Essay writing can seem difficult to a beginner, but it will be better with practice and a few tips. Important elements of an essay include a proper introduction, a focussed thesis, strong supportive points and a proper conclusion.
A Focus and a Structure
An essay must have a focus. The focus of the essay is intent on arguing a statement – the thesis. The thesis is one of the more important elements to an essay. The thesis is more than an observation. It is a constructive argument.
An essay must have a beginning, a middle and an end: an introduction paragraph, the body and a concluding paragraph.
The purpose of the introduction paragraph is to let the reader know in a nutshell what is in the essay. This paragraph should only be a few sentences that highlight the important parts of the essay. If the essay is about prominent themes of a novel, for instance, those could be briefly mentioned in the introduction paragraph. The first sentence of such an essay should mention the name of the book, and the author as well.
The Purpose of a Point
The purpose of the body of the essay is to defend the thesis with a strong set of points. Think of the thesis as a theory, and the points as explanations supporting that theory. The set of points have been briefly mentioned in the introduction paragraph. The body of the essay will mention them again in detail and use them to defend the thesis. A great way for a beginner to construct the body of the essay is to separate it into three paragraphs for a set of three points. This is how many teachers will teach essay writing and it is best for a beginner to listen to the teacher.
In a body paragraph, mention the main point of the paragraph in the first sentence and go from there. Explain the point without telling the plot of the book. This is where many young students and beginner essay writers go wrong. A good way to keep from retelling the plot is to assume that the reader of the essay has read the book and therefore does not need the plot explanation.
Proper Quotations
Instead of retelling the plot, use a quotation and one or two more points that link the quotation to the main point of the paragraph. An essay should always include quotations that prove the points made to support the thesis. For the beginner, one quotation for each body paragraph will do. Any more than that should be highly appropriate for the point of the paragraph. Be sure to check with the teacher on how to properly cite quotations.
The purpose of the concluding paragraph is to briefly recap for the reader what has been argued throughout the essay, without repeating the introduction paragraph. Paraphrase rather than repeat. There is no need to go over every point made in the essay; the main point of each paragraph will do.
Good essay writing does not have to be just homework. It is a skill that can be developed through practice, a good teacher and useful tips. For more tips on good essay writing, take a look at: Improving Essay Writing Skills: Simple Steps to Better Literary Essays
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