Use knowledge of text structure to glean

the information needed

Academic texts are written in a clear and logical way, following a specific structure. The
structure may vary depending on the type and purpose of the text, but some common elements
are:

 An introduction that introduces the topic, provides background information, and states
the main argument or research question.
 A main body that develops the argument or presents the evidence, using paragraphs that
are unified, coherent and well-organized.
 A conclusion that summarizes the main points, discusses the implications or limitations,
and gives recommendations or suggestions.

Some types of academic texts, such as essays or research papers, may also have additional
sections, such as a literature review, a methodology, a results section, or a discussion section 1

Structure of an Academic Text

Academic texts are characterised by having a clear structure. On an general level,
this means that the texts have an introduction, a main body and an end.

Sometimes the shape of an hourglass is used to illustrate the basic structure of an academic
text with introduction, main body and discussion/conclusion.
In the introduction, you present to the reader what the text will be about. You can do this
with phrases such as The purpose is to discuss… or In the text I will argue for…. Such
formulations prepare the reader for what the text will be about and makes it easier to read.

In the main body of the text, you do what you say you will do in the introduction. For
example, you can present your arguments and develop your reasoning around them. The
main body of a text consists of paragraphs that describe and develop the topic introduced in
the introduction. Here you weave in references to your course literature and other relevant
sources that substantiate and support your statements and any discussion that you may
have.

In the conclusion, summarise what you have done in the text. Remind the reader what the
purpose of the text was by using phrases such as The purpose was to ... or In this text I
have described and discussed….

Paragraphing, topic sentences and conjunctions

Academic texts are also structured with the help of well-thought-out paragraph
organisation, topic sentences and conjunctions which connect the text together.

The Structure of Academic Texts

Structure is an important feature of academic writing. A well-structured text enables the
reader to follow the argument and navigate the text. In academic writing a clear structure and
a logical flow are imperative to a cohesive text. Furthermore, in many university assignments
the correct use of structure is part of the final assessment.

Most academic texts follow established structures. This page describes some
common structures in academic writing: the three-part essay structure and the IMRaD
structure. Structure should be considered on all levels of text so you will also find
information on structuring paragraphs.

Common structures
The structure of your writing depends on the type of assignment, but two common
structures used in academic writing are the three-part essay structure and the IMRaD
structure. Even shorter essays that are not divided into titled sections follow such a
structure. Longer texts may be further divided into subsections. Different disciplines
or departments may prefer that students use a certain structure, so make sure to
check with your instructor if you are not sure what is expected of you.

The three-part essay structure

The three-part essay structure is a basic structure that consists of introduction, body
and conclusion. The introduction and the conclusion should be shorter than the body
of the text. For shorter essays, one or two paragraphs for each of these sections can
be appropriate. For longer texts or theses, they may be several pages lon

Paragraphs
A paragraph is a collection of sentences that deal with one topic or idea. When a new
paragraph begins it signals to the reader that the focus shifts to a new idea or
thought. At the same time, all paragraphs should connect to the main topic.

Paragraphs A paragraph is a collection of sentences that deal with one topic or idea.
When a new paragraph begins it signals to the reader that the focus shifts to a new
idea or thought. At the same time, all paragraphs should connect to the main top
A paragraph is a collection of sentences which all relate to one main idea or
topic. Effective paragraphs have four main characteristics: a topic sentence,
unity, coherence, and adequate development.
The three parts of a paragraph are:

 Topic sentence: introduces the main idea that the paragraph is about 1.
 Development and support: provides details, examples, and evidence to explain or
support the topic sentence1.
 Conclusion: summarizes the main point or connects the paragraph to the next one

What is a paragraph?

A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single

topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on
track during your drafting and revision stages. Good paragraphing also
greatly assists your readers in following a piece of writing. You can have
fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an organized
fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in
writing).

The Basic Rule: Keep one idea to one paragraph

The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one
paragraph. If you begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new
paragraph. There are some simple ways to tell if you are on the same
topic or a new one. You can have one idea and several bits of
supporting evidence within a single paragraph. You can also have
several points in a single paragraph as long as they relate to the overall
topic of the paragraph. If the single points start to get long, then perhaps
elaborating on each of them and placing them in their own paragraphs is
the route to go.
Elements of a paragraph

To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the

following: Unity, Coherence, A Topic Sentence, and Adequate
Development. As you will see, all of these traits overlap. Using and
adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct
effective paragraphs.
UNITY

The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it

begins with one focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with
another or wander within different ideas.
COHERENCE

Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable

to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by
creating logical bridges and verbal bridges.

Logical bridges

 The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence

 Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form

Verbal bridges

 Key words can be repeated in several sentences

 Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences
 Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
 Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences
A TOPIC SENTENCE
A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea
or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs
have clear-cut topic sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences
can occur anywhere in the paragraph (as the first sentence, the last
sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to make sure your
reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic
sentence near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general
rule for less experienced writers, although it is not the only way to do it).
Regardless of whether you include an explicit topic sentence or not, you
should be able to easily summarize what the paragraph is about.
ADEQUATE DEVELOPMENT

The topic (which is introduced by the topic sentence) should be

discussed fully and adequately. Again, this varies from paragraph to
paragraph, depending on the author's purpose, but writers should be
wary of paragraphs that only have two or three sentences. It's a pretty
good bet that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that short.

Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed:

 Use examples and illustrations

 Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
 Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and
paraphrases)
 Use an anecdote or story
 Define terms in the paragraph
 Compare and contrast
 Evaluate causes and reasons
 Examine effects and consequences
  Analyze the topic
 Describe the topic
 Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)

How do I know when to start a new paragraph?

You should start a new paragraph when:

 When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always
start in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans
multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have
its own paragraph.
 To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can
serve to contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument,
or any other difference.
 When your readers need a pause. Breaks between paragraphs
function as a short "break" for your readers—adding these in will
help your writing be more readable. You would create a break if the
paragraph becomes too long or the material is complex.
 When you are ending your introduction or starting your
conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should
always be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions
have multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and
the writer's purpose.

Transitions and signposts

Two very important elements of paragraphing are signposts and

transitions. Signposts are internal aids to assist readers; they usually
consist of several sentences or a paragraph outlining what the article
has covered and where the article will be going.
Transitions are usually one or several sentences that "transition" from
one idea to the next. Transitions can be used at the end of most
paragraphs to help the paragraphs flow one into the next.