WRITING AN ACADEMIC

ESSAY
 INTRODUCING YOUR IDEA TO THE READER

• The aim of an academic essay is to present an idea based on evidence.

• The way to do this successfully is to pay attention to the structure of your essay.

• Engage and tell the reader where you are going with your idea or argument and
how you intend to develop your arguments through the structure of your essay.
This should happen right at the beginning of your essay – in the Introduction.

• However, you may not have a clear development of your arguments or ideas until
your research and data collection is over and have written your essay. So, it is
wise to leave your introduction until you have written the main body of your
essay.
 PLANNING AND STRUCTURING AN ESSAY

1. Start researching and collecting data for the main body

of your essay.
2. Once you have done enough research to have a
reasonable idea about the main focus of your essay, you
can start planning the structure.
3. You should ideally start your essay by planning and
writing the main body.
4. Your Introduction, Summary/ Conclusion and Title should
be left until the Main body is completed.
 PARAGRAPHS

• Generally speaking, each paragraph should focus on one main idea or point.

• Your point should be made within the first few sentences (this is slightly
different from AES where your are required to have a topic sentence).

• Each Paragraph should evidence such as facts, data and statistics from your
research to support it.

• Remember to add references and explain why the evidence supports your
points.

• Your paragraph should end by stating the significance of the paragraph’s point
to the overall idea or link to the next paragraph to build up on main point – for
example, examining the same point from a different perspective.
 MAIN BODY: SUBSECTIONS

• Your subsections should follow a clear logical structure which

leads to the point your are trying to make.

• For a 1,500 word essay, a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5

subsections is required. Subsections should be between 1-3
paragraphs.

• Use logical connections and transitions to connect sources.

View each subsection as a step towards the main argument or
idea.
 MAIN BODY: SUBSECTIONS /BACKGROUND
• The ‘Eureka’ moment of your idea will not be clear until you
have done enough research and have some understanding of
your subject. Your writing should however make your point
of view clear to the reader.
• Use the first section (or paragraph) to explore the topic in
general. What is the problem or main factor? Extended
definitions can also be written in this section.
• You should introduce your ideas, the problem or arguments
by the end of this section/paragraph,
 INTRODUCTION

• Establish context and frame within which you are

approaching the topic or idea.
• This forms the parameters of your idea, gives it focus and
highlights the central issue to be discussed.
• Your introduction should ideally include a definition of the
topic, the scope, limits and exclusions. The final portion will
be generalised findings.
• Although the beginning of your essay does not have to be
addressed in a particular way – it has to be logical. For
example the main focus of your topic or idea is best placed at
the end of your introduction. This way, it can become the
starting point for the main body of your essay.
 CONCLUSION OR SUMMARY?

• A Summary contains the main points made in the essay. It restates in

brief, to remind the reader about the main points covered or to clarify
the arguments or points made.

• A Conclusion on the other hand, includes a thought process. All the

points that have been made are brought together to present the
argument or idea. A conclusion is drawn from the research by piecing
together all the evidence found in the investigation. In a conclusion,
you would summarise the most significant evidence and conclude
your argument or idea based on that evidence.
 FEATURES OF A CONCLUSION /SUMMARY

• Do not introduce new ideas or evidence in this section. All the

information you present here should already have been
discussed in the other sections.

• Do not use references in your summary or conclusion.

• Your summary or conclusion should be approximately 7% - 10%

of your essay. This is around 100 to 150 words for a 1500 word
essay.
 AND FINALLY…. THE TITLE

Your title should be : Scope: The main focus of the investigation

• Accurate
Limits: Parameters
• Brief

• Easy to Read Inclusions/Exclusions: What the investigation does not

cover
• Eye catching

Your title should clearly show focus of your essay. The ‘when and
where’ should help to identify your scope, limits and exclusions.
Example:
Does Alcohol Destroy The Brain of Unborn Babies?
Alternative Medicine: Pros And Cons
The Pros And Cons Of Globalization
Is TV A Major Contributor To Violence In Society?
The Good Side Of War in the 21st Century
 REFERENCE LIST OR BIBLIOGRAPHY

• This should be in alphabetical order

• As with the main part of the essay,
use the same font and size
throughout.
• Use the referencing style required for
the assessment.