Here are some ideas for structuring your essay. Always check the assignment criteria and other information in your unit site for specific requirements. If you are not sure, ask your lecturer or tutor. You can also get further advice from a Writing Mentor or a Language and Learning Adviser.

For further details and examples, download the Guide to essay paragraph structure (PDF) from this page.

Try to begin and end each paragraph with your own thoughts rather than quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s words. Remember that your marker will be looking for your opinion, your discussion and your analysis of ideas.

The introduction

Remember that these are the first words your marker will read, so always try to make a great first impression, to ensure that you provide your marker with a clear and accurate outline of what is to follow in your essay. Don’t go into too much detail in the introduction. Save the detail for the body of your essay.

• Provide background information about the topic. Introduce and define some of the key concepts discussed in the essay.
• Respond directly to the essay question and clearly state what your essay intends to achieve.
• Provide an overview of some of the main points, or direction, of the essay.
• Be sure to revise the introduction in your final draft, so that it accurately reflects any changes you may have made to the body and conclusion of your essay

Body paragraphs

• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence. This is the main point of your paragraph and everything within this paragraph should relate back to it.
• Each main point should be relevant to your essay question or thesis statement.
• Integrate evidence and examples into your paragraph from your readings to support your point. Do not simply present evidence, but analyse it at each stage, always relating it back to your assignment question.
• Be formal, objective and cautious in your writing.
• All sources must be cited in text in the referencing style required by your unit. (Citations are also listed in a bibliography or reference list at the end of the essay.)
• Consider how you conclude your paragraph and how you might link it to the following paragraph.

The conclusion

Conclusions are primarily for summing up what you have presented in the body of your essay. No new information is presented in the conclusion. Use synonyms and paraphrasing so that you do not repeat all your main points word for word.

• Summarise your argument and draw on some of the main points discussed in the body of the essay, but not in too much detail.
• Tell your reader how your essay has successfully responded to the essay question.
• You may return to discuss the background/context of the topic, if relevant.
• Where you see a gap in knowledge, you might provide suggestions for further research (optional).

Reference list or bibliography

• Create a reference list or bibliography – with full bibliographic details – according to the referencing style required by your unit.