The Standard Structure of an Essay

Generally, an essay has three parts – the introduction, the body and the conclusion. All three parts play a role in delivering the content to the reader. All the information contained within these three sections should revolve around a single thesis – your essay topic.

• The Introduction
The introduction leads readers into the topic and discusses what the aim of the essay is. Usually contained within the first few paragraphs of the essay, it contains the thesis statement -- the key sentence or phrase that specifies the general idea discussed through the entirety of the essay.

• The Body
The body of the essay contains the background of the topic and the findings. Usually taking up majority of the length of the essay, the body discusses the main points contained within the essay. This is usually done using a single paragraph to discuss a major point. The body is developed using explanations, definitions, and even examples whenever applicable, as derived through the research conducted for the purpose of writing the essay.

• The Conclusion
The conclusion brings together the other parts of the essay. This paragraph goes back to the main thesis of the essay, pulling all the major points together, before stating the final deduction. The conclusion should be supported by all the details provided within the body of the essay.

All these parts, if weaved together seamlessly using a single, cohesive thought, can make for a well-written essay. The individual sections should be able to stand by itself, however, all parts should also be able to tie-in together with the rest of the essay to confirm the thesis being discussed.