Essays can be structured in many different ways, but they all include your thesis (a statement of the case you are making) and arguments based on evidence to support your thesis, logically organised. You will often be expected to include evidence against your thesis. This will be followed by a conclusion.
exposition | discussion | challenge | factorial | consequential | commentary |
thesis | issue | challenge | state | state | text(s) introduction |
supporting arguments | alternative arguments | arguments | contributory factors | ensuing factors | comments |
restate thesis | final position | thesis | summary thesis | summary thesis | summary |
In an expository Essay, you would start by presenting your thesis – as a statement of the case you can make based on the evidence and your arguments. This would be followed by the evidence to support your thesis.
In a discussion Essay, you would start by presenting the issue - the problem you have to solve. You would then explain and discuss the evidence and different points of view regarding the issue. You would finish by comparing and contrasting the different arguments and making a choice - your final position.
In a challenge Essay, you are challenging a given theory by showing where it is weak and proposing a better theory. You would start by introducing the theory you are challenging. You would then analyse and evaluate it to show where it is weak and propose a better alternative.
Factorial Essays and consequential Essays are similar. Both are organised around the facts that either lead to or are consequences of a state of affairs. In a factorial Essay, you discuss the facts that lead to or cause a state of affairs. In a factorial Essay, you would start by describing the state of affairs you are interested in. You would then present the factors that led to the state of affairs. These would be grouped in some way, analysed and evaluated. You would finish by concluding about, for example, the importance of the factors you have discussed.
In a consequential Essay, you discuss the facts that result from a state of affairs. You would again start by describing the state of affairs you are interested in. You would then present the factors that resulted from or were caused by the state of affairs. These would be grouped in some way, analysed and evaluated. You would finish by concluding about, for example, the importance of the state of affairs in contributing to the consequences you have discussed.
The final Essay type is the commentary Essay. These Essays would normally focus on texts. Your introduction would therefore introduce the text(s). You would then follow this with a series of comments that analyse and evaluate the text(s) given. You may be required to compare and contrast the texts. You would conclude by summarising your comments.
Examples of Essays include:
- Exposition Essay - thesis, supporting arguments, restate thesis
- Discussion Essay - issue, alternative arguments, final position
- Challenge Essay - challenge, arguments, thesis
- Factorial Essay - state, contributory factors, summary thesis
- Consequential Essay - state, ensuing factors, summary thesis
- Commentary Essay - introduction, comments, summary
Try the following tasks to learn more about Essay organisation.
Comments
hi!
can you please tell me how to use writing materials of this site, please?
Hi,
The best place to start is at the first page:
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/writing-purpose/writing-purpose
You can see some instructions and an explanation there.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello
The video doesn't show for me?why?
Hello somaye.khodaveysi,
We know that users from some countries, such as Iran, have had problems accessing some of our videos. However, we have tried to provide alternative links to deal with this. Near the top of this page you should see a link entitled 'Can't see the video? Click here!' Click on this and I think you should be able to watch the video.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
I did that but I couldn't see the videos, help me pls
Hello somaye,
Actually, this appears to be an error - there is no video on this page. The video is on the next page: Essays: Structure - Interview with Lecturer. Can you see that one?
I'm sorry for the confusion! We'll remove the reference to a video as soon as we can - thanks for your help in identifying this mistake!
Best wishes,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi
Unfortunately I coulden't see that again!!!!!!!
Hi somaye,
What I mean is that there is no video on this page. The link should not be there, but I haven't yet been able to remove it.
If what you mean is that you can't see the video on the next page (Essays: Structure - Interview with Lecturer), then I'm afraid this probably means that you won't be able to view it. We're aware that users in some countries are not able to view some videos and are working on a solution to this, so please check again in the future.
Best wishes,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi!
Thanks for Peter advice!
I am going to take the IELTS exam on December, but I am so worry about my writing skills. Can you show me what kind of the academic writing that often uses for the IELTS exam ? and how can I improve my writing skill?
Best regards,
Binh
Hello Binh,
I would recommend that you first take a look at our IELTS section and at the TakeIELTS website to learn more about the IELTS Academic exam. In both places, you can find useful tips and general advice on the exam, as well as some practise materials. TakeIELTS also has a page with a sample answer to an Academic writing task (see the links at the bottom of the page). It would also be useful to look in an IELTS preparation book for other writing tasks that are typical on the IELTS Academic exam.
Once you have a good idea of what kind of task you may be asked to do, I'm sure you can find some useful information here in the Writing for a Purpose pages.
Best wishes,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
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