, fluid, and like my chances of landing a pirouette, unpredictable.Â
This essay takes a few different anecdotes and weaves them into a coherent narrative about the writerâs penchant for novel experiences. Weâre plunged into her universe, in the middle of her Taekwondo spar, three years before the present day. She then transitions into a scene in a ballet studio, present day. By switching from past tense to present tense, the writer clearly demarcates this shift in time.Â
The parallel use of the spoken phrase âPointâ in the essay ties these two experiences together. The writer also employs a flashback to Master Pollardâs remark about âgrabbing a tutuâ and her habit of dorsiflexing her toes, which further cements the connection between these anecdotes.Â
While some of the descriptions are a little wordy, the piece is well-executed overall, and is a stellar example of the montage structure. The two anecdotes are seamlessly intertwined, and they both clearly illustrate the studentâs determination, dedication, reflectiveness, and adaptability. The writer also concludes the essay with a larger reflection on her life, many moves, and multiple languages.Â
Unconventional College Essay Structures
Unconventional essay structures are any that donât fit into the categories above. These tend to be higher risk, as itâs easier to turn off the admissions officer, but theyâre also higher reward if executed correctly.Â
There are endless possibilities for unconventional structures, but most fall under one of two categories:
1. Playing with essay format
Instead of choosing a traditional narrative format, you might take a more creative route to showcase your interests, writing your essay:
- As a movie script
- With a creative visual format (such as creating a visual pattern with the spaces between your sentences forming a picture)
- As a two-sided Lincoln-Douglas debate
- As a legal brief
- Using song lyrics
2. Linguistic techniques
You could also play with the actual language and sentence structure of your essay, writing it:
- In iambic pentameter
- Partially in your mother tongue
- In code or a programming language
These linguistic techniques are often hybrid, where you write some of the essay with the linguistic variation, then write more of an explanation in English.
Under no circumstances should you feel pressured to use an unconventional structure. Trying to force something unconventional will only hurt your chances. That being said, if a creative structure comes naturally to you, suits your personality, and works with the content of your essay â go for that structure!
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Basic essay structure
![how to write about structure in an english essay Postgrad students taking notes and planning essay](https://www.port.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/hero_mobile/public/media/images/students-planning-essay-1200x400.jpeg?h=8e3006ae&itok=zkXoo4if)
Improve your writing
Organise your essays to demonstrate your knowledge, show your research and support your arguments
Essays are usually written in continuous, flowing, paragraphed text and donât use section headings. This may seem unstructured at first, but good essays are carefully structured.
How your assignment content is structured is your choice. Use the basic pattern below to get started.
Essay structure
An essay consists of three basic parts:, introduction.
The essay itself usually has no section headings. Only the title page, author declaration and reference list are written as headings, along with, for example, appendices. Check any task instructions, and your course or unit handbook, for further details.
Content in assignment introductions can vary widely. In some disciplines you may need to provide a full background and context, whereas other essays may need only a little context, and others may need none.
An introduction to an essay usually has three primary purposes:
- To set the scene
- To tell readers what is important, and why
- To tell the reader what the essay is going to do (signposting)
A standard introduction includes the following five elements:
- A statement that sets out the topic and engages the reader.
- The background and context of the topic.
- Any important definitions, integrated into your text as appropriate.
- An outline of the key points, topic, issues, evidence, ideas, arguments, models, theories, or other information, as appropriate. This may include distinctions or contrasts between different ideas or evidence.
- A final sentence or two which tells the reader your focal points and aims.
You should aim to restrict your introduction to information needed for the topic and only include background and contextual information which helps the reader understand it, or sets the scene for your chosen focal points.
In most essays you will have a considerable range of options for your focus. You will be expected to demonstrate your ability to select the most relevant content to address your focal points.
There are some exceptions. For example, if an assignment brief specifically directs the essay focus or requires you to write broadly about a topic. These are relatively rare or are discipline-specific so you should check your task instructions and discipline and subject area conventions.
Below are examples of an opening statement, a summary of the selected content, and a statement at the end of the introduction which tells the reader what the essay will focus on and how it will be addressed. We've use a fictional essay.
The title of our essay is: 'Cats are better than dogs. Discuss.'
To submit this essay you also would need to add citations as appropriate.
Example of opening statements:
People have shared their lives with cats and dogs for millenia. Which is better depends partly on each animalâs characteristics and partly on the ownerâs preferences.
Here is a summary of five specific topics selected for the essay, which would be covered in a little more detail in the introduction:
- In ancient Egypt, cats were treated as sacred and were pampered companions.
- Dogs have for centuries been used for hunting and to guard property. There are many types of working dog, and both dogs and cats are now kept purely as pets.
- They are very different animals, with different care needs, traits and abilities.
- It is a common perception that people are either âcat-loversâ or âdog-loversâ.
- It is a common perception that people tend to have preferences for one, and negative beliefs about and attitudes towards, the other.
Example of closing statements at the end of the introduction:
This essay will examine both catsâ and dogsâ behaviour and abilities, the benefits of keeping them as pets, and whether peopleâs perceptions of their nature matches current knowledge and understanding.
Main body: paragraphs
The body of the essay should be organised into paragraphs. Each paragraph should deal with a different aspect of the issue, but they should also link in some way to those that precede and follow it. This is not an easy thing to get right, even for experienced writers, partly because there are many ways to successfully structure and use paragraphs. There is no perfect paragraph template.
The theme or topic statement
The first sentence, or sometimes two, tells the reader what the paragraph is going to cover. It may either:
- Begin a new point or topic, or
- Follow on from the previous paragraph, but with a different focus or go into more-specific detail. If this is the case, it should clearly link to the previous paragraph.
The last sentence
It should be clear if the point has come to an end, or if it continues in the next paragraph.
Here is a brief example of flow between two summarised paragraphs which cover the historical perspective:
It is known from hieroglyphs that the Ancient Egyptians believed that cats were sacred. They were also held in high regard, as suggested by their being found mummified and entombed with their owners (Smith, 1969). In addition, cats are portrayed aiding hunters. Therefore, they were both treated as sacred, and were used as intelligent working companions. However, today they are almost entirely owned as pets.
In contrast, dogs have not been regarded as sacred, but they have for centuries been widely used for hunting in Europe. This developed over time and eventually they became domesticated and accepted as pets. Today, they are seen as loyal, loving and protective members of the family, and are widely used as working dogs.
There is never any new information in a conclusion.
The conclusion usually does three things:
- Reminds your readers of what the essay was meant to do.
- Provides an answer, where possible, to the title.
- Reminds your reader how you reached that answer.
The conclusion should usually occupy just one paragraph. It draws together all the key elements of your essay, so you do not need to repeat the fine detail unless you are highlighting something.
A conclusion to our essay about cats and dogs is given below:
Both cats and dogs have been highly-valued for millenia, are affectionate and beneficial to their ownersâ wellbeing. However, they are very different animals and each is 'better' than the other regarding care needs and natural traits. Dogs need regular training and exercise but many owners do not train or exercise them enough, resulting in bad behaviour. They also need to be 'boarded' if the owner is away and to have frequent baths to prevent bad odours. In contrast, cats do not need this level of effort and care. Dogs are seen as more intelligent, loyal and attuned to human beings, whereas cats are perceived as aloof and solitary, and as only seeking affection when they want to be fed. However, recent studies have shown that cats are affectionate and loyal and more intelligent than dogs, but it is less obvious and useful. There are, for example, no 'police' or 'assistance' cats, in part because they do not have the kinds of natural instincts which make dogs easy to train. Therefore, which animal is better depends upon personal preference and whether they are required to work. Therefore, although dogs are better as working animals, cats are easier, better pets.
Download our basic essay structure revision sheet
Download this page as a PDF for your essay structure revision notes
Better Essays: Signposting
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Paragraphs main body of an assessment
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Essay and dissertation writing skills
Planning your essay
Writing your introduction
Structuring your essay
- Writing essays in science subjects
- Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
- Writing extended essays and dissertations
- Planning your dissertation writing time
Structuring your dissertation
- Top tips for writing longer pieces of work
Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations
University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).
A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions.
You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:
Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.
However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:
Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, âThis is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues asâŠâ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, âA variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis onâŠ..â
Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:
The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.
- Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldnât use the conclusion to introduce new information.
- References: You need to include references to the materials youâve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline.
Essay writing in science subjects
If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience â the video is available here:
A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.
Short videos to support your essay writing skills
There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:
- Approaching different types of essay questions
- Structuring your essay
- Writing an introduction
- Making use of evidence in your essay writing
- Writing your conclusion
Extended essays and dissertations
Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.
Planning your time effectively
Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.
Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.
The structure of extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:
- The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
- Explanation of the focus of your work.
- Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
- List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.
The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.
The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources.
Tips on writing longer pieces of work
Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.
For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work .
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How to Structure Paragraphs in an Essay
Last Updated: February 28, 2024 Fact Checked
This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 184,283 times.
Writing an essay can be challenging, especially if you're not sure how to structure your paragraphs. If youâre struggling to organize your essay, youâre in luck! Putting your paragraphs in order may become easier after you understand their purpose. Additionally, knowing what to include in your introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs will help you more easily get your writing assignment finished.
Standard 5-Paragraph Essay Structure
A typical short essay has 5 paragraphs. Begin with a 1-paragraph introduction that gives an overview of the subject and introduces a specific topic or problem. Include at least 3 body paragraphs that support or explain your main point with evidence. End with a concluding paragraph that briefly summarizes your essay.
Essay Template and Sample Essay
![how to write about structure in an english essay how to write about structure in an english essay](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/de/Essay-Template.png/340px-Essay-Template.png)
Putting Your Paragraphs in Order
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 1 Start your essay...](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/39/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-1-Version-2.jpg)
- A basic introduction will be about 3-4 sentences long.
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 2 Include at least 3 body paragraphs to explain your ideas.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6f/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-2-Version-2.jpg)
- Body paragraphs will make up the bulk of your essay. At a minimum, a body paragraph needs to be 4 sentences long. However, a good body paragraph in a short essay will be at least 6-8 sentences long.
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 3 End with a...](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7c/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-3-Version-2.jpg)
- A good conclusion for a short essay will be 3-4 sentences long.
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 4 Use transition words to move smoothly from paragraph to paragraph.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3f/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-4-Version-2.jpg)
- For example, letâs say youâre writing an essay about recycling. Your first point might be about the value of local recycling programs, while your second point might be about the importance of encouraging recycling at work or school. A good transition between these two points might be âfurthermoreâ or âadditionally.â
- If your third point is about how upcycling might be the best way to reuse old items, a good transition word might be âhoweverâ or âon the other hand.â This is because upcycling involves reusing items rather than recycling them, so it's a little bit different. You want your reader to recognize that you're talking about something that slightly contrasts with your original two points.
Structuring Your Introduction
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 1 Open your essay with a âhookâ that engages your readerâs interest.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9f/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-5-Version-2.jpg)
- Provide a quote: âAccording to Neil LaBute, âWe live in a disposable society.ââ
- Include statistics: âThe EPA reports that only 34 percent of waste created by Americans is recycled every year.â
- Give a rhetorical question: âIf you could change your habits to save the planet, would you do it?â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 2 Explain your topic and why itâs important in 2 sentences.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/89/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-6-Version-2.jpg)
- Hereâs an example: âRecycling offers a way to reduce waste and reuse old items, but many people donât bother recycling their old goods. Unless people change their ways, landfills will continue to grow as more generations discard their trash.â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 3 Present your argument...](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/56/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-7-Version-2.jpg)
- Hereâs how a basic thesis about recycling might look: "To reduce the amount of trash in landfills, people must participate in local recycling programs, start recycling at school or work, and upcycle old items whenever they can."
- If youâre writing an argument or persuasive essay, your thesis might look like this: âAlthough recycling may take more effort, recycling and upcycling are both valuable ways to prevent expanding landfills.â
Crafting Good Body Paragraphs
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 1 Begin each body paragraph when you have a new idea to introduce.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d0/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-8-Version-2.jpg)
- A good body paragraph in a short essay typically has 6-8 sentences. If youâre not sure how many sentences your paragraphs should include, talk to your instructor.
- Write a new paragraph for each of your main ideas. Packing too much information into one paragraph can make it confusing.
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 2 Write a clear topic sentence to introduce your main point.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cd/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-9-Version-2.jpg)
- If you begin your essay by writing an outline, include your topic sentence for each paragraph in your outline.
- You might write, âLocal recycling programs are a valuable way to reduce waste, but only if people use them.â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 3 Provide your evidence to back up the point youâre making.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cc/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-10-Version-2.jpg)
- Your evidence might come from books, journal articles, websites, or other authoritative sources .
- The word evidence might make you think of data or experts. However, some essays will include only your ideas, depending on the assignment. In this case, you might be allowed to take evidence from your observations and experiences, but only if your assignment specifically allows this type of evidence.
- You could write, âAccording to Mayor Andersonâs office, only 23 percent of local households participate in the cityâs recycling program.â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 4 Analyze your evidence in 1-2 sentences to connect it back to your ideas.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d9/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-11-Version-2.jpg)
- In some cases, you may offer more than one piece of evidence in the same paragraph. Make sure you provide a 1 to 2 sentence explanation for each piece of evidence.
- For instance, âResidents who are using the recycling program arenât contributing as much trash to local landfills, so theyâre helping keep the community clean. On the other hand, most households donât recycle, so the program isnât as effective as it could be.â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 5 Conclude the paragraph.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b8/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-12-Version-2.jpg)
- For instance, you could write, âClearly, local recycling programs can make a big difference, but they arenât the only way to reduce waste.â
Arranging Your Conclusion
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 1 Restate your thesis in the opening sentence of your conclusion.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/07/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-13-Version-2.jpg)
- You could write, âBy participating in local recycling programs, recycling at work, and upcycling old items, people can reduce their environmental footprint.â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 2 Summarize how your arguments support your thesis in 1-2 sentences.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/84/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-14.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-14.jpg)
- As an example, âStatistics show that few people are participating in available recycling programs, but they are an effective way to reduce waste. By recycling and upcycling, people can reduce their trash consumption by as much as 70%.â
![how to write about structure in an english essay Step 3 End by answering the question âso what.â](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2e/Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-15.jpg/v4-460px-Structure-Paragraphs-in-an-Essay-Step-15.jpg)
- Give your readers a call to action. For example, âTo save the planet, everyone needs to recycle."
- Offer a solution to the problem you presented. For instance, "With more education about recycling, more people will participate in their local programs."
- Point to the next question that needs to be answered. You might write, "To get more people to recycle, researchers need to determine the reasons why they don't."
- Provide a valuable insight about your topic. As an example, "If everyone recycled, landfills might become a thing of the past."
Community Q&A
![how to write about structure in an english essay Community Answer](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b0/CommunityAvatar2.png/-crop-104-104-104px-CommunityAvatar2.png)
- Ask a friend to read your essay and provide you with feedback. Ask if they understand your points and if any ideas need more development. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- Writing gets easier with practice, so donât give up! Everyone was a beginner at some point, and itâs normal to struggle with writing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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- If you copy someone elseâs writing or ideas, itâs called plagiarism. Donât ever plagiarize, as this is a serious offense. Not only will you get in trouble if you plagiarize, you probably wonât receive credit for the assignment. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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How to write an essay? | B2 First (FCE)
![how to write about structure in an english essay how to write about structure in an english essay](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_948,h_400/https://engxam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AdobeStock-1-948x400.jpeg)
The essay is a compulsory task to be completed in Part 1 of the writing section in the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) that is written to convince someone of something or to simply inform the reader about a particular topic.
There is no single, method of successful writing essay. However, this article will outline how to write an excellent essay  in the B2 First (FCE) exam by putting into practice some simple, but invaluable, tips.
You will learn how to write an essay, an example of essay structure , guidance , sample topics , model answers , useful tips , frequently asked questions and useful phrases and expressions.
B2 First (FCE)Â Essay: Structure example
An essay can be organised in different ways, but it is useful to write one idea in one paragraph and add a short introduction and conclusion .
writing a professional essay
FCE, CAE, CPE
Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) essay: how to write an essay (guide).
It is always an essay written for your teacher, and the start of the question wording is always the same:
In your English class you have been talking about [topic]. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
![how to write about structure in an english essay](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_250,h_167/https://engxam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/240_F_604119933_FUate4MbaI57AdlUnsRwZhV5yZhPJwn7-250x167.jpg)
We will use the example question below in our writing essay  advice:
In your English class, you have been talking about society. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree?
Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ (your own idea)
Step 1: Briefly analyse your taskâŠ
![how to write about structure in an english essay](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_250,h_162/https://engxam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/240_F_486549283_g02etVzKVVHHeh6w6TlAfxmhjuz43gwp-250x162.jpg)
Before you start writing your essay at B2 First exam you need to ask three questions:
What is the topic of the essay?
If you look at our example task you will notice that we are going to write about society .
In your English class, you have been talking about society . Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Knowing this, you can quickly prepare in your head all the words that you associate with this topic or even write them down.
What exactly do I have to include in my essay?
As you can see there are three points included in the task there are two that are already given in our example
Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ ( your own idea) <= you have to come up with this one yourselfÂ
The first point is taxes , the second is opportunity , and the third one is something you must come up with yourself!
We decided that the third point we would comment on would be economics
Who is going to read my essay?
In the FCE essay, it’s always your English teacher. Â It means that you need to write with respect because she is a person with authority, therefore essay has to be written in a formal style.
What is formal style?
![how to write about structure in an english essay](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_150,h_150/https://engxam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/istockphoto-473487600-612x612-1-150x150.jpg)
Formal language is professional and serious rather than relaxed and friendly and is used especially in official situations. It is usually reserved for essays and academic settings, while informal writing is used for more casual settings, like friendly text messages and creative writing.
Below are listed the biggest differences between formal and informal writing styles:
Contractions
It is advised to avoid contractions (shortened versions of words) in formal language, but theyâre acceptable in informal language.
Unfortunately, the team could not replicate the results. (Formal)
Unfortunately, the team couldnât replicate the results. (Informal)
Colloquial Phrases/Slang
Formal language is also marked by an absence of colloquial phrases and slang (words or phrases that are common only in everyday speech), but are typically used in informal language.
Everyone was disappointed . (Formal)
Everyone was bummed . (Informal)
First-Person Pronouns
Generally, first-person pronouns (like I and we ) are avoided when writing with formal language . However, itâs accepted (and expected) in informal language.
The students were asked to fill out the questionnaire. (Formal) We asked the students to fill out the questionnaire. (Informal)
Phrasal Verbs
When using formal language in your B2 writing, it is also recommended to replace phrasal verbs (proper verbs that are followed by one or more prepositions and act as a single verb).
It was something the protestors could endure . (Formal) It was something the protestors could put up with . (Informal)
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Vocabulary Choice
Formal language tends to use longer, more complex vocabulary. Sometimes it is not recommended to use this type of vocabulary with informal language (depending on what youâre writing) because it can confuse or distract your audience.
They needed assistance while recovering from the outcomes of the hurricane. (Formal) They needed help while recovering from the effects of the hurricane. (Informal)
Step 2: Write an introduction
The purpose of the introduction is simply to tell the reader what the essay is about.
You can start your essay by referring to the question that was asked “ University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree? ” and writing it in your own words . It is also worth mentioning the three points you are going to describe.
Introduction : There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.Â
You can use phrases such as:
This essay will discuss ⊠This essay will focus on ⊠In order to discuss âŠ, I will analyse âŠ
Step 3: Main body paragraphs…Â
Main body paragraphs are the most important part of your essay so they should be the longest and one paragraph should comment on one point. See below:
Write about: 1. Taxes – the first paragraph should comment on “ taxes” 2. Opportunity – the second paragraph should comment on “ opportunity “ 3. âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ (your own idea) – the third paragraph should comment on “economy”
In addition, every paragraph should start with a topic sentence, which is like an introduction to the paragraph and it tells the reader what exactly the paragraph is going to discuss.
Also, a good idea is to include different linking words/expressions to make sure that your ideas are well connected and in a logical order.
What is a topic sentence?
A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph (which is also the most important )
A topic sentence essentially tells readers about the rest of the paragraph . If the topic sentence says “ Cats are very good pets for several reasons” , then every sentence after that needs to describe that subject.
For example:
Cats are very good pets for several reasons . (<=topic sentence / every sentence after it describes that subject =>) They are naturally good caregivers because they take care of their kittens, so they want to take care of their owners as well. Cats are quite clean, and if you train them to use a litter box, they require almost no cleanup in their areas.
What are the linking words/expressions?
These are words and expressions that help the text flow logically . These words act as signposts, helping the reader easily move from one idea to the next and see connections between sentences or paragraphs.
Linking words is especially useful when you want to indicate that you are going to explain something, provide an example use a time sequence, or present a contrasting point of view.
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Between paragraphs:
To begin with, I would like to put forward [âŠ] The first possible action is, to improve physical education …[âŠ] A second option would be. … competitive attitudes that [âŠ]
Within a paragraph:
[…] which activity is better than the others. Another reason for not financing sports […]
You can see a model answer below:
First paragraph comment on  “Taxes” Paragraph 1: Firstly , a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However , people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation .
Second paragraph comment on “Opportunity ” Paragraph 2: Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds . Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation , it makes the playing field more level.
Third paragraph comment on “….âŠâŠ (your own idea)” : economy Paragraph 3: In addition , having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely , the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently , more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.
         – topic sentence
          – linking words/expressions
          – interesting/topical vocabulary
Remember, you donât have to tell the truth! The examiners wonât know, so if you donât have experience or an opinion you can make something up!
Step 4: ConclusionÂ
The conclusion comes at the end of your essay, it summarizes the main idea of the essay. You need to write a clear, justified conclusion. You canât just say, âI agreeâ, or âI disagree.â Think of it like this: you need to convince the examiner that your conclusion is correct.
In conclusion, a university should be free for everyone. It makes economic sense and ultimately benefits all members of society.
         – linking words/expressions
Make sure your paragraphs are connected to your conclusion!
See Full Essay
There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.
Firstly, a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However, people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation.
Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds. Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation, it makes the playing field more level.
In addition, having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely, the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently, more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.
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Get Your (FCE) Essay Checked!
B2 first (fce)Â essay: example essays, fce essay sample 1.
In your English class you have been talking about the environment. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved?
Write about: 1. transport 2. rivers and seas 3. âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ (your own idea)
Student’s FCE Essay Answer:
DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT
If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.
If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldnât be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.
Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. Itâs difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.
We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.
But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!
FCE Essay Sample 2
In your English class you have been talking about the fashion industry. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on peopleâs lives. Do you agree?
Write about: 1. whether peopleâs appearance is important 2. the price of clothes 3. âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ (your own idea)
The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.
On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.
Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.
I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example topics
Fce example topic 1.
Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:
Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?
Write about:
- clear the air
-  âŠâŠâŠâŠ.( your own idea)
FCE Example topic 2
Nowadays children are suffering from obesity, that was once considered to be meant for adults only. What are its causes and what solutions can be offered?
- busy lifestyle
- âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ(your own idea)
FCE Example topic 3
Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?
- role of older sibling
More than Practice Tests
B2 first (fce)Â essay: tips.
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- Make sure you know how to comment on all the points that are asked
- Invent information if you donât have any ideas
- Divide the essay into paragraphs – put one answer in one paragraph
- Use advanced vocabulary when you can and formal language
- The final paragraph is the best place to express your opinion clearly.
- Revise your essay to correct mistakes.
B2 First (FCE) Essay: FAQ
How long should a b2 essay be.
You need to answer the question with between 140-190 words.Â
If an answer is too long, you may get a lower score.  If you write 200 words, itâs not a problem. However, if you write 300 words, itâs a problem.
Should you do a plan?
Yes! You must make a plan to organise your essay writing . On the day of the exam, you will be stressed and feel pressure. A plan is your way of organising you text and your thoughts.
What happens if I write more than 190 words?
Nothing⊠Well, almost nothing. In the past for every 5 words extra, they took away a point, however, now they do not. It is not good to go over 190 words because of time, but you can. I wouldnŽt write more than 200 words because they will probably lower the mark they give you for content. They will determine some of it to be unnecessary.
What counts as a complex language in the exam?
You MUST use complex language at B2 level . You must use attention-grabbing vocabulary and a variety of grammar structures. The passive voice, relative clauses, modal verbs, conditionals, reported speech and inversions all count as COMPLEX grammar forms and you must use them. Otherwise, you can address academic experts and pay someone to write your paper if you need help to write an essay for you.
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Useful Phrases & Expressions
Introduction.
The trend nowadays is towards …. Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of …. Recent research indicates that …. Hardly a week goes by without another report of ……….. appearing in the media. This raises the issue of whether …… Although most people would generally agree that ………… few would deny that ….
Stating your opinion
As I see it, It seems to me that ………… I would also say that …. I am convinced that …………… I am inclined to believe that ……………… There is no doubt in my mind that ……………… One of the drawbacks of ……. is ………. However, one of the benefits is that ………… Changing topic As regards the causes for this, ………….. Concerning the causes for this, ……… As for the causes, ………..
Presenting arguments
One justification is often given for ……….. is that…………….. Advocates/Proponents would claim that ……………… Those who object to …………….. often argue that ………………. Another objection is that …… However, it should not be forgotten that ………….. ……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that …………….. From the point of view of …………….. According to ………………..
Describing causes
One factor which has led to ………… is ………….. One of the factors which has brought this about is ……… The problem often stems from ……………….. The situation has been exacerbated by ……………. ………….. has only made the situation worse. One consequence of ……………. is …………….
Proposing steps and measures
As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ……… The first step to be taken would be to …….. To alleviate the situation people should ……….. In addition they ought to …………… To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to This can only be dealt with if ………… To overcome this problem, ………….. Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve. Individuals can do a great deal to ………… The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of …….. It is vitally important that ……… Legislation should be introduced to control …………….. It would be a grave error if we ……………..
All in all it seems to me that ……….. The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that ………………….. All things considered, …………. On balance, I tend to believe that ………… The world would surely be a better place to live in if ………….. If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a …………… The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….
What is your level of English?
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How to Write a Good English Literature Essay
By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
How do you write a good English Literature essay? Although to an extent this depends on the particular subject you’re writing about, and on the nature of the question your essay is attempting to answer, there are a few general guidelines for how to write a convincing essay – just as there are a few guidelines for writing well in any field.
We at Interesting Literature call them ‘guidelines’ because we hesitate to use the word ‘rules’, which seems too programmatic. And as the writing habits of successful authors demonstrate, there is no one way to become a good writer – of essays, novels, poems, or whatever it is you’re setting out to write. The French writer Colette liked to begin her writing day by picking the fleas off her cat.
Edith Sitwell, by all accounts, liked to lie in an open coffin before she began her day’s writing. Friedrich von Schiller kept rotten apples in his desk, claiming he needed the scent of their decay to help him write. (For most student essay-writers, such an aroma is probably allowed to arise in the writing-room more organically, over time.)
We will address our suggestions for successful essay-writing to the average student of English Literature, whether at university or school level. There are many ways to approach the task of essay-writing, and these are just a few pointers for how to write a better English essay – and some of these pointers may also work for other disciplines and subjects, too.
Of course, these guidelines are designed to be of interest to the non-essay-writer too – people who have an interest in the craft of writing in general. If this describes you, we hope you enjoy the list as well. Remember, though, everyone can find writing difficult: as Thomas Mann memorably put it, ‘A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.’ Nora Ephron was briefer: ‘I think the hardest thing about writing is writing.’ So, the guidelines for successful essay-writing:
1. Planning is important, but don’t spend too long perfecting a structure that might end up changing.
This may seem like odd advice to kick off with, but the truth is that different approaches work for different students and essayists. You need to find out which method works best for you.
It’s not a bad idea, regardless of whether you’re a big planner or not, to sketch out perhaps a few points on a sheet of paper before you start, but don’t be surprised if you end up moving away from it slightly – or considerably – when you start to write.
Often the most extensively planned essays are the most mechanistic and dull in execution, precisely because the writer has drawn up a plan and refused to deviate from it. What is a more valuable skill is to be able to sense when your argument may be starting to go off-topic, or your point is getting out of hand, as you write . (For help on this, see point 5 below.)
We might even say that when it comes to knowing how to write a good English Literature essay, practising is more important than planning.
2. Make room for close analysis of the text, or texts.
Whilst it’s true that some first-class or A-grade essays will be impressive without containing any close reading as such, most of the highest-scoring and most sophisticated essays tend to zoom in on the text and examine its language and imagery closely in the course of the argument. (Close reading of literary texts arises from theology and the analysis of holy scripture, but really became a ‘thing’ in literary criticism in the early twentieth century, when T. S. Eliot, F. R. Leavis, William Empson, and other influential essayists started to subject the poem or novel to close scrutiny.)
Close reading has two distinct advantages: it increases the specificity of your argument (so you can’t be so easily accused of generalising a point), and it improves your chances of pointing up something about the text which none of the other essays your marker is reading will have said. For instance, take In Memoriam  (1850), which is a long Victorian poem by the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson about his grief following the death of his close friend, Arthur Hallam, in the early 1830s.
When answering a question about the representation of religious faith in Tennyson’s poem In Memoriam (1850), how might you write a particularly brilliant essay about this theme? Anyone can make a general point about the poet’s crisis of faith; but to look closely at the language used gives you the chance to show how the poet portrays this.
For instance, consider this stanza, which conveys the poet’s doubt:
A solid and perfectly competent essay might cite this stanza in support of the claim that Tennyson is finding it increasingly difficult to have faith in God (following the untimely and senseless death of his friend, Arthur Hallam). But there are several ways of then doing something more with it. For instance, you might get close to the poem’s imagery, and show how Tennyson conveys this idea, through the image of the âaltar-stairsâ associated with religious worship and the idea of the stairs leading âthroâ darknessâ towards God.
In other words, Tennyson sees faith as a matter of groping through the darkness, trusting in God without having evidence that he is there. If you like, itâs a matter of âblind faithâ. That would be a good reading. Now, here’s how to make a good English essay on this subject even better: one might look at how the word âfalterâ â which encapsulates Tennysonâs stumbling faith â disperses into âfallingâ and âaltarâ in the succeeding lines. The word âfalterâ, we might say, itself falters or falls apart.
That is doing more than just interpreting the words: itâs being a highly careful reader of the poetry and showing how attentive to the language of the poetry you can be – all the while answering the question, about how the poem portrays the idea of faith. So, read and then reread the text you’re writing about – and be sensitive to such nuances of language and style.
The best way to become attuned to such nuances is revealed in point 5. We might summarise this point as follows: when it comes to knowing how to write a persuasive English Literature essay, it’s one thing to have a broad and overarching argument, but don’t be afraid to use the microscope as well as the telescope.
3. Provide several pieces of evidence where possible.
Many essays have a point to make and make it, tacking on a single piece of evidence from the text (or from beyond the text, e.g. a critical, historical, or biographical source) in the hope that this will be enough to make the point convincing.
‘State, quote, explain’ is the Holy Trinity of the Paragraph for many. What’s wrong with it? For one thing, this approach is too formulaic and basic for many arguments. Is one quotation enough to support a point? It’s often a matter of degree, and although one piece of evidence is better than none, two or three pieces will be even more persuasive.
After all, in a court of law a single eyewitness account won’t be enough to convict the accused of the crime, and even a confession from the accused would carry more weight if it comes supported by other, objective evidence (e.g. DNA, fingerprints, and so on).
Let’s go back to the example about Tennyson’s faith in his poem In Memoriam  mentioned above. Perhaps you don’t find the end of the poem convincing – when the poet claims to have rediscovered his Christian faith and to have overcome his grief at the loss of his friend.
You can find examples from the end of the poem to suggest your reading of the poet’s insincerity may have validity, but looking at sources beyond the poem – e.g. a good edition of the text, which will contain biographical and critical information – may help you to find a clinching piece of evidence to support your reading.
And, sure enough, Tennyson is reported to have said of In Memoriam : ‘It’s too hopeful, this poem, more than I am myself.’ And there we have it: much more convincing than simply positing your reading of the poem with a few ambiguous quotations from the poem itself.
Of course, this rule also works in reverse: if you want to argue, for instance, that T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land is overwhelmingly inspired by the poet’s unhappy marriage to his first wife, then using a decent biographical source makes sense – but if you didn’t show evidence for this idea from the poem itself (see point 2), all you’ve got is a vague, general link between the poet’s life and his work.
Show how the poet’s marriage is reflected in the work, e.g. through men and women’s relationships throughout the poem being shown as empty, soulless, and unhappy. In other words, when setting out to write a good English essay about any text, don’t be afraid to pile on the evidence – though be sensible, a handful of quotations or examples should be more than enough to make your point convincing.
4. Avoid tentative or speculative phrasing.
Many essays tend to suffer from the above problem of a lack of evidence, so the point fails to convince. This has a knock-on effect: often the student making the point doesn’t sound especially convinced by it either. This leaks out in the telling use of, and reliance on, certain uncertain  phrases: ‘Tennyson might have’ or ‘perhaps Harper Lee wrote this to portray’ or ‘it can be argued that’.
An English university professor used to write in the margins of an essay which used this last phrase, ‘What can’t be argued?’
This is a fair criticism: anything can be argued (badly), but it depends on what evidence you can bring to bear on it (point 3) as to whether it will be a persuasive argument. (Arguing that the plays of Shakespeare were written by a Martian who came down to Earth and ingratiated himself with the world of Elizabethan theatre is a theory that can be argued, though few would take it seriously. We wish we could say ‘none’, but that’s a story for another day.)
Many essay-writers, because they’re aware that texts are often open-ended and invite multiple interpretations (as almost all great works of literature invariably do), think that writing ‘it can be argued’ acknowledges the text’s rich layering of meaning and is therefore valid.
Whilst this is certainly a fact – texts are open-ended and can be read in wildly different ways – the phrase ‘it can be argued’ is best used sparingly if at all. It should be taken as true that your interpretation is, at bottom, probably unprovable. What would it mean to ‘prove’ a reading as correct, anyway? Because you found evidence that the author intended the same thing as you’ve argued of their text? Tennyson wrote in a letter, ‘I wrote In Memoriam because…’?
But the author might have lied about it (e.g. in an attempt to dissuade people from looking too much into their private life), or they might have changed their mind (to go back to the example of The Waste Land : T. S. Eliot championed the idea of poetic impersonality in an essay of 1919, but years later he described The Waste Land as ‘only the relief of a personal and wholly insignificant grouse against life’ – hardly impersonal, then).
Texts – and their writers – can often be contradictory, or cagey about their meaning. But we as critics have to act responsibly when writing about literary texts in any good English essay or exam answer. We need to argue honestly, and sincerely – and not use what Wikipedia calls ‘weasel words’ or hedging expressions.
So, if nothing is utterly provable, all that remains is to make the strongest possible case you can with the evidence available. You do this, not only through marshalling the evidence in an effective way, but by writing in a confident voice when making your case. Fundamentally, ‘There is evidence to suggest that’ says more or less the same thing as ‘It can be argued’, but it foregrounds the evidence rather than the argument, so is preferable as a phrase.
This point might be summarised by saying: the best way to write a good English Literature essay is to be honest about the reading you’re putting forward, so you can be confident in your interpretation and use clear, bold language. (‘Bold’ is good, but don’t get too cocky, of course…)
5. Read the work of other critics.
This might be viewed as the Holy Grail of good essay-writing tips, since it is perhaps the single most effective way to improve your own writing. Even if you’re writing an essay as part of school coursework rather than a university degree, and don’t need to research other critics for your essay, it’s worth finding a good writer of literary criticism and reading their work. Why is this worth doing?
Published criticism has at least one thing in its favour, at least if it’s published by an academic press or has appeared in an academic journal, and that is that it’s most probably been peer-reviewed, meaning that other academics have read it, closely studied its argument, checked it for errors or inaccuracies, and helped to ensure that it is expressed in a fluent, clear, and effective way.
If you’re serious about finding out how to write a better English essay, then you need to study how successful writers in the genre do it. And essay-writing is a genre, the same as novel-writing or poetry. But why will reading criticism help you? Because the critics you read can show you how to do all of the above: how to present a close reading of a poem, how to advance an argument that is not speculative or tentative yet not over-confident, how to use evidence from the text to make your argument more persuasive.
And, the more you read of other critics – a page a night, say, over a few months – the better you’ll get. It’s like textual osmosis: a little bit of their style will rub off on you, and every writer learns by the examples of other writers.
As T. S. Eliot himself said, ‘The poem which is absolutely original is absolutely bad.’ Don’t get precious about your own distinctive writing style and become afraid you’ll lose it. You can’t gain a truly original style before you’ve looked at other people’s and worked out what you like and what you can ‘steal’ for your own ends.
We say ‘steal’, but this is not the same as saying that plagiarism is okay, of course. But consider this example. You read an accessible book on Shakespeare’s language and the author makes a point about rhymes in Shakespeare. When you’re working on your essay on the poetry of Christina Rossetti, you notice a similar use of rhyme, and remember the point made by the Shakespeare critic.
This is not plagiarising a point but applying it independently to another writer. It shows independent interpretive skills and an ability to understand and apply what you have read. This is another of the advantages of reading critics, so this would be our final piece of advice for learning how to write a good English essay: find a critic whose style you like, and study their craft.
If you’re looking for suggestions, we can recommend a few favourites: Christopher Ricks, whose The Force of Poetry is a tour de force; Jonathan Bate, whose The Genius of Shakespeare , although written for a general rather than academic audience, is written by a leading Shakespeare scholar and academic; and Helen Gardner, whose The Art of T. S. Eliot , whilst dated (it came out in 1949), is a wonderfully lucid and articulate analysis of Eliot’s poetry.
James Wood’s How Fiction Works is also a fine example of lucid prose and how to close-read literary texts. Doubtless readers of Interesting Literature will have their own favourites to suggest in the comments, so do check those out, as these are just three personal favourites. What’s your favourite work of literary scholarship/criticism? Suggestions please.
Much of all this may strike you as common sense, but even the most commonsensical advice can go out of your mind when you have a piece of coursework to write, or an exam to revise for. We hope these suggestions help to remind you of some of the key tenets of good essay-writing practice – though remember, these aren’t so much commandments as recommendations. No one can ‘tell’ you how to write a good English Literature essay as such.
But it can be learned. And remember, be interesting – find the things in the poems or plays or novels which really ignite your enthusiasm. As John Mortimer said, ‘The only rule I have found to have any validity in writing is not to bore yourself.’
Finally, good luck – and happy writing!
And if you enjoyed these tips for how to write a persuasive English essay, check out our advice for how to remember things for exams  and our tips for becoming a better close reader of poetry .
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30 thoughts on “How to Write a Good English Literature Essay”
You must have taken AP Literature. I’m always saying these same points to my students.
I also think a crucial part of excellent essay writing that too many students do not realize is that not every point or interpretation needs to be addressed. When offered the chance to write your interpretation of a work of literature, it is important to note that there of course are many but your essay should choose one and focus evidence on this one view rather than attempting to include all views and evidence to back up each view.
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Not a bad effort…not at all! (Did you intend “subject” instead of “object” in numbered paragraph two, line seven?”
Oops! I did indeed – many thanks for spotting. Duly corrected ;)
That’s what comes of writing about philosophy and the subject/object for another post at the same time!
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Great post on essay writing! I’ve shared a post about this and about the blog site in general which you can look at here: http://writeoutloudblog.com/2015/01/13/recommended-resource-interesting-literature-com-how-to-write-an-essay/
All of these are very good points – especially I like 2 and 5. I’d like to read the essay on the Martian who wrote Shakespeare’s plays).
Reblogged this on Uniqely Mustered and commented: Dedicate this to all upcoming writers and lovers of Writing!
I shall take this as my New Year boost in Writing Essays. Please try to visit often for corrections,advise and criticisms.
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All very good points, but numbers 2 and 4 are especially interesting.
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Great post. Interesting infographic how to write an argumentative essay http://www.essay-profy.com/blog/how-to-write-an-essay-writing-an-argumentative-essay/ï»ż
Reblogged this on DISTINCT CHARACTER and commented: Good Tips
Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented: This could be applied to novel or short story writing as well.
Reblogged this on rosetech67 and commented: Useful, albeit maybe a bit late for me :-)
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such a nice pieace of content you shared in this write up about “How to Write a Good English Essay” going to share on another useful resource that is
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A well rounded summary on all steps to keep in mind while starting on writing. There are many new avenues available though. Benefit from the writing options of the 21st century from here, i loved it! http://authenticwritingservices.com
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How to Write an Explanatory Essay
- Smodin Editorial Team
- Published: May 24, 2024
A study from the English Language Teaching Educational Journal found that students encounter difficulty in organizing thoughts, generating ideas, and understanding writing processes when writing essays [1]. These are all key components of putting together a good explanatory essay. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry.
With the right approach, you can seamlessly combine all these components. This guide will give you a simple step-by-step strategy for writing an explanatory essay. It’ll also give you handy writing tips and tool suggestions, like utilizing artificial intelligence.
With this guide, you’ll be able to write an explanatory essay with confidence.
1. Develop a strong thesis statement
Crafting a strong thesis statement is the cornerstone of any well-written explanatory essay. It sets the stage for what your essay will cover and clarifies the main point youâre going to explain. Here’s how to create a thesis:
- Find the main idea : Start by pinpointing the key concept or question you want to explain. Develop a clear purpose for the essay. This will guide your research and writing process for your explanatory paper. Use other reputable explanatory essay examples to guide your ideas. This may involve exploring other explanatory essay topics within the same field.
- Be specific : A vague thesis can confuse readers. So, make sure your statement is clear. If youâre explaining a complex process, break it down to its key points. After that, break it into a clear, concise statement thatâs easy to understand.
- Reflect objectivity : Explanatory essays educate and inform. They do not argue a point. So, your thesis should take an unbiased stance on the topic. It should present the facts as they are, not as you interpret them.
- Use tools like the Smodin Writer : Smodin Writer does all the heavy lifting by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. With it, you can generate an essay with a thesis statement. How, you ask? Through its dedicated thesis generator . It can create a statement that’s both strong and relevant. Plus, it can pull in all the most interesting information based on your topic to further enrich your thesis statement.
Make your thesis clear, informative, and neutral. This sets a strong foundation for an effective explanatory essay. Next, letâs look at how to gather the information youâll need to support this thesis effectively.
2. Research and gather information
You need to conduct thorough research that will back your thesis with credible sources and relevant evidence. This will make your explanatory essay both informative and persuasive. Hereâs a step-by-step guide to conducting effective research:
- Start with a plan: Put together an explanatory essay outline that includes the information you need to support your thesis. The plan should list the best sources, like academic journals, books, reputable websites, or scholarly articles.
- Use credible sources: They ensure the accuracy of your essay. Libraries, academic databases, and certified websites are excellent places to find trustworthy information.
- Seek detailed information: Look for the most current sources that explain your topic well and provide unique insights related to or opposing your thesis statement. This depth is crucial for explaining complex ideas clearly and thoroughly in your explanatory papers. Pay attention to the explanatory essay structure to guide your topic of choice (more on this later).
- Gather relevant evidence: Collect data, stats, and examples. They should directly support your main points. Make sure this evidence is directly related to your topic and enhances your narrative.
- Employ digital tools: Tools like Smodin’s Research Assistant can accelerate your research process. Smodinâs tools can help you find detailed information quickly, ensuring that the data you use is up-to-date and relevant.
- Document your sources: As you conduct research, keep a meticulous record of where your information comes from. This practice will help you make an accurate bibliography. It can save you time when you need to refer back to details or verify facts. Again, this is something that’s covered thanks to Smodin’s Citation Machine.
- Evaluate your findings: Critically assess the information you collect. Ensure it provides a balanced view and covers the necessary aspects of your topic to give a comprehensive overview of your essay.
By following these steps, you can gather a rich pool of information that provides a strong backbone for your explanatory essay. Now, you can start structuring your findings into well-organized body paragraphs.
3. Structure body paragraphs
Once you’ve gathered relevant evidence through thorough research, it’s time to organize it. You should put it into well-structured body paragraphs that follow a logical flow. Hereâs how to structure each body paragraph for a strong explanatory essay:
- Decide how many paragraphs to use : It will depend on your topic’s complexity and the needed detail. Typically, three to five paragraphs are suitable, but longer essays may require more. An explanatory essay example on your topic of choice will be helpful.
- Start with a topic sentence : Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence will act as a roadmap for the paragraph, giving the reader a sense of what to expect.
- Provide supporting evidence : After the topic sentence, share the evidence from your research. Ensure the evidence is relevant and directly supports the paragraphâs topic sentence.
- Give a detailed explanation : Follow the evidence with an analysis or explanation that ties it back to the thesis statement. This step is crucial for maintaining logical flow throughout your body paragraphs.
- Use linking words : They connect body paragraphs smoothly, ensuring the reader can follow your argument.
- End each body paragraph with a closing sentence : It should sum up the point and move to the next idea.
Following this structure will help your body paragraphs support your thesis. These paragraphs will also offer a clear, detailed explanation of your essay topic. Strong body paragraphs are essential to maintain objectivity in your writing.
4. Maintain objectivity
An explanatory essay aims to inform and educate, which makes maintaining objectivity crucial. Staying neutral lets readers form their own opinions based on facts. This ensures the writing is both reliable and informative. Hereâs how to maintain objectivity:
- Avoid personal opinions: Your goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Refrain from injecting your personal opinion or biases. Instead, stick to presenting factual information that supports the thesis.
- Use relevant evidence: As mentioned, ground your arguments with relevant evidence from credible sources. Back up your main points with data and use research findings and verified details. This will make the explanatory article trustworthy.
- Provide a balanced view: In cases with multiple perspectives, offer a balanced view. Cover each side fairly. Even if one view prevails in consensus, acknowledging others gives readers a broader understanding.
- Adopt neutral language: Be careful with word choice and tone. Neutral language implies words that don’t encourage or illustrate bias. This helps avoid emotionally charged phrases and keeps the writing objective.
- Cite sources accurately: Proper citation of sources provides accountability for the evidence presented. This transparency builds credibility and shows youâve conducted research thoroughly. It’s also worth noting that different intuitions have different citation styles like APA and Chicago, which is important to note before starting your essay.
- Review for biases: After drafting your essay, review it with an eye for biases. Ensure no part leans too much on one viewpoint. And, don’t dismiss an opposing perspective without cause.
Maintaining objectivity enhances the clarity and reliability of explanatory writing. Letâs now focus on crafting an introduction and conclusion that bookend your work effectively.
5. Craft an effective introduction and conclusion
A good introduction and a strong conclusion frame your explanatory essay. They give context at the start and reinforce the main points at the end. Hereâs how to craft an effective introduction and conclusion.
In the introduction:
- Hook your reader in the introduction : Use an interesting fact, a compelling quote, or a surprising statistic.
- Provide background information : Be brief and offer only the essential context the reader needs to fully understand the topic. This should give the audience a foundational understanding before diving deeper into your main points.
- Include the thesis statement : Clearly state your thesis near the end of the introduction. This statement will outline the essay’s direction and give readers a preview of the body paragraphs.
In the conclusion:
- Summarize the key points : Start your explanatory essay conclusion with a summary. It should cover the main points from the body paragraphs. This summary should help readers recall and reinforce the information theyâve just read.
- Restate the thesis : Repeat your thesis again but in a new way. Explain how the evidence from the body paragraphs supported or clarified it.
- Provide a conclusion : End the essay with a statement that wraps up the argument. This statement should resonate with the reader. It should leave them with an impression that stresses the topic’s importance.
An effective introduction and conclusion give the essay structure and coherence. They guide readers from start to finish. The next step is revising and editing your entire essay for clarity and precision.
6. Revise and check clarity
Revising and editing are key in writing. They make sure your essay is clear, joined, and polished. Hereâs how to refine your writing using an explanatory essay checklist and proven academic writing techniques:
- Take a break: Before diving into revisions, step away from your essay for a few hours or even a day. This break will help you return with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot errors or inconsistencies.
- Follow an essay checklist: Create or use a checklist to ensure your essay has all the needed parts. It needs a strong intro with a clear thesis, well-structured body paragraphs, good sources, and a short conclusion. Check that your arguments follow a logical flow and that all relevant evidence is directly linked to your thesis statement.
- Check for clarity and conciseness: Academic writing needs clarity. So, make sure each paragraph and sentence conveys your point. Don’t use unnecessary jargon or overly complex language. Keep sentences concise while maintaining detailed explanations of your main points.
- Verify facts and citations: Make sure all facts, data, and quotes in the essay are accurate. Also, check that they are cited in the required academic style (e.g. MLA, APA). Improper citations can undermine the credibility of your writing.
- Review the grammar and style: Look for common grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and awkward phrasing. Reading the essay aloud can help catch odd sentence structures or confusing wording.
- Seek feedback: Share your essay with a peer or use online tools to get constructive criticism. A second perspective can highlight issues you might have missed.
These editing steps will help you produce a polished essay that clearly explains your main points and holds up to academic scrutiny.
Explanatory Essay Format
Understanding the explanatory essay format is key to a well-structured and logical paper. Hereâs a basic breakdown of the format for an explanatory essay:
Introduction paragraph
- Begin with an interesting sentence to capture the readerâs attention.
- Give a short intro. It should set the topic and outline the essay’s purpose.
- Present a clear thesis statement summarizing the main idea of the entire essay.
Body paragraphs
- Organize the body paragraphs around logical subtopics related to the essay topic.
- Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that aligns with the thesis.
- Show evidence from good sources. Also, give key details for each main point.
- Incorporate a robust concluding statement per paragraph that drives home your point and links to the ideas in the next paragraph/section.
- Summarize the key points.
- Provide a final statement that reinforces the main idea without introducing new information.
- Craft a concluding statement that leaves your teacher or professor with a lasting impression.
Following this essay outline ensures that your paper has a clear flow. This makes it easy for readers to understand and follow your argument.
Write Better Explanatory Essays With Smodin
Explanatory essays can be overwhelming. Presenting a solid argument, keeping your professor or teacher interested, and remembering conventions like citations can be a real headache.
But, a strong thesis and thorough research make them easier. Well-structured body paragraphs also help deliver a clear, insightful essay that maintains objectivity. Just remember to revise and check for accuracy!
AI-powered platforms like Smodin simplify and enhance the process of writing explanatory essays.
Smodin’s tools help craft clear and well-structured essays that meet any of your academic standards. With Smodin’s advanced research capabilities, you can gather detailed and relevant information quickly. This will save you time and improve your work.
- Plagiarism Checker : Ensure your essay maintains originality with Smodinâs plagiarism detection tool. This feature helps maintain academic integrity by checking your work against vast databases.
- Auto Citation : Cite your sources accurately without the hassle. Smodinâs auto-citation tool ensures your references are in the right format and meet your academic institution’s rules.
- Text Shortener : If your explanatory essay is too long, use Smodinâs AI writer as an essay shortener. It will help you cut your content without losing key details. This helps keep your essay clear and relevant.
- Text Rewriter : Helps paraphrase existing content, ensuring uniqueness and a fresh perspective.
- Summarizer : The Summarizer boils down long articles into short summaries. They are perfect for making an efficient outline or conclusion.
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Research Paper Structure: The Complete Guide
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A professional writer with ten years of experience and a Ph.D. in Modern History, Catharine Tawil writes engaging and insightful papers for academic exchange. With deep insight into the impact of historical events on the present, she provides a unique perspective in giving students a feel for the past. Her writing educates and stimulates critical thinking, making her a treasure to those wading through the complexities of history.
A research paper is an academic work depicting the design and results of a study. It can be an academic assignment in undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Moreover, it is an integral requirement in doctoral programs, where postgradsâ research papers are published in reputable journals to add credibility to their research findings.Â
Ordering different parts of a research paper is critical for fulfilling academic standards, streamlining your writing, and avoiding distractions and sidetracks. Although outlining may seem like a waste of time, it is the most efficient use of your time at the pre-writing stage, as it will help you order your thoughts and ideas and develop a plan of action to follow throughout the study.Â
In this post, weâll cover the basics of the research paper formatting, provide a basic template of a research paper structure, and provide a detailed description of each section, including the title page and abstract, introduction and literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. You can skip to a specific section if you have questions or concerns about it or check out the full article for an in-depth understanding of the full structure.Â
Essential Components of a Research Paper
Unlike other types of academic assignments, research papers have a structure more complex than a simple trio of introduction, body, and conclusion. You are expected to follow the established academic norms and include specific information for your paper to have any scientific value. The basic research paper structure example comprises the following parts:
Introduction
- Literature review
Methodology
- Acknowledgments
Please note that some sections of a research paper outlined above are optional. For example, you only need to include appendices if you wish to share a large volume of data that would make the paper unwieldy. You can also adjust this research paper setup to fit your study and word count requirements better. For instance, you can combine the results and discussion sections or the introduction and literature review.
Formatting Requirements
Although the research paper structure is basically the same for all fields of study and topics, the papers can look drastically different when following research paper formatting guidelines of various formatting styles, be it Chicago, MLA, or APA. You must learn the appropriate style at the onset of the writing process, so remember to ask your academic advisor about it if thereâs no mention of the formatting style within general requirements.
Once you know which research paper formatting style to use, get your hands on the relevant formatting guidebook. You can find most of the requirements online or sign out a book from a college library. Considering most formatting guidebooks are huge, focus on the main aspects that can make or break your paper, such as:
- Margins, font, and spacing. Most research paper format guidelines require 1-inch margins on all sides, a legible font of at least 12 pt, and double-spaced lines.Â
- Page numbering. Requirements vary, but typically, youâll need to include page numbers in the upper right-hand corner, half an inch from the corner.
- Headings and subheadings. Refer to MLA or APA handbooks to learn specific research paper headings requirements or ask your professor, as the guidelines differ greatly.Â
- In-text citations and reference list. In most cases, research paper in-text citations require the name of the main author along with the page number or the publication year. Reference list formatting varies across different styles, but you can use automatic citation generators to speed up the formatting process.
With formatting requirements out of the way, letâs now focus on individual components of a research paper to help you understand what each section should contain to be well received.
Title Page and Abstract
The research paper title page format depends on the required formatting style:
- MLA does not require a separate title page (unless specifically requested). Instead, in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, type your name, your instructorâs name, course name, and date (each on a new line, double-spaced). After that, center the title of the page and include its text.
- APA requires a separate title page, which should include the title of the paper, your name and affiliation, as well as the course name and number, your instructorâs name, and the assignmentâs due date.Â
A research paper abstract is brief summary of the main points of the research paper. Depending on the formatting style, it can be from 100 to 250 words long, highlighting the research objective, key methodology, and results highlights. An abstract should help readers decide if your work is worth reading at a glance.Â
An APA research paper organization requires an abstract on a separate page, with the âAbstractâ heading and the paperâs summary (without indent). Below the abstract, type âKeywords:â (in italics) and list the keywords researchers would use to find your paper in the library or online.Â
The opening section of the research paper outline gives students pause because they never know what the introduction should entail. If youâre stuck with writerâs block and donât know how to start the paper, answer these four questions, and youâll have all the major pieces necessary for the introduction:
- Whatâs the context of the problem? Open with a general view of the issue and its current state without going into too much detail (thatâs what the literature review is for). The background information should fit within one or two paragraphs and lead directly to the next point.Â
- What is the issue? The problem statement or question is the core of this part of the research paper structure. Think of it as a thesis statement for an essay. Everything you write in other sections of a research paper should always tie to your problem statement.
- How do you plan to solve the problem? You can formulate research objectives or hypotheses that your study will try to achieve or prove. Short papers typically have one hypothesis, while longer works usually have two or more related objectives.
- How will your study improve the issue? The answer can circle back to the background you laid out at the beginning of the research paper introduction and highlight the benefits (and potential drawbacks and limitations) of your research. Itâs the major âselling pointâ of the study, which should explain why anyone should care about it.Â
You can always leave the introduction for last and tackle it once the rest of the paper is done. Thatâs especially helpful if you use writerâs block as an excuse to procrastinate and put off writing other parts of a research paper.
Literature Review
The primary objective of a research paper literature review is to provide context and prove the relevance of your topic, as specified in the introduction. To that end, you need to find credible, objective, and relevant sources and synthesize any data pertaining to your research. Itâs important to avoid simple paraphrasing or summarization of reference data and instead provide its analysis and synthesize your own hypothesis.
Aside from the similarities found in references, this part of the research paper structure should also focus on discrepancies, contradictions, and knowledge gaps. These will prove your study has merit and can resolve the existing issues. Moreover, the knowledge gaps will help lead up to your main research question, which you may repeat near the end of the literature review.
Depending on the topic of your study, you can organize the literature review:
- Chronologically. You can go from the oldest sources published to the latest or from the latest events to situations long past. This approach is often the easiest, but it doesnât fit all topics and fields of study.
- Thematically. If you wish to cover two or more aspects of the issue, you can dedicate a subsection to each and analyze them together in the final subsection of the literature review. This is the most popular approach, as it can work for most topics.
- Methodologically. If you want to focus on the differences and similarities in research methodology, you can split the literature review into several subsections, devoting each one to a single methodology. This approach works for select subjects and can make the most of systemic studies.Â
If youâre working on an empirical study, you can stop there, but if your work is mostly theoretical, this stage of the research paper writing process could also involve developing a theoretical framework. It will help put your findings and results into perspective.
Although it may seem simple at first glance, a literature review takes a long time, most of which youâll spend looking for reliable sources. Luckily, you can easily outsource this task. All you need to do is say, âWrite my paper for meâ, and our experts will take over ASAP.Â
The research paper methodology section is an integral part of the piece, as it helps ensure the reproducibility of your results and increases your credibility. This part should answer two main questions:
- What? What did your study involve? What resources, software, materials, or samples did you use? What were the ethical considerations of your research?
- How? How much time did your study take? How did you choose participants? How did you collect data and analyze it?
Keep these questions in mind when working out a research design, picking data collection procedures and analysis techniques. If you rely on standard methods, a quick description with a citation would be enough for the methodology part of the research paper structure. But if you employ a unique approach, make sure to describe it in minute detail to ensure anyone can repeat the process and achieve the same results.Â
For obvious reasons, the methodology section will differ greatly depending on your field of study and topic. For example, qualitative and quantitative research methods are vastly different. At the same time, quantitative analysis of sociology or linguistics research will be nothing like analyzing blood tests for nursing students or analyzing the success of a marketing campaign for a business and management class. While the tools (i.e., programming language or table processing software) may be similar, the application will be different, and you should highlight these distinctions in your methodology section.Â
Although you can put off working on this section of the structure of a research paper, it can be helpful to put your methodology on paper before embarking on the study. A clear idea of the protocols you plan to employ should keep your study on track and minimize methodological errors.Â
The research paper results present the study findings as the ultimate product of your research. Instead of the raw data, you can present analysis results and visual aids in the form of tables, figures, and graphs, provide statistical analysis results, and refer interested readers to appendices containing raw data.
Remember to follow the formatting style requirements for tables and figures, which differ for APA and MLA. The same applies to lists and other visual aids. You should also ensure these materials do not destroy your paperâs readability. For example, a three-page table is much more difficult to grasp than a couple of charts highlighting the same data. Moreover, if you plan to present your findings on a poster or a PowerPoint presentation, it pays to work out the best way to present your insights that will fit all formats, including print and projection.
Itâs important to draw the line between the results and discussion parts of the research paper structure. The first presents analysis, while the latter relies on interpretations (or implications) of that analysis. Understanding the distinction can be quite challenging, especially if youâre working out the structure of a research paper for the first time.
Discussion and Conclusion
The research paper discussion connects the introduction and research question with the study results. Instead of merely analyzing data, this section should explain whether your initial hypothesis was correct or not. Moreover, the final section, along with the research paper conclusion, should cover the implications of the findings and their potential practical and theoretical applications. This part can also include the limitations of the study and the need for further research if you feel that it could be useful.
It may seem counterproductive, but you shouldnât shy away from shortcomings, mistakes, and negative results achieved in your study. Instead of waiting for uncomfortable questions from your instructor, present the bad along with the good and hypothesize potential ways of correcting errors or minimizing the negative influences. In some cases, negative results can be just as valuable (if not more so) than positive findings.
Remember to include the research paper references and appendices after the conclusion to wrap up your work and make it better with careful editing, proofreading, and formatting.
What is the purpose of a research paper?
The main objective is to present and share research insights and discoveries, which you should account for when structuring a research paper. Adding literature review and methodology sections is critical for highlighting the studyâs relevance and ensuring its reproducibility.
How do I structure the different sections of a research paper?
Structuring a research paper means adding an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. You can organize each of these sections thematically or chronologically or use a funnel structure, going from the broad context strokes to a narrow view of the problem.
What are the key formatting guidelines for a research paper?
Specific requirements for the structure of a research paper outline and its contents depend on the preferred formatting style. However, at its core, each formatting style focuses on readability. Thatâs where 12 pt to 14 pt font size and double line spacing come from. Refer to the relevant formatting style handbook for specific recommendations.Â
How do I effectively write the introduction and literature review?
The introduction is a critical part of the research paper structure that should include your primary research objective (or question), hypotheses, and the studyâs relevance. A literature review is designed to support the claims you make within the introduction by generously using reference data.Â
What is the difference between the results and discussion sections?
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A New Approach to LSAT Writing Will Debut on July 30, 2024
By Susan Krinsky
As legal education curricula and the practice of law continue to change with the times, LSAC is innovating to provide a new writing assessment that responds to the evolving needs of the profession.
On July 30, a redesigned approach to the LSAT Writing section of the LSAT will make its debut as we open the 2024-2025 testing cycle, which begins with the August administration of the LSAT.
This new approach to the writing assessment will help law schools continue to make holistic admission decisions and help prospective law students better prepare for the writing they will do in law school and beyond â still without the need for any specialized skills, knowledge, or experience with legal concepts.
Since 1982, LSAT Writing prompts have been designed to assess logical reasoning in the context of argumentative writing. But legal education curricula, the legal profession, and the demands of legal practice continue to evolve. In our ongoing conversations with law schools and the legal profession, we hear consistently about the importance of strong analytical and argumentative writing skills and the need to better assess a studentâs potential earlier in their academic journey.
Based on input from our member schools and other stakeholders in the legal profession, the new LSAT Writing section of the LSAT will be an even more effective tool for assessing the writing skills of individuals prior to law school. These changes will help schools better understand the writing capabilities of applicants for the purposes of their admission decisions. It will also enable law schools to better provide writing support for their students who need to strengthen their writing skills so they are better prepared for bar passage, finding employment, and practice.
This new approach aims to assess a test takerâs ability to construct a cogent argument based on a variety of evidentiary sources. Test takers will be presented with a debatable issue along with different perspectives that provide additional context. These perspectives, each of which is conveyed in a few sentences, are representative of a system of beliefs or values. Together, the perspectives illustrate competing ideologies and arguments around a particular issue. The test taker will then draft an argumentative essay in which they take a position, while addressing some of the arguments and ideas presented by the other perspectives.
The new argumentative writing task is designed to give test takers a clearer, more authentic writing purpose than the former âdecision basedâ LSAT Writing prompt, which was more narrowly focused on pure logical reasoning. When test takers have an opportunity to construct an original thesis and defend it based on their own judgment and analytical evaluation, rather than following pre-ordained lines of reasoning, we can better assess a broader and more complex range of decision-making skills that writers engage in.
By adopting this design, weâre not only enabling individuals to have a more authentic voice in their argument, but we are also better positioned to evaluate the writerâs ability to employ various rhetorical techniques, evidentiary strategies, and other important aspects of argumentative writing.
Given the additional reading required, we will be adding a short preparatory period to the LSAT Writing test, which test takers can use to organize their thoughts using guided prewriting analysis questions and to take notes using the digital notetaking tool provided in the testing environment. The questions are designed to help test takers analyze the various perspectives and generate productive ideas for their essay. Most test takers will have a total of 50 minutes â 15 minutes for prewriting analysis and 35 minutes for essay writing. Test takers with approved accommodations for additional time will have their time allocations adjusted accordingly.
To give test takers the opportunity to prepare, we have published a sample prompt as part of the free Official LSAT PrepTest library available in LawHub . Test takers can begin to familiarize themselves with the new approach and take practice LSAT Writing sessions in the official LSAT Writing environment.
We are also providing a sample of the new LSAT Writing prompt on LSAC.org . It should be noted that this LSAC.org sample is a âtext onlyâ version and that test functionality, including the timing function, is included in the practice environment in LawHub .
LSAT Writing has always been a part of the LSAT. Over the years, law schools have expressed the desire to make greater use of the writing portion in their holistic evaluations, so we moved to a digital assessment (instead of handwritten) so that schools could receive, read, and evaluate the studentsâ work. The changes we are announcing today will make the writing sample even more useful to schools in their evaluation and admission processes.
For the 2024-2025 testing cycle, LSAT Writing will remain an unscored part of the LSAT. Over the course of the 2024-2025 testing cycle, we will be analyzing data of the new LSAT Writing prompt to assess its validity and reliability with a long-term goal of providing a scored LSAT Writing assessment that schools may use in their holistic admission process.
We are excited to offer this new approach to LSAT Writing, starting August 1. We believe this new approach will allow test takers to demonstrate their writing skills even more effectively and will provide schools with even more insight into the strengths and potential of applicants.
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The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
Harvard College Writing Center 5 Asking Analytical Questions When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a
The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement, a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas. The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ...
Revised on July 23, 2023. An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold. You'll sometimes be asked to submit an essay outline as a separate ...
Every good essay has three basic parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. This simple guide will show you how to perfect your essay structure by clearly introducing and concluding your argument, and laying out your paragraphs coherently in between. Your essay writing can be dramatically improved overnight simply by using the correct ...
Step 2: Have a clear structure. Think about this while you're planning: your essay is like an argument or a speech. It needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question. Start with the basics! It's best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs.
Tips for Reading an Assignment Prompt. Asking Analytical Questions. Thesis. Introductions. What Do Introductions Across the Disciplines Have in Common? Anatomy of a Body Paragraph. Transitions. Tips for Organizing Your Essay. Counterargument.
1. In-the-moment narrative. This is where you tell the story one moment at a time, sharing the events as they occur. In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you. This structure is ideal for a specific experience involving extensive internal dialogue ...
An essay consists of three basic parts: Introduction. Body. Conclusion. The essay itself usually has no section headings. Only the title page, author declaration and reference list are written as headings, along with, for example, appendices. Check any task instructions, and your course or unit handbook, for further details.
A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.. Short videos to support your essay writing skills. There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing ...
An essay is not like a mystery novel which keeps the reader in suspense; it should not slowly reveal the argument to the reader. Instead, the contention and supporting arguments are usually stated in the introduction. When writing an introduction, you should typically use a general to specific structure.
An essay is a written composition that presents and supports a particular idea, argument, or point of view. It's a way to express your thoughts, share information, and persuade others to see things from your perspective. Essays come in various forms, such as argumentative, persuasive, expository, and descriptive, each serving a unique purpose.
At a minimum, a body paragraph needs to be 4 sentences long. However, a good body paragraph in a short essay will be at least 6-8 sentences long. 3. End with a concluding paragraph. Your conclusion provides a brief summary of your ideas so that the reader can reflect on them.
When we refer to essay structure, we mean the way the essay looks on the page and the specific paragraphs used to create that look. If you look at an essay, you will see that it is made up of several paragraphs. It is easy to tell where a new paragraph begins because they are indented. In Word, we create an indentation by pressing the "Tab ...
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Tips. Plan your essay before you write. Make sure you know how to comment on all the points that are asked. Invent information if you don't have any ideas. Divide the essay into paragraphs - put one answer in one paragraph. Use advanced vocabulary when you can and formal language.
An essay is a piece of non-fiction writing with a clear structure: an introduction, paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion.Writing an essay is an important skill in English and allows you to ...
The essay writing process consists of three main stages: Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline. Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion. Revision: Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling ...
Table of contents. Step 1: Identify the paragraph's purpose. Step 2: Show why the paragraph is relevant. Step 3: Give evidence. Step 4: Explain or interpret the evidence. Step 5: Conclude the paragraph. Step 6: Read through the whole paragraph. When to start a new paragraph.
3. Provide several pieces of evidence where possible. Many essays have a point to make and make it, tacking on a single piece of evidence from the text (or from beyond the text, e.g. a critical, historical, or biographical source) in the hope that this will be enough to make the point convincing.
7-10 minutes planning. 26-32 minutes writing. It is always a good idea to use the rest of your time to review what you've written and to make any adjustments. Students usually think that spending more time on the writing will gain more marks, but this isn't true: more essay doesn't mean more marks!
Underline the key words of the question. Annotate the exam paper (this is especially great if you are answering an essay question that also includes an extract) Establish your own argument, or viewpoint, based on the key words of the question. Write down your overarching argument (this is often called a "thesis statement") at the top of ...
Writing an essay isn't just about getting your ideas down on paper. It's about presenting them in a clear, structured way that makes sense to your reader. However, figuring out the best structure for your essay can sometimes be a tough nut to crack. That's why we developed the Table of Contents feature. The b
Essay Writing Skills | How to write an effective essay | Structure of an essay @studyeasee đïž Link is here :https://youtu.be/JvuibbjBTIw?si=5OVn_WAZGsFyR_qF...
There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay, but you should carefully plan and outline to make sure your essay flows smoothly and logically. Typical structural choices include. a series of vignettes with a common theme. a single story that demonstrates your positive qualities. Although many structures can work, there ...
An effective introduction and conclusion give the essay structure and coherence. They guide readers from start to finish. The next step is revising and editing your entire essay for clarity and precision. 6. Revise and check clarity. Revising and editing are key in writing. They make sure your essay is clear, joined, and polished.
You can skip to a specific section if you have questions or concerns about it or check out the full article for an in-depth understanding of the full structure. Essential Components of a Research Paper. Unlike other types of academic assignments, research papers have a structure more complex than a simple trio of introduction, body, and conclusion.
Over the course of the 2024-2025 testing cycle, we will be analyzing data of the new LSAT Writing prompt to assess its validity and reliability with a long-term goal of providing a scored LSAT Writing assessment that schools may use in their holistic admission process. We are excited to offer this new approach to LSAT Writing, starting August 1.
Land sustains life on Earth. Natural spaces such as forests, farmlands, savannahs, peatlands and mountains, provide humanity with the food, water and raw materials it needs to survive. While that might sound like an insurmountable task, it is not, say experts. On 5 June, the planet will celebrate ...
Here's how to write a dissertation outline according to the academic experts of our dissertation writing help: First, you prepare to write it (take some preliminary steps); then, you make notes (write) on every section of your future document. Let's discover that prewriting stage. Understand the guidelines