Essay Structures

Writing an Essay

Structure

Plan x Ouline

Benefits

Paragraphing

Plan x Outline

What are the main differences between these?

Outline:

• more detailed and thought-out
• created once the research stage is completed

Plan:

• less detailed
• created in the very early stages of essay planning

What are the benefits of creating an essay outline?

How to create an outline

Sub-topics

Main ideas

Pragraphs

• Introduction and thesis statement
• First main idea
• Second ma in idea
• Third main idea
• Conclusion

• Introduction and thesis statement
• First main idea
• First supporting point
• Second supporting point...

• First supporting point
• First detail
• Second detail...

Review

ORGANISATION:

• Are the paragraphs in the right order?
• Are the supporting points and details in the right order?

SUPPORT:

• Is each main idea related to the thesis statement?
• Is each supporting point related to the paragraph’s main idea?
• Is each detail related to the paragraph’s supporting points?

TOPIC DEVELOPMENT:

• Are there enough (and not too many) main ideas to develop the thesis statement?
• Are there enough (and not too many) supporting points for each main point?
• Are there enough (and not too many) details for each supporting point?

Let's practise

Screen 13.5

In pairs, choose one of the tasks on the screen to help you practise how to plan and write an essay outline.