what are the 5 key elements of an essay

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5 Main Parts of an Essay: An Easy Guide to a Solid Structure

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You might think of essays as boring assignments for explaining the themes in Huckleberry Finn or breaking down the characters in The Great Gatsby , but the essay is one of the most timeless forms in all of literature. It’s a genre that includes deep readings of texts, personal essays, and journalistic reports. Before you get to any of that, you need to figure out the basic parts of the essay.

What Are the Parts of an Essay?

You can think of any essay as consisting of three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. You might see some small variations, but for the most part, that is the structure of any essay.

Take the five-paragraph essay as a simple example. With that form, you get one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. That’s five paragraphs, but three parts.

What Are the Main Parts of an Essay Printable 2022

Like a good word burger: how to write the three parts of an essay.

A good essay is much like a good burger (or a sandwich, but we’re a burger society here). Your intro and conclusion are the buns sandwiching the patty, cheese, and other good toppings of the body paragraphs.

What Is an Introduction Paragraph?

“Hello! My name is Seymour. It’s nice to meet you.” That might seem like a simple, non-essay introduction, but it has all the basic components of what you want in an  introduction paragraph . You start with the hook. Your hook is the first sentence of your entire essay, so you want to grab people’s attention (or hook them) immediately.

From there, you have sentences that lead the reader directly to the thesis sentence . Your thesis is possibly the most important part of your entire essay. It’s the entire raison d'être . It’s what you’re arguing or trying to accomplish with your essay as a whole.

Kaboom! That, the sound of the entire universe forming in an instant, giving rise to apples, toenails, and what we know today as the humble five-paragraph essay. Since that fortuitous moment, the five-paragraph essay has become the favorite assignment among English teachers, to the bemusement of students. Although many educators, professionals, and youths have valid criticisms about the form, the five-paragraph essay is an important component of developing writing skills and critical thought. 

What Is a Body Paragraph?

The body paragraphs are the main part of your essay burger. Each body paragraph presents an idea that supports your thesis. This can include evidence from a literary source, details that build out your thesis, or explanations for your reasoning.

The first sentence of each body paragraph is known as the topic sentence . You can kind of think of it like a smaller part of your thesis sentence. It’s the main idea that you want to discuss in that specific body paragraph. The rest of the body paragraph is made up of supporting sentences, which support that topic sentence.

While many are critical of the five-paragraph essay’s rigid form, that rigidity is part of what makes it so advantageous. Every five-paragraph essay is an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph, and they will always have that structure. With such a stable form, a writer truly only needs to worry about the contents of the essay, putting all the focus on the actual writing and ideas, not the organization.

What Is a Concluding Paragraph?

A burger needs a solid, sturdy bottom bun. Otherwise, the burger would fall apart. The same holds for a conclusion. A good conclusion holds the essay together, while offering a unique finishing touch to the whole thing.

The conclusion is at once the easiest and hardest part of the essay. It’s easy in that it mostly involves restating your thesis and much of what you already discussed. The hard part is thinking outside of the essay and considering how your thesis applies to components of real life.

In conclusion, the five-paragraph essay is a useful and effective form for teaching students how to write and develop their critical thinking skills. It’s not without its setbacks, but it’s a simple form that can give way to other ways of writing. Longer research papers are essentially five-paragraph essays with more body paragraphs, while short fiction and creative writing require similar critical thought and writing acumen. Even if you don’t write, five-paragraph essays can teach you how to use your voice and express your ideas.

Explore Essay Examples

Understanding each part of an essay is essential to writing one, but seeing actual essay examples in the wild can take you from essay noob to essay expert. Look at specific types of essays, and see if you can pick out the different parts in each one — from thesis statements to hooks and concluding sentences. 

• Argumentative Essay Examples
• About Me Essay Examples
• Descriptive Essay Examples
• Examples of Insightful Literary Analysis Essays
• Narrative Essay Examples

Elements of an Essay

Definition of elements of an essay.

An essay is a piece of composition that discusses a thing, a person, a problem, or an issue in a way that the writer demonstrates his knowledge by offering a new perspective , a new opinion, a solution, or new suggestions or recommendations. An essay is not just a haphazard piece of writing. It is a well-organized composition comprising several elements that work to build an argument , describe a situation, narrate an event, or state a problem with a solution. There are several types of essays based on the purpose and the target audience . Structurally, as an essay is an organized composition, it has the following elements:

• Introduction
• Body Paragraphs

Nature of Elements of an Essay

An essay has three basic elements as given above. Each of these elements plays its respective role to persuade the audience, convince the readers, and convey the meanings an author intends to convey. For example, an introduction is intended to introduce the topic of the essay. First it hooks the readers through the ‘ hook ,’ which is an anecdote , a good quote, a verse , or an event relevant to the topic. It intends to attract the attention of readers.

Following the hood, the author gives background information about the topic, which is intended to educate readers about the topic. The final element of the introduction is a thesis statement. This is a concise and compact sentence or two, which introduces evidence to be discussed in the body paragraphs.

Body paragraphs of an essay discuss the evidences and arguments introduced in the thesis statement . If a thesis statement has presented three evidences or arguments about the topic, there will be three body paragraphs. However, if there are more arguments or evidences, there could be more paragraphs.

The structure of each body paragraph is the same. It starts with a topic sentence, followed by further explanation, examples, evidences, and supporting details. If it is a simple non-research essay, then there are mostly examples of what is introduced in the topic sentences. However, if the essay is research-based, there will be supporting details such as statistics, quotes, charts, and explanations.

The conclusion is the last part of an essay. It is also the crucial part that sums up the argument, or concludes the description, narration, or event. It is comprised of three major parts. The first part is a rephrasing of the thesis statement given at the end of the introduction. It reminds the readers what they have read about. The second part is the summary of the major points discussed in the body paragraphs, and the third part is closing remarks, which are suggestions, recommendations, a call to action, or the author’s own opinion of the issue.

Function of Elements of an Essay

Each element of an essay has a specific function. An introduction not only introduces the topic, but also gives background information, in addition to hooking the readers to read the whole essay. Its first sentence, which is also called a hook, literally hooks readers. When readers have gone through the introduction, it is supposed that they have full information about what they are going to read.

In the same way, the function of body paragraphs is to give more information and convince the readers about the topic. It could be persuasion , explanation, or clarification as required. Mostly, writers use ethos , pathos , and logos in this part of an essay. As traditionally, it has three body paragraphs, writers use each of the rhetorical devices in each paragraph, but it is not a hard and fast rule. The number of body paragraphs could be increased, according to the demand of the topic, or demand of the course.

As far as the conclusion is concerned, its major function is to sum up the argument, issue, or explanation. It makes readers feel that now they are going to finish their reading. It provides them sufficient information about the topic. It gives them a new perspective, a new sight, a new vision, or motivates them to take action. The  conclusion needs to also satisfy readers that they have read something about some topic, have got something to tell others, and that they have not merely read it for the sake of reading.

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The Five Essential Elements of an Essay: A Guide for Academic Essay Writing

May 12, 2023 | 0 comments

May 12, 2023 | Blog | 0 comments

When it comes to academic writing, mastering the elements of an essay is crucial. Essays are a common form of assessment in schools and universities, and they are used to evaluate a student’s critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills. A well-written essay requires careful planning, strong research skills, and attention to detail. In this article, we will explore the five essential elements of an essay that every student needs to know. By understanding these key components that all good essays must have, you’ll be able to craft a well-structured, compelling essay that will earn you top grades and recognition for your writing skills. Whether you are a high school student or a seasoned academic writer, this guide will provide valuable tips and insights to help you improve your essay-writing skills and achieve your academic goals.

Table of Contents

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The Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence or two that conveys an essay’s main point or argument. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, telling them what the essay is about and the writer’s stance on the topic. A strong thesis statement is essential for a successful essay because it guides the writer in organizing their thoughts and helps the reader understand the essay’s purpose.

To create an effective thesis statement, it’s important first to identify the topic of the essay and the main point that the writer wants to make about it. The thesis statement should be clear, concise, and focused on a single idea. It should also be debatable, meaning someone else could have a different opinion.

One way to ensure a strong thesis statement is to use the “although” or “despite” construction.

For example: “ Although technology has made our lives easier, it has also caused numerous problems such as addiction and social isolation .” This thesis statement sets up an argument and presents both sides.

Another way to strengthen a thesis statement is to make it specific.

Rather than a broad statement like “ The environment is important, ” a more specific thesis statement could be “ The destruction of the rainforest is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time .”

The Introduction Paragraphs

The introduction is the opening section of an essay that sets the tone and provides context for the rest of the paper. It serves as a roadmap for the reader by outlining the purpose and scope of the essay and introducing the main argument or thesis statement. A strong introduction is crucial for grabbing the reader’s attention and engaging them in the topic.

To write an effective introduction, it’s important first to understand the essay’s purpose and intended audience. The introduction should provide enough background information to contextualize the essay but not so much that it becomes overwhelming or detracts from the main point.

One way to hook the reader in the introduction is to start with a compelling quote, anecdote, or interesting fact. This can pique the reader’s interest and motivate them to continue reading. Another effective technique is to use a rhetorical question that challenges the reader’s assumptions or provokes them to think critically about the topic.

In addition to setting up the main argument or thesis statement, the introduction should provide a clear overview of the essay’s structure and organization. This can include summarising the main points or subtopics in the body paragraphs.

The Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an essay are where the writer provides evidence and support for the main argument or thesis statement. Each body paragraph should focus on a single idea or point and provide a detailed analysis and explanation to support it. The body paragraphs are the heart of the essay, and the quality of the evidence and analysis determines the strength of the argument.

To write effective body paragraphs, it’s important first to organize and outline the main points or subtopics that will be addressed. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that states the main idea, followed by supporting sentences that provide evidence and analysis. The writer should also use transitional phrases and sentences to connect the paragraphs and create a cohesive flow.

A common structure for body paragraphs is the “PIE” format, which stands for Point, Illustration, and Explanation. The point is the topic sentence that introduces the main idea, the illustration provides specific evidence or examples to support the point, and the explanation analyzes and interprets the evidence to show how it supports the argument.

Another important aspect of writing effective body paragraphs is using proper citation and referencing to give credit to the sources of the evidence presented. This not only avoids plagiarism but also strengthens the credibility and validity of the argument.

The Conclusion

The conclusion is the final section of an essay that summarizes the main points and reiterates the thesis statement. It closes the essay by tying together all the arguments and evidence in the body paragraphs. A strong conclusion is important for leaving a lasting impression on the reader and reinforcing the main message of the essay.

To write an effective conclusion, it’s important to avoid simply restating the thesis statement or summarizing the main points. Instead, the conclusion should provide a sense of closure by highlighting the argument’s significance and offering a broader perspective on the topic. This can include a call to action or a thought-provoking question encouraging the reader to think more deeply about the argument’s implications.

One effective technique for writing a conclusion is to use the “So What?” test. This involves asking yourself, “So what? Why does this argument matter?” If the conclusion doesn’t answer this question clearly, it may need further development to strengthen its impact.

Another important aspect of writing an effective conclusion is to avoid introducing new ideas or evidence that haven’t been addressed in the essay. This can confuse the reader and detract from the main message of the essay.

Citations and References

Citations and references are an essential part of academic writing. They credit the sources of information used in the essay and enable readers to locate and verify the evidence presented. Proper citation and referencing also help avoid plagiarism, a serious offence in academic writing.

To cite sources correctly, it’s important to use the appropriate citation style required by the instructor or academic institution. Common citation styles include MLA, APA, and Chicago. Each style has its own set of rules and guidelines for citing different sources, such as books, articles, and websites.

In addition to in-text citations, a list of references or works cited page should be included at the end of the essay. This should include a full citation for each source used in the essay in the format specified by the citation style.

It’s also important to ensure that the sources used in the essay are reliable and credible. This includes peer-reviewed academic journals, books, websites, or online resources. The sources used should also be relevant and directly related to the topic or argument of the essay.

Using proper citation and referencing not only gives credit to the sources used in the essay but also strengthens the credibility and validity of the argument. It shows that the writer has thoroughly researched and uses reliable and credible sources to support their argument.

Editing and Proofreading Essays

Editing and proofreading are crucial steps in the writing process that can significantly improve the quality of an essay. Editing involves revising and refining the essay’s content, structure, and style, while proofreading involves checking for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

To edit an essay effectively, taking a break from writing and returning to the essay with a fresh perspective is important. This can help the writer identify areas that need improvement, such as unclear or repetitive sentences, weak arguments, or lack of coherence. The writer can then revise and refine the essay’s content, structure, and style to make it clearer, concise, and engaging.

Proofreading involves checking for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This can be done by reading the essay carefully and slowly, word by word, or using proofreading tools such as spell and grammar checkers . It’s also helpful to have someone else read the essay to catch errors the writer may have missed.

Another important aspect of editing and proofreading is ensuring that the essay follows the formatting and citation guidelines required by the instructor or academic institution. This includes checking for proper citation and referencing and formatting the essay according to the specified font size, line spacing, and margins.

By thoroughly editing and proofreading the essay, the writer can ensure it is polished and error-free and presents its ideas in the best possible way. This not only improves the readability and clarity of the essay but also enhances the credibility and professionalism of the writer.

In conclusion, writing an essay requires careful attention to several essential elements that must be included in an essay. These elements include a clear thesis statement, a well-crafted introduction, organized body paragraphs, a strong conclusion, and proper citation and referencing. Editing and proofreading are also critical to ensure that the essay is error-free and polished and presents the writer’s ideas best. Following these guidelines, writers can produce high-quality academic essays that effectively convey their arguments and ideas to their intended audience.

FAQs on Elements of An Essay

Q: what are the 5 key elements of an essay.

A: The five key elements of an essay are the thesis statement, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and citations/references.

Q: What are the elements of essay?

A: The elements of an essay include the thesis statement, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and citations/references.

Q: What are the six elements of an essay?

A: The traditional five elements of an essay are the thesis statement, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and citations/references. Some writers may also include a title as the sixth element.

Q: What are the 4 elements of essay writing?

A: The four elements of essay writing are planning and research, writing, editing, and proofreading. These steps are essential for producing a well-written essay that effectively conveys the writer’s ideas and arguments.

With a passion for helping students navigate their educational journey, I strive to create informative and relatable blog content. Whether it’s tackling exam stress, offering career guidance, or sharing effective study techniques

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Main 5 Parts of an Essay: Easy Guidelines for Writers

• Icon Calendar 9 November 2024
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Five-paragraph essays are one form of academic writing that helps students to build their writing, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasive skills. As the most common example of this type of essay, an argumentative paper allows students to address an issue by looking at the evidence available in scholarly sources. Moreover, using evidence is essential in backing up writer’s statements, counter claims, and rebuttals. As a result, such a paper has 5 parts of an essay: the introduction, writer’s arguments, counter arguments, refutation, and conclusion.

General Guidelines for 5 Parts of an Essay

Essay writing is an academic exercise that enhances students’ writing, critical thinking, reflection, and analytical skills. Besides providing students with a platform for using these skills, writing allows them to build effective communication skills by using 5 parts of an essay. In this case, scholars write different types of papers, including regular, argumentative, expository, comparative, cause and effect, problem-solution, narrative, analytical, process, and classification essays, among others. Then, the choice of which paper to write and its topic are details that instructors give to students. However, authors can choose interesting topics if they have such options. When students write a 5-paragraph essay, they must ensure to capture content in five parts, which address separate but related subjects. These sections include the introduction, supporting details covered in three body paragraphs, and conclusion. Besides, the most common five-paragraph essays are argumentative, where three body points cover the argument, counter argument, and rebuttal. In turn, the length of a 5-part essay can vary depending on academic level, subject, specific assignment requirements, and institutional guidelines. A general recommendation for high school, college, university, master’s, and Ph.D. levels in terms of pages and words is:

High School

• Length: 2-3 pages
• Words: 500-800 words
• Details: Each part, such as the introduction, three body points, and conclusion, is typically 1-2 paragraphs.
• Length: 3-5 pages
• Words: 800-1200 words
• Details: Each part may consist of multiple paragraphs with more detailed arguments and evidence.
• Length: 5-7 pages
• Words: 1200-2000 words
• Details: Each part is more comprehensive, including in-depth analysis and more substantial evidence.
• Length: 10-15 pages
• Words: 3000-5000 words
• Details: Each section includes detailed arguments, a comprehensive literature review, and substantial evidence.
• Length: 15-20+ pages
• Words: 5000-7000+ words
• Details: Each part is highly detailed, covering extensive analysis, multiple sub-sections, and significant original research.

What Are the Main Parts of an Essay

A typical essay consists of 3 main parts, such as an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, and each part has a specific purpose in the overall essay’s structure. For a 4-part essay, a paper consists of 1 introduction paragraph, 2 body paragraphs, and 1 conclusion paragraph. In turn, a 5-part essay layout means that a paper is structured into 5 key components, such as 1 introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and 1 conclusion (Matthews, 2023). In the case of 6 or 7 parts of an essay, its complex structure includes 1 introduction, 1 background or context paragraph, 1 or 2 argument paragraphs, 1 counter argument paragraph, 1 rebuttal paragraph, and 1 conclusion. Hence, the number of paragraphs provided from the beginning to the end of a paper defines how many parts of an essay should be included.

Their Purpose

The introduction grabs the reader’s attention, provides background or context information, and ends with a clear 3-point thesis statement sentence, which is the main argument or focus of any essay. Then, each body paragraph starts with a single topic sentence, is connected to the thesis, is supported by evidence and analysis, and has logical transitions to the next idea (Eunson, 2008). Finally, the conclusion restates the central claim using other words, summarizes the main points discussed in body sections, and leaves readers with a final thought or call to action. As a result, these parts work together to create a cohesive and compelling claim, guiding readers through writer’s ideas from introduction to conclusion elements.

Examples of Five-Paragraph Essay Outlines

Note: Regular essays are more prevalent in the academic sphere, and the task is usually to write something like a 500-word paper on a given topic. The outline part in such a case will vary and might be altered with additional subheadings. However, 5 elements of an argumentative essay are a more complex version.

Simple 5-Part Essay Format for a Topic of Education

• Hook: Education is a real key to getting a brighter future.
• Background: Brief overview of education’s role in society.
• Thesis: Education is essential for personal and societal development.
• Topic Sentence: Education improves individual lives.
• Evidence: Higher income and better job opportunities.
• Closing: Education brings many benefits.
• Topic Sentence: Education benefits society.
• Evidence: Lower crime rates and increased civic engagement.
• Closing: Education makes people intelligent.
• Topic Sentence: Education fosters innovation.
• Evidence: Technological advancements and creative problem-solving.
• Closing: Education is necessary for all people.
• Restated Thesis: Education’s importance in various aspects.
• Summary: Recap of main points.
• Closing Sentence: Call to support educational initiatives.

Note: Writers can add or delete as many body paragraphs as they want to include in their essays.

Writing all 5 Parts of an Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

Based on an essay outline of 5 parts indicated above, it is clear that the content of each of the five paragraphs is unique. However, all components revolve around topics that students interrogate. For example, if authors are examining the medical benefits of marijuana, the introduction part should introduce readers to this topic. Here, writers can offer the context of the theme by discussing the debate around medical marijuana. In the argument section, scholars should state the medicinal benefits of marijuana by citing research evidence. In the counter argument section, scholars should discuss ideas that challenge the claims made in the previous section. On the other hand, the rebuttal section should challenge the ideas in the counter argument part, while the conclusion segment should confirm some reasons as to why marijuana has medical benefits.

Part 1: Introduction

It is standard in academic writing for students to begin every text with the introduction. By considering a structure of 5 parts of an essay, the introduction sets the stage for the author’s claims in the main text (Matthews, 2023). Here, students must ensure to address three things: that they have the readers’ attention, that they have contextualized their message, and that they have made clear the intention of the text. In short, the introduction comprises a hook, background information about the topic, and a thesis statement.

To arouse curiosity in readers’ minds, students should start the introduction section with a hook. Ideally, this is a powerful, eye-catching statement that grabs the readers’ attention and makes them interested in continuing to read a whole essay (Taylor, 2011). Basically, if scholars know how to write a hook, they understand their audience. Moreover, a hook sentence can be a quote from a notable personality, a research finding, a controversial statement by a noteworthy figure, or a joke (Eunson, 2008). In turn, the hook’s essence is to make sure the audience is fully engaged in a particular essay right from the start.

B. Background Information

The best way to make the audience keen on what writers say in their text is to provide them with the topic’s context. In other words, starting this section of 5 parts of an essay by going straight into claims and arguments without giving readers information that makes them conversant with issues relevant to the topic is like leading blind followers (Matthews, 2023). However, background information makes readers aware of the context of the topic. In turn, by assuming the topic is the legalization of marijuana, students should write about the debate surrounding the topic, including arguments for and against legalization. Besides, authors should not dwell too much on background information.

C. Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the claim that writers make in concluding the introduction part of their essays. Basically, the essence of this statement is that it exemplifies the writer’s main claim in the text (Eunson, 2008). Moreover, all the body paragraphs should provide content that underscores this statement. Then, considering the above example about the legalization of marijuana, authors can conclude the introduction part by stating that the benefits of legalizing marijuana far outweigh the costs. As a result, this statement becomes the thesis that guides the entire paper.

Part 2: Arguments

The second section of 5 parts of an essay is the body. In particular, students delve into the topic by analyzing evidence that backs up their thesis. For example, writers provide readers with sufficient details about the topic, using the thesis statement as the guidepost (Ferretti & Graham, 2019). In a five-paragraph essay, the first part of the body, which is the second section of the article, emphasizes the writer’s arguments. Then, by considering the topic of marijuana legalization and the thesis statement that claims the benefits of legalizing marijuana far outweigh the costs, writers use this section to back up this claim. To make their argument credible, authors must rely on scholarly articles to find evidence that supports their claim (Taylor, 2011). In turn, it means using scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and official publications as sources of this evidence.

A. Writer’s Claims

Claims are the primary content in body paragraphs of an argumentative essay. In the first part of this section, students offer claims in support of the thesis statement. Basically, these claims are different from the writer’s opinion because they are backed by evidence from scholarly texts (Ferretti & Graham, 2019). Moreover, such claims can be as many as authors wish. However, there must not be too many statements to make papers lack the author’s voice. Then, in every claim that students make, there must be supporting evidence and the author’s interpretation. In turn, the interpretation reflects how writers understand the evidence in the context of their central idea. Hence, besides providing supporting evidence, scholars must mention how it strengthens the thesis statement.

B. Evidence

Evidence includes facts and statistics that students find in the process of researching the topic. Basically, key rules of academic writing dictate that authors should rely on scholarly sources to find evidence that backs up their claims. For example, there are many criteria for identifying scholarly sources, but the most common are: a) sources must have an author with notable academic credentials; b) sources must be published, such as a book or journal article; and c) sources must be written in a formal language without jargon or slang (Matthews, 2023). Hence, writers use only credible evidence that does not include bias or inaccurate details.

Part 3: Counter Argument

The third section of 5 parts of an essay, which is the second part of the main text, focuses on counter arguments. Ideally, it makes no sense for a writer to outline arguments in favor of an issue without recognizing divergent views (Ferretti & Graham, 2019). In this case, the counter argument section is where authors mention discussions by critics and scholars that undermine the claim established in the thesis statement. To make sure the entire paper is scholarly, writers should also back up these counter arguments with evidence from academic sources.

Part 4: Rebuttal

After mentioning arguments that counter the main argument in the thesis, students should refute these claims. Basically, the fourth section of a 5-paragraph argumentative essay, which is the third part of the main text, is the rebuttal. In this case, writers challenge counter arguments to convince readers of the validity of the claim established in the thesis statement (Redman & Maples, 2017). Then, the best approach in writing refutations is to point out any notable flaws in the counter argument(s). Like in all other cases where authors make a claim, supporting or challenging the thesis statement, evidence from academic sources should back up such refutations (Taylor, 2011). Hence, this section aims to convince readers that, despite contrary evidence, the writer’s argument is weighty.

A. Essentials of Persuasive Paragraphs

When organizing three body sections from 5 parts of an essay, students must ensure what they write in these segments is persuasive. In a five-paragraph essay, authors should start each of the three body paragraphs – argument, counter argument, and rebuttal sections – with a topic sentence. For example, if scholars know how to write a topic sentence, they understand that it establishes the writer’s focus in that particular paragraph (Redman & Maples, 2017). However, in order to have a proper logical flow, all topic sentences should be related to the thesis statement. Consequently, writers should end each paragraph with a concluding sentence. In turn, this statement links the topic sentence to the thesis statement and creates a transition to the next section. Moreover, the content that goes between the topic and concluding sentences is evidence, analysis, and interpretation. In essence, it is a sandwich rule.

Part 5: Conclusion

The last section of 5 parts of an essay is the conclusion. Basically, it is a place where writers rest the matter. Basically, the chances that readers may have lost bearing about the writer’s mission are always high toward the end of a paper (Shillingford & Karlin, 2013). As such, authors should restate the thesis statement in the conclusion part to remind the audience about the paper’s original intention. What should follow is a summary of the claims, including the writer’s arguments, counter arguments, and refutations. Moreover, scholars should be clear that their claims are valid despite contrary evidence (Matthews, 2023). In turn, the last statement should capture the writer’s concluding thought. Here, students should offer readers a perspective of what would happen if their offers were implemented. In other words, they should emphasize the practical implications of their argument(s).

Common Mistakes

• Weak Thesis Statement – Ensure your thesis is clear and specific, not vague or broad.
• Lack of Organization – Follow a 5-part essay structure closely to maintain coherence.
• Poor Transitions – Use transitional phrases to ensure smooth flow between paragraphs.
• Insufficient Evidence – Back up your claims with credible sources and detailed support.
• Overly Complex Language – Focus on clarity and precision instead of using unnecessarily complex words.
• Ignoring a Counter Argument – Address and refute opposing views to strengthen your claim.
• Repetition – Avoid repeating similar points and introduce new ideas or evidence in each paragraph.
• Unclear Analysis – Provide deeper insights and critical thinking rather than shallow analysis.
• Incorrect Citations – Follow required citation style rules to avoid errors.
• Neglecting a Conclusion – Ensure your conclusion effectively summarizes main points and reinforces the thesis.

Essay writing is an essential academic activity for developing students writing, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasive skills. When considering 5 components of an essay, students should focus on getting sufficient content to fill these sections. For example, these parts are the introduction, writer’s arguments, counter arguments, rebuttals, and conclusion. In turn, students should master the following tips when writing a five-paragraph essay:

• maintain an academic tone by avoiding jargon and slang;
• use scholarly sources to find evidence that backs up claims;
• ensure the introduction paragraph closes with the thesis statement;
• open every body paragraph (writer’s argument, counter argument, and rebuttal) with a topic sentence and close with a concluding sentence.

Eunson, B. (2008). Academic writing: The essay. In Communicating in the 21st Century (pp. 224–253). John Wiley and Sons. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263863946

Ferretti, R. P., & Graham, S. (2019). Argumentative writing: Theory, assessment, and instruction. Reading and Writing , 32 (6), 1345–1357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-019-09950-x

Matthews, J. (2023). How to write a 5-paragraph essay step-by-step . Independently published.

Redman, P., & Maples, W. (2017). Good essay writing: A social sciences guide . SAGE Publications Ltd.

Shillingford, S., & Karlin, N. J. (2013). The role of intrinsic motivation in the academic pursuits of nontraditional students. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development , 25 (3), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1002/nha3.20033

Taylor, G. (2011). A student’s writing guide: How to plan and write successful essays . Cambridge University Press.

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Baker College Writing Guide

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Starting an Essay

Essay structure, writing a thesis statement, introduction paragraphs, body paragraphs, conclusions.

• Paragraph Structure
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Almost every course you will encounter in college will include writing assignments. One of the most common writing assignments is known as an essay. While the content and style of  essay projects will vary across the disciplines, there are a number of key components that all good essays include. This section of the guide walks you through some of the basic components of the essay genre.  Here are some general thoughts before you get started.  

• A good essay is well-organized and structured. Good essays have a clear introduction, thesis, and conclusion. Body paragraphs in the essay connect back to the thesis. 
• In college, we are no longer tied to a five-paragraph essay (unless an instructor specifically asks for this). Our essays in college can range in length. Some projects may be more than 10 pages, so it would be impossible to use only 5 paragraphs for an essay of this length. 
• Because we are no longer tied to a 5-paragraph essay, we do not have to include "three points" in our thesis statement as we may have done in other courses. 
• Essays should be cohesive and have a good flow. We can create this flow by using transition words and phrases to connect one point to the next. 
• Remember to the review the directions before you start. One can produce a wonderfully-written essay, but if it does not meet the project's parameters, it will not usually receive a passing grade.
• Schedule a meeting with your instructor or tutor before you begin. Visit  http://baker.mywconline.com/  to schedule a meeting with a professional tutor. 

• Parts of an Essay This handout breaks down an essay into it core parts. This short video will provide you with essay structure help.
• Creating a Strong Thesis Statement Here are some brief tips about how to write a strong thesis statement for your college writing project.
• How to Write an Excellent Introduction This handout leads you through a number of successful strategies to garner reader interest and transition into your thesis statement.
• Creating Body Paragraphs This resource walks you through paragraph creation including how to implement good topic sentences, proper organization, and excellent development.
• Crafting a Strong Conclusion We often focus on creating a strong introduction, but crafting a well-written conclusion is just as important.
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Gordon Harvey’s Elements of the Academic Essay

The “Elements of the Academic Essay” is a taxonomy of academic writing by Gordon Harvey. It identifies the key components of academic writing across the disciplines and has been widely influential. Below is a complete list (with descriptions).

Elements of an Essay

“Your main insight or idea about a text or topic, and the main proposition that your essay demonstrates. It should be true but arguable (not obviously or patently true, but one alternative among several), be limited enough in scope to be argued in a short composition and with available evidence, and get to the heart of the text or topic being analyzed (not be peripheral). It should be stated early in some form and at some point recast sharply (not just be implied), and it should govern the whole essay (not disappear in places).”  — Gordon Harvey, “Elements of the Academic Essay”

• See this fuller discussion of some of the scholarly debates about the thesis statement:  The Thesis Statement
• See this piece on the pros and cons of having a thesis statement:  Pros and Cons of Thesis Statements
• See this piece on working with students without a thesis:  What To Do When There’s No Thesis
• And see this piece for working with students with varied levels of thesis development:  A Pseudo-Thesis

“The intellectual context that you establish for your topic and thesis at the start of your essay, in order to suggest why someone, besides your instructor, might want to read an essay on this topic or need to hear your particular thesis argued—why your thesis isn’t just obvious to all, why other people might hold other theses (that you think are wrong). Your motive should be aimed at your audience: it won’t necessarily be the reason you first got interested in the topic (which could be private and idiosyncratic) or the personal motivation behind your engagement with the topic. Indeed it’s where you suggest that your argument isn’t idiosyncratic, but rather is generally interesting. The motive you set up should be genuine: a misapprehension or puzzle that an intelligent reader (not a straw dummy) would really have, a point that such a reader would really overlook. Defining motive should be the main business of your introductory paragraphs, where it is usually introduced by a form of the complicating word ‘But.'”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

“The data—facts, examples, or details—that you refer to, quote, or summarize to support your thesis. There needs to be enough evidence to be persuasive; it needs to be the right kind of evidence to support the thesis (with no obvious pieces of evidence overlooked); it needs to be sufficiently concrete for the reader to trust it (e.g. in textual analysis, it often helps to find one or two key or representative passages to quote and focus on); and if summarized, it needs to be summarized accurately and fairly.”  –Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay

“The work of breaking down, interpreting, and commenting upon the data, of saying what can be inferred from the data such that it supports a thesis (is evidence for something). Analysis is what you do with data when you go beyond observing or summarizing it: you show how its parts contribute to a whole or how causes contribute to an effect; you draw out the significance or implication not apparent to a superficial view. Analysis is what makes the writer feel present, as a reasoning individual; so your essay should do more analyzing than summarizing or quoting.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

“The recurring terms or basic oppositions that an argument rests upon, usually literal but sometimes a ruling metaphor. These terms usually imply certain assumptions—unstated beliefs about life, history, literature, reasoning, etc. that the essayist doesn’t argue for but simply assumes to be true. An essay’s keyterms should be clear in their meaning and appear throughout (not be abandoned half-way); they should be appropriate for the subject at hand (not unfair or too simple—a false or constraining opposition); and they should not be inert clichés or abstractions (e.g. “the evils of society”). The attendant assumptions should bear logical inspection, and if arguable they should be explicitly acknowledged.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

One of the most common issues we address in the writing center is the issue of structure. Many students never consciously address structure in the way that they consciously formulate a thesis. This is ironic because the two are inseparable – that is, the way you formulate an argument (structure) is essential to the argument itself (thesis). Thus, when emphasizing the importance of structure to students, it is important to remind them that structure cannot be developed in the absence of a strong thesis: you have to know what you’re arguing before you decide how to argue it.

As a writing tutor, your first task in addressing issues of structure will be to try and gauge if the student writer has an idea of what good structure looks like. Some students understand good structure, even if it’s just at an intuitive level, while others do not. If comprehension seems lacking, it may be useful to actually stop and explain what good structure looks like.

Some Ways of Thinking about Structure:

The structure of the paper should be progressive; the paper should “build” throughout. That is, there should be a logical order to the paper; each successive paragraph should build on the ideas presented in the last. In the writing center we are familiar with the scattershot essay in which the student throws out ten arguments to see what sticks. Such essays are characterized by weak or nonexistent transitions such as “My next point…” or “Another example of this…”.

Some students will understand structure better with the help of a metaphor. One particularly nice metaphor (courtesy of Dara) is to view the structure of an academic paper as a set of stairs. The paper begins with a small step; the first paragraph gives the most simple assumption or support for the argument. The paper then builds, slowly and gradually towards the top of the staircase. When the paper reaches its conclusion, it has brought the reader up to the top of the staircase to a point of new insight. From the balcony the reader can gaze out upon the original statement or question from higher ground.

How Gordon Harvey describes structure in his “Elements of the Academic Essay”:

“The sections should follow a logical order, and the links in that order should be apparent to the reader (see “stitching”). But it should also be a progressive order—there should have a direction of development or complication, not be simply a list or a series of restatements of the thesis (“Macbeth is ambitious: he’s ambitious here; and he’s ambitious here; and he’s ambitions here, too; thus, Macbeth is ambitious”). And the order should be supple enough to allow the writer to explore the topic, not just hammer home a thesis.”

“Words that tie together the parts of an argument, most commonly (a) by using transition (linking or turning) words as signposts to indicate how a new section, paragraph, or sentence follows from the one immediately previous; but also (b) by recollection of an earlier idea or part of the essay, referring back to it either by explicit statement or by echoing key words or resonant phrases quoted or stated earlier. The repeating of key or thesis concepts is especially helpful at points of transition from one section to another, to show how the new section fits in.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

Persons or documents, referred to, summarized, or quoted, that help a writer demonstrate the truth of his or her argument. They are typically sources of (a) factual information or data, (b) opinions or interpretation on your topic, (c) comparable versions of the thing you are discussing, or (d) applicable general concepts. Your sources need to be efficiently integrated and fairly acknowledged by citation.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

When you pause in your demonstration to reflect on it, to raise or answer a question about it—as when you (1) consider a counter-argument—a possible objection, alternative, or problem that a skeptical or resistant reader might raise; (2) define your terms or assumptions (what do I mean by this term? or, what am I assuming here?); (3) handle a newly emergent concern (but if this is so, then how can X be?); (4) draw out an implication (so what? what might be the wider significance of the argument I have made? what might it lead to if I’m right? or, what does my argument about a single aspect of this suggest about the whole thing? or about the way people live and think?), and (5) consider a possible explanation for the phenomenon that has been demonstrated (why might this be so? what might cause or have caused it?); (6) offer a qualification or limitation to the case you have made (what you’re not saying). The first of these reflections can come anywhere in an essay; the second usually comes early; the last four often come late (they’re common moves of conclusion).”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

“Bits of information, explanation, and summary that orient the reader who isn’t expert in the subject, enabling such a reader to follow the argument. The orienting question is, what does my reader need here? The answer can take many forms: necessary information about the text, author, or event (e.g. given in your introduction); a summary of a text or passage about to be analyzed; pieces of information given along the way about passages, people, or events mentioned (including announcing or “set-up” phrases for quotations and sources). The trick is to orient briefly and gracefully.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

“The implied relationship of you, the writer, to your readers and subject: how and where you implicitly position yourself as an analyst. Stance is defined by such features as style and tone (e.g. familiar or formal); the presence or absence of specialized language and knowledge; the amount of time spent orienting a general, non-expert reader; the use of scholarly conventions of form and style. Your stance should be established within the first few paragraphs of your essay, and it should remain consistent.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

“The choices you make of words and sentence structure. Your style should be exact and clear (should bring out main idea and action of each sentence, not bury it) and plain without being flat (should be graceful and a little interesting, not stuffy).”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

“It should both interest and inform. To inform—i.e. inform a general reader who might be browsing in an essay collection or bibliography—your title should give the subject and focus of the essay. To interest, your title might include a linguistic twist, paradox, sound pattern, or striking phrase taken from one of your sources (the aptness of which phrase the reader comes gradually to see). You can combine the interesting and informing functions in a single title or split them into title and subtitle. The interesting element shouldn’t be too cute; the informing element shouldn’t go so far as to state a thesis. Don’t underline your own title, except where it contains the title of another text.”  — Gordon Harvey, “The Elements of the Academic Essay”

A student’s argument serves as the backbone to a piece of writing. Often expressed in the form of a one-sentence thesis statement, an argument forms the basis for a paper, defines the writer’s feelings toward a particular topic, and engages the reader in a discussion about a particular topic. Because an argument bears so much weight on the success of a paper, students may spend hours searching for that one, arguable claim that will carry them through to the assigned page limit. Formulating a decent argument about a text is tricky, especially when a professor does not distribute essay prompts—prompting students to come to the Writing Center asking that eternal question: “ What  am I going to write about?!”

Formulating the Idea of an Argument (Pre-Writing Stage)

Before a student can begin drafting a paper, he or she must have a solid argument. Begin this process by looking at the writing assignment rubric and/or prompt assigned by the professor. If no particular prompt was assigned, ask the student what interests him or her in the class? Was there a reading assignment that was particularly compelling and/or interesting? Engage the student in a conversation about the class or the paper assignment with a pen and paper in their hand. When an interesting idea is conveyed, ask them to jot it down on a paper. Look for similarities or connections in their written list of ideas.

If a student is still lost, it’s helpful to remind them to remember to have a  motive  for writing. Besides working to pass a class or getting a good grade, what could inspire a student to write an eight page paper and enjoy the process? Relating the assigned class readings to incidents in a student’s own life often helps create a sense of urgency and need to write an argument. In an essay entitled “The Great Conversation (of the Dining Hall): One Student’s Experience of College-Level Writing,” student Kimberly Nelson remembers her passion for Tolkien fueled her to write a lengthy research paper and engage her friends in discussions concerning her topic (290).

Additional ideas for consultations during the pre-writing stage .

Formulating the Argument

The pre-writing stage is essential because arguments must “be limited enough in scope to be argued in a short composition” according to Harvey’s  Elements of the Academic Essay . Narrow down the range of ideas so the student may write a more succinct paper with efficient language. When composing an argument (and later, a thesis), avoid definitive statements—arguments are  arguable , and a great paper builds on a successive chain of ideas grounded in evidence to support an argument. It is of paramount importance to remind your student that the argument will govern the entire paper and not “disappear in places” (Harvey). When composing an actual paper, it’s helpful to Post-It note a summary of your argument on your computer screen to serve as a constant reminder of  why  you are writing.

Difficulties with Arguments and International Students

When international students arrive at Pomona College, they are often unsure of what the standard academic writing expectations are. If a student submits a draft to you devoid of any argument, it’s important to remember that the conventions of their home country may not match up to the standards we expect to see here. Some countries place more of an emphasis on a summary of ideas of others rather than generating entirely new arguments. If this is the case for your student, (gently) remind him or her that most Pomona College professors expect to see new arguments generated from the students and that “summary” papers are frowned upon. Don’t disparage their previous work—use the ideas present in their paragraphs as a launching point for crafting a new, creative argument.

“Students, like all writers, must fictionalize their audience.”

– Fred Pfister and Joanne Petrik, “A Heuristic Model for Creating a Writer’s Audience” (1980)

The main purpose of imagining or fictionalizing an audience is to allow the student to position his/her paper within the discourse and in conversation with other academics. By helping the student acknowledge the fact that both the writer (the student) and the reader (the audience) play a role in the writing process, the student will be better able to clarify and strengthen his/her argument.

Moreover, the practice of fictionalizing the audience should eventually help the student learn how to become his/her own reader. By adopting the role of both the writer and the reader, the student will be able to further develop his ability to locate his/her text in a discourse community.

During a consultation, you may notice that a student’s argument does not actually engage in a conversation with the members of its respective discourse community. If his/her paper does not refer to other texts or ask questions that are relevant to this particular discourse, you may need to ask the student to imagine who his/her audience is as well as what the audience’s reaction to the paper may look like.

Although the student’s immediate answer will most likely be his/her professor, you should advise the student to attempt imagining an audience beyond his/her class—an audience composed of people who are invested in this discourse or this specific topic.

If your student cannot imagine or fictionalize such an audience, it may be because the student may not believe that he/she know enough about the topic to address such a knowledgeable audience. In this case, you should advise the student to pretend that he/she is an expert on the topic or that the student’s paper will be published and read by other members of the discourse community.

The student, however, should not pander to the audience and “undervalue the responsibility that [he/she] has to [the] subject” (Ede and Lunsford, 1984). Advise him/her to avoid re-shaping the paper so that it merely caters to or appeases the audience.

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• Writing steps

Learning objectives

This resource will help you:

• Understand the purpose and function of academic essay writing.
• Develop your ability to plan and structure an effective academic essay.
• Build skills to develop and produce a credible academic essay.

What is the purpose of essay writing?

Academic essays have multiple purposes, including to:

• analyse, argue, and reflect;
• compare and contrast different positions; and
• discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a position.

Essays can be chronological, sequential, or logical in order. The essay question or purpose should guide how the content is organised and how your position/findings are presented.

• Analysing Assignment Questions (PDF 611 KB) Check out these workshop slides presented by the Student Success team to learn more about analysing assignment questions.

Types of essays

All essays follow a similar structure to that discussed so far, however there are some slight differences to their purpose, tone, vocabulary, and the way evidence is incorporated.

How do you structure an essay?

The table below indicates what is generally included in each section of an essay.

Essay writing (RMIT)

This video (2:08 min) from RMIT provides an excellent overview of the structure of an essay. 

Additional resources

• Essay writing (2.17 MB) Check out these workshop slides presented by the Student Success team to learn more about essay writing. This resource contains examples of an Introduction, Body paragraph and a Conclusion.
• Academic Phrasebank (The University of Manchester) Get some ideas for high quality sentence starters from the Academic Phrasebank.
• See an example essay plan and annotated essays from Monash University (2024). 
• APA Style (American Pyschological Association, 2024) APA Style is the place to go if you are referencing and formatting in APA7 style.
• What are credible sources? (UniSC) This resource will teach you the skills required to identify credible sources of information.

Access Student Services

• Services and support (UniSC) UniSC offers a range of services for students, including help with academic skills, careers and employability advice, library support, and accessibility and wellbeing services. Visit Services and Support on the Student Portal to find out more.

Your input matters: Shape the future of Academic Skills support!

• Essays | Feedback (UniSC) Help us help you! Share your thoughts on the Essays Guide and shape the resources that will support your academic success. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete this feedback form.

Griffith University. (n.d.). Essay editing and review checklist .

Griffith University. (n.d.).  Organise and analyse research literature .

Martin's Journaling Jive!. (2022, July 21). First draft tips for students and writers! . [Video]. YouTube. 

McCune, V. (2004). Development of first-year students' conceptions of essay writing.  Higher Education, 47 (3), 257-282.  https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HIGH.0000016419.61481.f9 ​ 

Microsoft Education. (n.d.). School celebration [GIF]. GIFFY

Morley, J. (2023). Academic phrasebank . The University of Manchester. 

Monash University. (2024). Example essay outlines .  

RMIT University Library Videos. (2021, October 28). Essay writing . [Video]. YouTube.

The University of Melbourne. (2020, March 26). Task analysis . [Video]. YouTube.

UNSW. (2023, September 19).  Construct an essay plan .

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