Essay Structure and

Organization
Natasha Luepke
 Essay Organization
 Essay Structure
 Intros
 Conclusions

Agenda
 Sequential
 Chronological
 Spatial
 Division and classification
 Decreasing order of importance
 Increasing order of importance
 General to specific
 Comparison

Some Ways to Organize

 Making a sandwich
 Posting to the Kaplan discussion board
 Dinner options
 Using a new database at the office
 Pros and cons of using email
 Explaining why your favorite TV is the
best

What are some ways to organize

the following?
 An essay’s “skeleton”
 General to specific, specific to general
 Hook the reader
 Explain main point (thesis)
 Support main point
 Reiterate main points

Thinking about Structure

 Hook the reader. Draw them in.
 Strategies: A surprising fact, a startling
statistic.
 Connect this to the essay’s theme. Why
should the reader care?
 Expand on this.
 Move into the paper’s main point.

Introductions
 Hook the reader. Draw them in.
 Strategies: A surprising fact, a startling statistic.
 “Many people do not realize that 75% of all paper is thrown away, instead of
recycled (Smith, 2009).”
 Connect this to the essay’s theme. Why should the reader care?
 “This translates to a lot of wasted resources and a lot of wasted money.”
 Expand on this.
 “However, there are many things this company can do to save both.”
 Move into the paper’s main point:
 “Creating a company-wide recycling program will benefit not only the
environment, but this company’s bottom line.”
 Is the thesis debatable? Yes. Why? Maybe there are better ways to
save money. Maybe it will cost too much money to start this program.
Maybe the company should do more than just start a recycling
program.

Introductions
 Many people do not realize that 75%
of all paper is thrown away, instead of
recycled (Smith, 2009). This translates to
a lot of wasted resources and a lot of
wasted money. However, there are many
things this company can do to save both.
Creating a company-wide recycling
program will benefit not only the
environment, but this company’s bottom
line.

Sample Intro
 Mirror the intro
 NO new ideas
 Restate main points/how they fit together
 Leave the reader with something to think
about

Conclusions
 Restate main points:
 “While it a recycling program might initially cost the
company in the short run, in the long run, it will pay
for itself. Recycling will save paper, save, money, and
save time.”
 Show how they fit together:
 “In turn, this company can spend more time on the
important things, such as designing useful products
and offering terrific customer service. This will
improve the company’s image and allow it to reach
new customers.”
 Leave the reader with something to think about:
 “By helping the environment, this company can also
help its employees, and itself.”

Conclusions
 While it a recycling program might initially
cost the company in the short run, in the
long run, it will pay for itself. Recycling will
save paper, save, money, and save time. In
turn, this company can spend more time on
the important things, such as designing
useful products and offering terrific customer
service. This will improve the company’s
image and allow it to reach new customers.
By helping the environment, this company
can also help its employees, and itself.

Sample Conclusion