This much we know!
Whether you are writing an essay for your GCSEs, your degree or your thesis there are a few basic rules of essay structuring which will help you to convey your ideas with clarity and simplicity. This much we know...
In your introduction you need to address the issues raised by the essay title. There will usually be alternative perspectives - different ways of viewing the issues - available and you need to show in your introduction that you know what these alternatives are and that you have considered them.
Your introduction should also outline the line that you are going to take in answer to the question.
It is unnecessary to make the introduction more than a few sentences long.
Only write your introduction once.
The introduction is absolutely key to the success of the whole essay and so you need to get it correct. But don't make the mistake that many essay writers use by writing the essay, reading it, deciding it's not good enough and so writing a second paragraph of introduction.
Whatever perspective you are putting forward in your essay, start with the opposite view. Spend a few paragraphs making the opposite case. Then switch to your perspective about two thirds of the way through.
Each paragraph needs to be both directly relevant to the essay title and should add to the case that you are putting forward.
You should try to get each paragraph to follow the following pattern:
Your conclusion should virtually write itself. If you have introduced the essay well, ensured that the essay puts forward the viewpoint you introduced and have made sure each paragraph builds on these ideas then your conclusion needs only to draw these points together.
Don't over-egg your conclusion. You should have made your points as you went along and the conclusion only needs to underline the points you have already made.
Keep the conclusion to the point.
You must resist the temptation of repeating all your points in the conclusion. You've already made them and don't need to repeat them!
You need to communicate effectively with the person reading the essay. The best way to communicate is to keep the language simple and clear. Don't be tempted to use unnecessarily complex words and phrases where short, clear and simple alternatives exist.