Essay Structure Basics
How to organise an essay with an introduction, focused paragraphs and a conclusion.
A clear essay structure helps the reader follow your reasoning. Most academic essays follow the same basic shape.
The three parts
- Introduction: introduces the topic, gives necessary context, and states your thesis statement.
- Body: a series of paragraphs, each developing one point that supports the thesis.
- Conclusion: restates the main argument in light of the evidence and explains why it matters.
The introduction
A strong introduction usually does three things:
- Opens with context or a focused statement about the topic.
- Narrows to the specific question.
- Ends with a thesis that answers the question.
Avoid long background passages and avoid announcing "In this essay I will..." if a more direct statement is possible.
Body paragraphs
A common pattern is PEEL:
- Point: a topic sentence stating the paragraph's main idea.
- Evidence: a quotation, fact, example or data.
- Explanation: how the evidence supports the point.
- Link: how this connects back to the thesis or leads to the next point.
Example for a paragraph about a novel. The point: the setting reflects the character's isolation. The evidence: a short quotation describing an empty house. The explanation: how the description conveys loneliness. The link: how this supports the thesis about isolation.
Transitions
Use words and phrases that show relationships: however (contrast), therefore (result), for example (illustration), in addition (continuation), similarly (comparison).
The conclusion
Summarise the reasoning, not just the points. Say what follows from your argument. Do not introduce a major new point.
Common mistakes
- A thesis that is a fact rather than an arguable claim.
- Paragraphs with several unrelated points.
- Evidence with no explanation.
- A conclusion that repeats the introduction word for word.
Quick recap
Introduction with a thesis, one point per paragraph with evidence and explanation, linking words between ideas, and a conclusion that answers the question.