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Once you've understood the assignment and prepared your argument, you need to decide how you're going to present your essay in a logical structure.
Use our quick guide to planning out an essay to help you decide where and what to include in you introduction, conclusion, and main body of your text.
The introduction of your essay serves as a road map establishing the scope of the discussion and presenting the central argument that will be developed throughout the essay. This is a space to make a positive first impression of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. It will provide a solid ground for your assignment - providing you do everything you say you will.
Your introduction should outline how the main body of your writing will proceed. It will give the reader a general idea of the theme of your work, why you think it is important, and where you plan to detail all of your arguments and ideas. By the end of the introduction you should have formed an outline for a coherent structure that your reader can follow.
Use the introduction to define specific terms related to the essay question to demonstrate engagement and clarity. For example:
This essay will explore the concept of 'social media' as platforms that facilitate online interactions among users.
Show the range of viewpoints relevant to the essay question. For instance:
Social media's impact on mental health outcomes is multifaceted, encompassing economic, social, and psychological perspectives. This essay will focus on the social and psychological aspects, particularly examining...
The main body of the essay elaborates on the points introduced in the introduction and develops arguments supported by evidence. It should me structured in paragraphs, and each paragraph should follow a logical sequence that build up to your conclusion.
Each paragraph should focus on a specific point related to the main argument. Start with a clear topic sentence that relates directly to the thesis statement.
Support your arguments with evidence such as data, examples, or scholarly sources. For example:
Studies have shown a correlation between excessive social media use and increased feelings of anxiety and depression (Smith, 2020).
Ensure that each paragraph explicitly connects back to the central argument or the essay question. This helps maintain a clear and focused argument.
It is helpful to check your essay plan, your introduction and the conclusion as you go along to make sure everything adds up.
The conclusion brings together the key points of the essay and restates the central argument in light of the evidence provided in the main body. This is your opportunity to synthesise your ideas into a coherent conclusion, summarise what you have written, and reiterate the thesis statement from your introduction.
Bring all your ideas together and address the question one final time in one concise paragraph. Here you will abridge what you have accomplished, (dis)proven, or demonstrated within your main body. It is your final chance to ensure that the reader has been provided evidence to establish the main point of the writing. It is also your final chance to explicitly illustrate how you have met the assignment brief.
Briefly summarise the main points discussed in the essay. Avoid introducing new information, but make sure to reference
Restate the thesis statement, emphasising its significance in light of the evidence presented in the main body. This will help you make sure you have kept on-topic and achieved your aim. For example:
In conclusion, this essay has demonstrated that social media can have significant impacts on mental health outcomes, particularly in relation to...