BASIC ESSAY STRUCTURE
The concept of shaping all the material into a unified and coherent whole is very important in the writing process. Simply put, this process is referred to as drafting, which may be best understood through elaborating on the following questions:
- How do I begin my essay?
- What goes on in the body paragraphs?
- How do I conclude my essay?
These are also some of the same questions you will ask when you outline your essay. It is important when outlining your essay, but before drafting your essay, to have an idea of where you want to go. An essay outline helps to provide the backbone that will lead to your first draft. And, of course, it ensures a sense of organization that is carried through the writing process and informs the basic structure of any essay. Here, we mean the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
THE SHAPE OF AN ESSAY
The overall shape of an essay is characterized by the presence of an introductory paragraph (featuring a thesis), body or support paragraphs (featuring topic statements), and a concluding paragraph. As a writer, you should treat the body paragraphs as the heart of your essay, the place where ideas come to life - by way of clarifying, expanding on, and illustrating them whether the thesis is stated or. If you state that your stay with your grandma over the summer was a disaster, the body of your essay would attempt to answer this basic question: In what ways was it a disaster? Each “way” needs to be stated, developed with explanations and examples, and concluded.
You see, the body paragraph mimics the standard shape of the essay because it has the following:
- Its own viewpoint (topic statement),
- Its own development (support, evidence, etc.) and
- Its own conclusion (a perspective on what has transpired).
The body/support paragraphs will give not only shape to the essay, but they give it life, as well. The ideas in each paragraph come alive with clarifications and targeted and relevant illustrations. A topic sentence/statement for each body/support paragraph creates a framework for both you as the writer and your readers. Your reading audience and purpose determine the focus of your essay.
