Week 2—Essay Structure & Writing Process Essentials

Essay Structure & Components

  • Academic essays contain paragraphs: introduction, body, conclusion, all centred on a clear thesis.

  • Thesis statement = essay’s “foundation”; appears at end of introduction.

  • Body paragraphs each open with a topic sentence directly linked to thesis and include explanation, evidence, link-back.

Crafting a Strong Thesis

  • Must be arguable (for argumentative essays) or state clear purpose (for expository essays).

  • Specific: include key supporting reasons to focus reader.

  • Demonstrable: claims supported by credible evidence.

  • Format: thesis sentence(s) + brief outline of main points, which predict body-paragraph topics.

Essay Types & Question Analysis

  • Argumentative essays: take a position; look for task words like “argue”, “evaluate”, “justify”.

  • Expository essays: explain or describe; task words like “describe”, “classify”.

  • Identify in a question:
    • Key content words (topic)
    • Instruction words (task)
    • Limiting words (scope)

Writing Process Overview

  • Recursive stages: pre-writing → drafting → revising → editing → finalising.

  • Expect thesis to evolve as research/deep thinking progresses.

Pre-Writing Techniques

  • Brainstorming: list prior knowledge & associations to generate diverse ideas.

  • Mind mapping: visual network to reveal relationships among ideas (e.g., coggle.it).

  • Freewriting: write non-stop for 55 minutes to bypass inner critic, capture raw thoughts and gain momentum.

Essay Plans

  • Serve as structural blueprint; include:
    • Working thesis
    • Ordered list of main points with brief evidence notes
    • Key sources mapped to each point

  • Save time in drafting and ensure logical flow.

Assessment Task 11 (AT11) – Essay Plan

  • Select one approved question; craft plan that shows thesis, main points, and supporting scholarly sources.

  • Marked on:
    • Quality/appropriateness of academic sources
    • Organisation aligned with academic-essay conventions

  • Submit Word file via MyLO using provided template; access folder after completing integrity quiz.

Resources & Support

  • Purdue OWL: thesis development

  • UNE & UTAS Library LEO: question analysis & research strategy

  • Studiosity 24/724/7 feedback; staff Zoom drop-ins for queries.

Quick-Recall Checklist

  • Clear, arguable, specific, demonstrable thesis at end of intro.

  • Each body paragraph = single main idea + evidence + link-back.

  • Match topic sentences to outline points.

  • Use instruction words to determine essay type.

  • Employ brainstorming, mind mapping, or freewriting before drafting.

  • Create detailed essay plan before writing full paper.