The structure of an essay

[Anna232]

I have a question regarding the structure of essays. Can I use this structure for any essay and is my understanding of the order correct? The topic sentence is used at the beginning of the first paragraph, isn't it?

Introduction structure:
1. A broad background statement
2. Rephrased question prompt
3. A thesis statement

(Is it wrong to skip #2 and write a thesis statement after a background sratement?)

Paragraph structure:
1. A topic sentence
2. Supporting sentences with examples
3. Additional supporting sentences
4. A final sentence to summarize my idea
5. The conclusion

 

[teechar]

Are you preparing for a particular test?

 

[Anna232]

Are you preparing for a particular test?

Yes, it is an English test that people take here, but it is neither TOEFL nor IELTS.

 

[Tarheel]

It seems like quite a few steps. You could probably combine some of them or skip some of them depending on how long the essay is.

I have often suggested that people read the columns of professional writers, but I don't think anyone has ever done that. (Thomas Sowell stopped producing a weekly column a few years ago.)

 

[Anna232]

It seems like quite a few steps. You could probably combine some of them or skip some of them depending on how long the essay is.

I have often suggested that people read the columns of professional writers, but I don't think anyone has ever done that. (Thomas Sowell stopped producing a weekly column a few years ago.)

So my understanding of the structure isn't wrong, is it? I can use the mentioned structure. I just noticed that in some essays thesis statement comes after the topic sentence. Then it is clearly not the above structure.

 

[Tarheel]

So my understanding of the structure isn't wrong, is it? I can use the mentioned structure. I just noticed that in some essays THE thesis statement comes after the topic sentence. Then it is clearly not the above structure.

I guess it depends on why you're writing the essay. If it's to get a good grade in that class then stick with that structure. (I'm not sure what the last sentence means.)

Most people don't write essays after they leave school, so I guess they only need to know how to do it until they graduate.

 

[teechar]

Yes, it is an English test that people take here, but it is neither TOEFL nor IELTS.

OK, so you should try to do some research to find out the "formula" which the examiners in your country follow.
What you quoted above seems reasonable. However, I'm not too keen on rephrasing the prompt and including that in the introduction.
You might also want to take a look at my replies in the following links. They relate to IELTS essays.

[Essay] - University Education

I am getting prepared for the IELTS test and, as you know, writing is an integral part of it. I would be grateful to you if you could read my essay and give me a piece of advice on what I ought to learn about writing them. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help...

www.usingenglish.com

[Essay] - School education should be free

School education should be free A child should get education so as to increase the knowledge that develops social awareness, better decision making skills, competency in work thus making a better citizen. Today, most of the jobs require candidates who are qualified through education. Every...

www.usingenglish.com

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree with teechar that rephrasing the original question is unnecessary. It can be seen as simply trying to increase your word count without saying anything original.

 

[Anna232]

OK, so you should try to do some research to find out the "formula" which the examiners in your country follow.
What you quoted above seems reasonable. However, I'm not too keen on rephrasing the prompt and including that in the introduction.
You might also want to take a look at my replies in the following links. They relate to IELTS essays.

[Essay] - University Education

I am getting prepared for the IELTS test and, as you know, writing is an integral part of it. I would be grateful to you if you could read my essay and give me a piece of advice on what I ought to learn about writing them. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help...

www.usingenglish.com

[Essay] - School education should be free

School education should be free A child should get education so as to increase the knowledge that develops social awareness, better decision making skills, competency in work thus making a better citizen. Today, most of the jobs require candidates who are qualified through education. Every...

www.usingenglish.com

OK, so you should try to do some research to find out the "formula" which the examiners in your country follow.
What you quoted above seems reasonable. However, I'm not too keen on rephrasing the prompt and including that in the introduction.
You might also want to take a look at my replies in the following links. They relate to IELTS essays.

[Essay] - University Education

I am getting prepared for the IELTS test and, as you know, writing is an integral part of it. I would be grateful to you if you could read my essay and give me a piece of advice on what I ought to learn about writing them. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help...

www.usingenglish.com

[Essay] - School education should be free

School education should be free A child should get education so as to increase the knowledge that develops social awareness, better decision making skills, competency in work thus making a better citizen. Today, most of the jobs require candidates who are qualified through education. Every...

www.usingenglish.com

A broad background statement followed by a thesis statement is enough, isn't it?

2. Rephrased question prompt (removed)

3. A thesis statement

 

[emberaura]

I have a question regarding the structure of essays. Can I use this structure for any essay and is my understanding of the order correct? The topic sentence is used at the beginning of the first paragraph, isn't it?

Introduction structure:
1. A broad background statement
2. Rephrased question prompt
3. A thesis statement

(Is it wrong to skip #2 and write a thesis statement after a background sratement?)

Paragraph structure:
1. A topic sentence
2. Supporting sentences with examples
3. Additional supporting sentences
4. A final sentence to summarize my idea
5. The conclusion

Yes, this structure is universal for essays. A topic sentence opens each paragraph. A paraphrased query is optional, but helps connect the background to the thesis. Follow logic and sequence.

 

[Anna232]

Yes, this structure is universal for essays. A topic sentence opens each paragraph. A paraphrased query is optional, but helps connect the background to the thesis. Follow logic and sequence.

Do you mean there should be a topic sentence for each paragraph? Or should there be only one topic sentence?

 

[emsr2d2]

There's just one topic sentence per essay. It's the essay prompt. It's possible that @emberaura meant that each paragraph should open with a sentence that gives the reader an idea of the contents of that paragraph, but that's not a "topic sentence".

 

[jutfrank]

There's just one topic sentence per essay.

We normally teach that each body paragraph has a topic sentence. This is not the same as a thesis statement, which I think you're thinking of.

It's possible that @emberaura meant that each paragraph should open with a sentence that gives the reader an idea of the contents of that paragraph, but that's not a "topic sentence".

Yes, that's exactly what it is.

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, you live and learn! I was simply thinking back to school essays and no such terminology was used. It was simply good practice to open a paragraph with a mini-introduction but it wasn't a separate topic. The essay itself had just one topic.
Having never written (or helped anyone to write) a thesis in my life, I wasn't aware that there was distinct terminology.

 

[Anna232]

We normally teach that each body paragraph has a topic sentence. This is not the same as a thesis statement, which I think you're thinking of.



Yes, that's exactly what it is.

Sorry, but I am confused. There is one topic sentence per essay not per body psragraph but each body paragraph has introduction sentences that are followed by supporting sentences. Right?

 

[jutfrank]

There is one topic sentence per essay not per body psragraph

No, one topic sentence per (body) paragraph.

but each body paragraph has introduction sentences that are followed by supporting sentences. Right?

Not 'introduction' sentences, no. There's one topic sentence followed by multiple supporting sentences. The supporting sentences support what the topic sentence says.

 

[Anna232]

No, one topic sentence per (body) paragraph.

But if there are a few body paragraphs?

Not 'introduction' sentences, no. There's one topic sentence followed by multiple supporting sentences. The supporting sentence support what the topic sentence says.

 

[teechar]

But if there are a few body paragraphs?

There are usually two or three body paragraphs. Each one starts with its own topic sentence.

Take a look at my replies in the following links to learn about typical essay structure:

[Essay] - University Education

I am getting prepared for the IELTS test and, as you know, writing is an integral part of it. I would be grateful to you if you could read my essay and give me a piece of advice on what I ought to learn about writing them. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help...

www.usingenglish.com

[Essay] - School education should be free

School education should be free A child should get education so as to increase the knowledge that develops social awareness, better decision making skills, competency in work thus making a better citizen. Today, most of the jobs require candidates who are qualified through education. Every...

www.usingenglish.com

 

[Anna232]

There are usually two or three body paragraphs. Each one starts with its own topic sentence.

Take a look at my replies in the following links to learn about typical essay structure:

[Essay] - University Education

I am getting prepared for the IELTS test and, as you know, writing is an integral part of it. I would be grateful to you if you could read my essay and give me a piece of advice on what I ought to learn about writing them. Some people believe the aim of university education is to help...

www.usingenglish.com

[Essay] - School education should be free

School education should be free A child should get education so as to increase the knowledge that develops social awareness, better decision making skills, competency in work thus making a better citizen. Today, most of the jobs require candidates who are qualified through education. Every...

www.usingenglish.com

Yes, I noted down the structure you suggest. I am confused by different terms used in the books. You don't mention "controlling ideas." Are they optional?

 

[teechar]

You don't mention "controlling ideas." Are they optional?

The "controlling idea" is a term used by some when explaining the mechanics of a topic sentence. It (the controlling idea) is the main part of the topic sentence, in that it outlines the theme of that sentence (and of the rest of that paragraph).