STRUCTURE OF

THE ESSAY &

STRUCTURE OF
INTRODUCTIONS
WEEK 3 SLIDES, LANGUAGE CENTRE
 Lecture Outline

Inter- Linear
Functions of
Introduction paragraph thought and
paragraphs
transition development
 Introduction
What is structure? So?

• Structure evokes the idea of • What are the elements of the

element essay?
• Structure is about relationships • Same as the parts of the essay
between parts.
• Structure tells us about the
form of something
• It tells us how the thing looks
physically.
Introduction

Introduction

Body

Conclusion
 Introduction

Introduction Body of the Conclusion

to the essay essay to the essay

Between Between Between

10%-15% 70%-80% 10%- 15%
 Functions of paragraphs
What should your introduction do?

• Create context: This means creating a situation that allows you to

discuss what you want to discuss
• Capture the interest of your readers. This means you should know
what is of interest to your readers
• How will you know what is of interest to your readers?
• Tell your readers exactly what your essay is about
• Tell you what you will be doing in your essay
 Functions of paragraphs

What about the body paragraphs?

• This where the actual purpose of the essay is fulfilled.

• Presents complete information one paragraph at a
time
• This is where you demonstrate your knowledge and
understating of what you are discussing.
 Inter-paragraph transition
How do you move from one paragraph to the next?

Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph

1 2 3 4
 Inter-paragraph transition
• Transitional markers
What • Also, moreover, again, further, as a result Etc
• Semantic implications
resources • Addition
• Sequence
can you • Space
• Example
use to • Comparison
• Contrast
create • Result
• Etc
transition? • Task: Create a list of transitional words based
on the sematic implications above.
 Inter-paragraph transition

• Sentences that mark transition from

one paragraph to the next
• We have so far been looking at poor
dietary habits as a cause of diabetes.
Transitional Let us now turn our attention to lack of
physical activity.
Sentences • The above argument is not the only
argument in support of abortion…
• Having examined the first critical issue
let us now look at…
 Linear thought and development
Arrange in a straight
line
Think though before
you write
Arrange ideas based
• Most important to least important or vice versa
on a principle
The essay has a proper
sequence
STRUCTURE OF
THE ESSAY II
 Essay Structure II
• An academic essay must have a well-
defined structure, i.e.
• it should begin with an
introduction
• it should have a body which is
made up of developmental
paragraphs
• it should end with a conclusion
• For a topic such as “Suggest three
measures that should be put in place
to ensure a peaceful election in
Ghana”, here are some guidelines.

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The essay’s introduction

• For a topic such as “Suggest three measures

that should be put in place to ensure
peaceful election in Ghana”, the essay’s
introduction should have a thesis statement
which mentions the three measures.
Alternatively, the thesis statement could
announce that three measures will be
discussed in the essay.
• The introduction should use a method that is
suitable for the topic.
• Generally, the introduction should be
interesting.

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 The essay’s body

• For such a topic, ideally, the essay’s body

should be made up of three developmental or
body paragraphs.
• Each of the developmental paragraphs should
discuss one measure.
• Each developmental paragraph should begin
with a topic sentence which focuses on the
particular measure, i.e., the controlling idea.
• Each developmental paragraph should have
enough details to develop the controlling idea.
• Each developmental paragraph should be
unified, complete and coherent.

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The essay’s conclusion

• The conclusion may include a

summary of the three
measures discussed in the
body.
• The concluding paragraph
should not contain a new
idea or topic.
• The concluding paragraph
should give the essay a sense
of closure.

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17
Structure of Introductory Paragraphs
• OPENING: may begin with a hook/ attention grabber and
proceed to provide adequate introductory context:
• Background information (general to specific) –
demonstrate knowledge of your subject/topic and
related extant literature; prepare the mind of the
reader to understand your topic
• problem statement – identify and foreground the gap
that your essay seeks to fill; what warrants your essay?
Also called the bridge, for it links the background to
the thesis statement.
• THESIS STATEMENT: specify the focus of your essay; what
is your central argument? What is the main point of your
essay? Students are encouraged to write strong thesis
statements.
THE OPENING
• This is the preliminary part of an introduction.
Numerous strategies, methods or approaches may be
employed to open an essay and provide relevant
background information; these include:
• using relevant quotations
• statistical data
• anecdotes
• starting with an opposite situation
• opening with (rhetorical) questions
• definitions
• relevant historical events
• popular sayings (e.g., proverbs, axioms/maxims)
• an observation
• etc.
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What should influence your
opening/background?
Know your Know your
audience message/ purpose

Gender To explain

Professional
To persuade
background

Age To inform

Nationality To describe

Level of
education
 Strong Thesis Statements
(From Informed Writing)

• A strong thesis statement must have the following qualities:

• It must be arguable: a thesis statement must state a point of view or judgment
about a topic. An established fact is not considered arguable.
• It must be supportable: the thesis statement must contain a point of view that
can be supported with evidence (reasons, facts, examples).
• It must be specific: a thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a
coherent argument and remain focused on the topic.
Thesis statement: Points to note

The thesis statement expresses the central idea of an essay.

It is derived from the topic of the essay and the stance/

perspectives of the writer on it.

It occurs in the introductory paragraph.

It needs to be carefully worded.

It should neither be too broad nor too narrow.

It should be precise and concise.

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 How long should an introduction be?

No clear Must not be Average

Must get to Must be
rule about too long to
the point clear
length: 100
length but be boring words
Sample Introductory Paragraph
(Method used: starting with an opposite situation)
Diseases like scarlet fever and whooping cough used to kill more young
children than any other cause. Today, however, child mortality due to
diseases has been almost completely eliminated by medical science.
Instead, car accidents are the number one killer of our children. And
most of the children fatally injured in car accidents were not protected
by car seats, belts, or restraints of any kind. Several steps must be taken
to reduce the serious dangers car accidents pose to our children.

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Sample Introductory Paragraph
(Method used: asking (rhetorical) questions)

What is love? How do we know that we are really in love? When we

meet that special person, how can we tell that our feelings are
genuine and not merely infatuation? And if they are genuine, will
these feelings last? Love, as we all know, is difficult to define. But
most people agree that true and lasting love involves far more than
mere physical attraction. Love involves mutual respect, the desire to
give rather than take, and the feeling of being wholly at ease.

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END OF LECTURE
THANK YOU