Organization

Adopting a logical and organized approach is the surest way to write a successful essay. Most people find it useful to construct an outline of the main components of the paper, and then follow the outline when writing the text. The time you spend drafting an outline is usually time very well spent. The process of drafting the outline will aid you both in defining your thesis, and in writing an initial statement of organization. The statement of organization is a short passage that follows your thesis statement and explains how you will analyse the topic and present your arguments. It helps you clarify how you will prove and document your ideas, and it serves your reader as a conceptual map of the structure of your paper. The outline and the statement of organization are therefore usually written at the same time.

An essay is composed of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Of course, the main body of the essay will be a lot longer than either the introduction or the conclusion, and will normally contain several different topics and discussions. As you sketch an outline, the main body of the essay will therefore expand to accommodate these various sections. Consequently, your essay outline may at some point look like this:

1. Introduction

   Interesting opening sentence (background, quotation, something to interest and entice the reader)

   Thesis statement (the central theme of the paper, and the key conclusion that you are endeavouring to prove)

   Statement of organization (the order and structure of the arguments you will make to justify your interpretation)

2. Main Body of the Essay

   Section 1

   1. Statement of main idea or key argument
   2. Supporting evidence
      dates/statistics
      illustration/example
      sequence of events
   3. Summary of the main point
   4. Link to Section 2

   Section 2

   1. Main idea
   2. Supporting discussion
   3. Summary
   4. Link to Section 3

   Section 3

   Section 4

   etc.

3. Conclusion
   1. Reiteration of the initial problem or question at issue
   2. Summary of your analysis and key arguments (including all the main topics covered)
   3. Overall conclusion based on evidence presented

With a complete and thoughtful outline, the writing of the essay is simply a matter of fitting the research you have done into the pattern that you have made. Just follow the outline, making sure that the progression of information is logical and that your arguments are well supported by evidence and analysis.