Essay Writing

Workbook 3
How to Structure an Essay

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How to Structure an Essay
A well written essay is organised into clear paragraphs, each with a specific
purpose. Essays and similar forms of academic writing follow a standard
format and are made up of an introduction, a main body (where the main
points are presented) and a conclusion.

What Is a Paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences that deal with a single subject
or idea. It can be as long or as short as necessary, providing
the topic or idea being explored has been fully covered in
that paragraph. Once there is nothing more to say about
a particular topic, then it is time to move on to the next
paragraph. Paragraphs can be separated by missing a
line between them or beginning the new paragraph
with an indent - a large space on the left-hand
side of the page from the margin. In a non-
fiction text, we often see a sub-heading before
each paragraph, telling us what the paragraph
will be about.

Paragraphs
Make them

Tip Top
For a new

Time Place Topic Person

start a new paragraph

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Why Use Paragraphs?

To explain or describe
To show the author
an idea in detail.
has changed time, place or
argument.

To group
Paragraphs ideas together.

To organise what is being

explained in a text.
To make the text
easier to read.

Activity One:
Read the sentences below and group them into paragraphs which talk
about the same idea or topic.

Castles are a type of home People who lived in castles

that were built to protect the included royalty, noble people
people inside. and soldiers.

Everything about a castle

You can still visit many castles
was made that way to keep
today. Why not take a tour?
the people inside safe.

Famous castles you can visit Castles could be very crowded

include: Windsor Castle, Dover places to live because there
Castle and Kenilworth Castle. were a lot of people inside.

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Activity Two:
The following text does not have paragraphs to sort the ideas.
Can you identify where the topic changes?

Frogs are amphibians, which mean that they can live both on land and in the water.
They are cold-blooded, which means that their bodies are the same temperature as
the air. When they get cold, they need to lie in the sun to warm up and when they get
too warm, they return to the water or find a shady place to cool down. Frogs are found
all over the world. They are found in every climate and in all continents except Antarctica.
They are often found near sources of fresh water but they prefer water which does not move
very quickly. Smaller frogs eat flies and insects, especially crickets. Larger frogs can even eat
mice! Frogs do not need to drink because they absorb water through their skin.

How many paragraphs do you think this should be split up into?

Activity Three:
» Read through the paragraph below.

» Consider how to organise the text into effective paragraphs.

» Make annotations (notes) to show how you make decisions about

paragraphs, for example, a change in atmosphere.

It was just past midnight and the entire city, or so it seemed, was sleeping soundly when
I first heard it. The entire city, except me. What began as a low whirring or perhaps a
dull hum, grew louder by each second until it reached a deafening crescendo. Then, it just
stopped. Glued to the spot, I looked around, expecting the streets around me to begin to fill
with the sounds of abruptly awoken, fearful residents running into the streets to find the
source of the ear-splitting siren. But nobody came. Mouth agape, I looked around in panic
for the source of the tumultuous sound, only to be met by the same darkness and silence
as before. This time, though, it felt different; the darkness was staring back at me. Within
barely a few seconds, I felt whatever it was, this malevolent presence, lurking behind me
and without a second thought, I began to run. The freezing night air rushed past me as I
bolted down the street ahead, my hair vehemently whipping around my neck. My legs were
beginning to burn, screaming for me to stop or even slow down, but I knew that I couldn’t.
There was no time to waste. I had to get away, I had to escape its clutches. In a bid to lose
its trace on me, I told myself that I would turn the next corner at the very last minute.
Lost in my racing thoughts and panic, I didn’t see the crack in the pavement in front of me.
I didn’t have time to react. Behind me, I heard a low, menacing laugh erupt through the
night air as I began to fall. There was nothing I could do to stop it.

How many paragraphs do you think this should be split up into?

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Using Paragraphs When Writing an Essay
Effective paragraphing when writing an essay represents a series of ordered stages in your
thought process. It makes your ideas easier to follow and to understand, showing that you
have carefully thought about and planned what you would like to say.

When you are writing an essay, the first and the last paragraphs are especially
important.

The first paragraph is used to introduce the subject. You might also like to
include a short outline of how you intend to approach the topic.

The last paragraph summarises the points you have made in the form of a
conclusion and gives you an opportunity to clearly state your answer to
the original question in one or two sentences.

Writing an Introduction
The content and style of an introduction to an essay will depend on the
purpose of your writing. If the essay title is in the form of a question, then the
introduction will need to outline your answer to the question.

Introductions should be:

» short - no longer than one paragraph

» focused on the essay question, statement, title or topic

Exactly how you start your essay will depend on the question or title. However, there are some
general tips that you can follow that will help you write an effective introduction to any essay.

Tip 1: Catch the Reader’s Attention

An introduction will give the reader their first impression of your ideas. It is therefore
useful to spend time thinking and planning your opening sentence. Aim to grab
the attention of the reader. There are different ways to do this. You could use:

» a relevant quotation

» a statement that deliberately tries to surprise the reader

» humour

» literary techniques like alliteration or a rhetorical question

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These approaches may not be appropriate for all essays, for example,
humour would not work in a formal essay about an emotive issue like
enslavement of people.

Tip 2: Provide Context

It can be useful to give some brief background to the essay in the
introduction. This could be:

» historical - what point in time are you writing about?

» location - what country, town or area are you writing about?

» societal - does the reader need to know anything about the society or
culture at the time?

Tip 3: Present Your Argument

This is the most important part of your introduction. An introduction should give the
reader an insight into your thoughts on the subject. The goal is to clearly outline your
own position in an argument or your central point about a topic. This is also known as
your stance. You should briefly:

» introduce your main idea or key point

» highlight your other supporting points

You might want to explain or explore the key words from the essay question or statement.

You should make it clear in your introduction what is interesting or important about the topic
you are going to discuss.

Things to Avoid in Your Introduction:

Avoid using dictionary definitions for obvious words that everyone knows the meaning
of. Definitions should only be provided for key words where the exact meaning is
open to interpretation and you should explain in your own words what the term
means to you.

Avoid phrases like, ‘In this essay I’m going to write about …’ Phrases like this are
overused and not very interesting.

Avoid a detailed analysis of the text in your introduction. The point of an introduction
is to be brief and specific. You will explore the issues in more detail later on in the essay.

Avoid including irrelevant information. Stay focused on the exact question you have
been asked to answer.

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 The Three S’s of a Great Introduction

S S S
Statement Stance Signposting
Your opening Do you agree or The basic outline of
statement introducing disagree with the topic? the points you will be
your topic. making in the essay.
Discuss.

Activity Four:
Fill in the missing words to complete the passage below.

The paragraph of an essay is called the . It should

introduce the and your main ideas.
It can also your interpretation of the . An introduction
might also provide context and try to grab the of the
reader. It should not be too long or contain detailed or information.

topic outline briefly attention clarify

opening irrelevant question background introduction

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Main Body Paragraphs -
Developing an Argument
Once you have written an introduction to your essay, the next step
is to write several paragraphs that explore your ideas in more detail.
The number of paragraphs depends on how many points you would
like to make in response to the question. The length of the essay will
also be affected by the time limit and word count of the assignment.

The aim of the main body section of the essay is to develop a clear
argument, with well explained points supported by evidence wherever possible.
If you are writing an essay to analyse a piece of literature, for example, you
would perhaps use quotations from the text as your evidence. If you are writing a
history essay, for example, you would use facts and examples of historical events as
your supporting evidence.

One well-known method of structuring your main body paragraphs is the PEEL method.
PEEL stands for:

» Point » Evidence » Explanation » Link

Point Evidence
The first sentence of your paragraph states Next, you support your idea with
the point or the topic of the paragraph. evidence or examples. Evidence adds more
credibility to your argument. The readers
It is important because it tells the reader
will see you as knowledgeable and reliable.
what the paragraph will be about.
Evidence could be data, expert opinions,
quotations or facts.
For example:

Firstly, plastic bags are disastrous for our For example:

environment.
Studies show that shoppers use 500 billion
I believe dogs make better pets because they plastic shopping bags every year.
encourage your family to be more active.
Vets recommend that dogs have between
30-120 minutes of activity every day,
depending on their breed.

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Explanation Link
Explain how and why your evidence The last sentence should link
supports your point. Write one to three back to your point in the first sentence
sentences interpreting and explaining the or it can transition to the next paragraph.
evidence and how it supports your point. The link concludes the paragraph.

For example: For example:

Many of these single-use bags are thrown Reducing plastic bags would
out and eventually end up in landfill or in ensure less rubbish is stored in
the ocean. Plastic bags leak toxic chemicals landfill and it would help to
into our oceans. In addition, sea animals keep the oceans clean.
can ingest them as they mistake pieces of
This would encourage
litter for food.
families to be more active
As a result of this, pet owners need to and to exercise more.
ensure their animals are getting the exercise
they need.

PEEL Paragraphs
Use the PEEL paragraph to make your writing more effective.

P E E L
Point Evidence Explanation Link
Clearly state Use evidence Explain how your Use your final
the topic of the and examples evidence and sentence to
paragraph. to support your end examples link to the next
point of view. support your paragraph or
point of view. back to the
original question.

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 PEEL Paragraph Example One
Firstly, plastic bags are disastrous for our environment. Studies show that
shoppers use 500 billion plastic shopping bags every year. Many of these single-
use bags are thrown out and eventually end up in landfill or in the ocean. Plastic
bags leak toxic chemicals into the ocean. In addition, sea animals can ingest them
as they mistake pieces of litter for food. Reducing plastic bags would ensure less
rubbish in landfill and help to keep the oceans clean.

PEEL Paragraph Example Two

I believe dogs make better pets because they encourage families to be more
active. Vets recommend that dogs should have between 30-120 minutes of
activity everyday depending on their breed. As a result of this, pet owners
need to ensure their dog is getting the exercise they need. This would
encourage families to be more active and to exercise more.

Activity Five:
Read through the following essay. Use different colour pens or highlighters
to identify the point, the evidence, the explanation and the link sentence
in each of the main body paragraphs.

Introduction

Children should only walk, ride or use public transport to get to

clubs and groups. Being active is better for our health. It would
ease traffic on our roads and reduce pollution.

Firstly, walking or riding would improve the health of our young people.
Experts recommend that we should all get at least thirty minutes of
exercise a day. Walking and riding are great forms of exercise as they do
not cost anything, you do not need much equipment and you can do it in
all weather conditions. It is clear that if young people walked or rode to
Forest School and other clubs, they would increase their daily physical
activity and improve their health.

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 Furthermore, if fewer people drove the car to clubs and activities, there
would be less traffic on the road. In the UK, there are almost 33 million
cars registered to drive on the roads, which causes terrible traffic jams in
towns and cities throughout the country. Therefore, fewer children being driven
around would mean that there would be fewer cars in use at any one time. From this,
we can conclude that if more people walked or rode to Forest School then it would ease the
traffic and may also lead to there being fewer accidents on our roads.

Additionally, with fewer cars on the road, we would be reducing the toxic gases that are
polluting our environment. Data shows that half of all air pollution is thought to be caused
by cars alone. Many people’s health is negatively affected, it harms our environment
and the animals and plants that depend on it. We can therefore see that if the
number of people using sustainable methods of transport increases, then our
carbon footprint would decrease and we would all be better off.

Activity Six:
Write a paragraph of your own which follows the PEEL format. You can
write about any topic you like or you can use any of the topics mentioned
in the previous activities as ideas.

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Show your paragraph to a friend, teacher or family member. Ask them to
identify the point, the evidence, the explanation and the link sentences in
your paragraph. Is there anything you can do to improve your paragraph to
make your argument clearer?

What Is a Conclusion?
To finish an essay, you need to write a strong concluding paragraph to
summarise the points you have made and make your answer to the
original question unquestionably clear. A conclusion is the final idea
left with the reader at the end of an essay. Without a concluding
paragraph, it would be unclear whether the original essay question
has actually been answered.

Many people lack confidence when it comes to writing a conclusion

to their essays, as it can be the hardest paragraph to write well.

The purpose of writing a conclusion is to summarise and bring

together all the important points you have detailed in your
main body paragraphs, while also providing a clear and
concise answer to the original essay question. You should aim to
show why the question and your answer is important by asking
yourself ‘so what?’ while writing the conclusion. A conclusion often
includes a final thought or reflection to highlight the importance of
the essay question.

A conclusion should link back to the essay question and briefly

restate your main points, drawing all your thoughts and ideas
together so that they make sense and create a strong, lasting
impression on the reader.

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 How to Write a Concluding Paragraph
The starting point for writing a conclusion is to look back at your introductory
paragraph. You can write something similar with different wording, making
sure that you have stated your answer to the essay question clearly in
one or two sentences. Keep your conclusion focused by linking back to the
original question of the essay. This can be achieved by using the key words
from the essay question.

You also need to summarise your main points in your concluding paragraph,
such as the ideas that have led to your response to the question. If you have
followed the PEEL format for your main body paragraphs, you could
select the point sentence from each paragraph and rewrite those into
your concluding paragraph. It is a good idea to try to reword the
sentences, otherwise your essay will come across as repetitive and
dull for the reader.

A great essay ends with some sort of reflective statement

where the importance of the topic is highlighted. This shows the
reader that you have thought deeply about the topic in question
and considered its wider implications.

Activity Seven:
This student has made a fantastic start to their essay; however, they ran
out of time to finish it!

Read through the example essay below, which includes the introduction and the
main body paragraphs and help the student by writing a conclusion for their essay.

Should Mobile Phones be Banned in Schools?

Mobile phones are everywhere. They are an integrated part of society and most adults
around the world have one. However, many people believe that mobile phones are taking
over and destroying people’s ability to communicate face to face. Some argue that carrying
a phone is essential at all times, while others suggest we should spend less time around
screens. Some argue that young people having access to mobile phones in schools distracts
them from learning, while others believe that mobile technology is a useful educational

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tool which should be fully utilised to help children learn. Currently, UK schools are allowed
to set their own rules on mobile phones. Most schools have a blanket ban on using them
in the classroom, an approach that was praised by the Conservative government minister
Matt Hancock in 2018, while others allow them to be used at breaks and lunch times only.

However, some schools have embraced mobile phones because the technology available
on them can help students to learn. A recent study found that 67% of secondary school
children believe that mobile phones have a positive impact on their learning. Mobile phones
give students access to all the information that they could ever possibly need. Mobile phones
contain useful tools such as electronic calendars and emails which can help young people
to organise their studies. There are many educational games available for mobile phones
as well as other useful learning tool apps. The potential for phones as a learning tool is
practically endless.

On the other hand, access to mobile phones gives some students an unfair advantage.
Not everyone has access to the same technology and for the young person who does not
have access to the same learning tools, they are at a disadvantage. Furthermore, cheating
in school is becoming more common where students are using their phones to take pictures
of the exams, store information on their phones and text other students during exams to
discuss the answers. According to a study from the Josephson Institute of Ethics, among
current US high school students, 75% admit to cheating in exams, homework and other
assignments. Students who have access to mobile phones are therefore able to gain unfair
advantages over those who do not have a mobile phone.

Additionally, games, text messaging and web browsing on mobile phones can distract
pupils from their studies. Mobile technology consultant, Tomi Ahonen, analysed a study
commissioned by Nokia. They found that users aged 13-18 check their smartphones
almost 150 times a day. If mobile phones were banned during school hours,
then the temptation to become distracted by checking messages and playing
games would be removed.

As well as being a source of distraction, access to mobile phones leads

to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying has become a well-known, widespread
teen issue around the world. Nearly one in five children (19%) aged 10-
15 in the UK have experienced cyberbullying. 19% of these victims said
that it happened entirely during school hours. If mobile phones were
banned during school hours, then the amount of cyberbullying would
dramatically reduce. Therefore, it could be argued that mobile phones
should be banned in schools to help safeguard children’s emotional
health and mental wellbeing.

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On the other hand, although mobile phones can provide a distraction during class and
potentially lead to cyberbullying, they can also be an asset to the student by teaching them
responsibility and preparing them for their future adult life. In 2021, nearly 63 million
people in the UK are using smartphones, a sharp increase from the 22 million people just
ten years ago. This shows that the trend is increasing, phones are likely to play an even
bigger role in the future of society so it is important that young people learn to use them
responsibly. Phones are not usually banned from adult working environments, so it could
be argued that they should not be banned from the learning environment either.

Conclusion:

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 Essay Writing Workbook 3:
How to Structure an Essay Answers
Activity One:
These two sentences are about castles as protection.

Castles are a type of home that were built Castles could be very crowded places to live
to protect the people inside. because there were a lot of people inside.

These two sentences are about the people who lived in castles.

Everything about a castle was made that People who lived in castles included
way to keep the people inside safe. royalty, noble people and soldiers.

These two sentences are about castles you can visit.

Famous castles you can visit include: You can still visit many castles today.
Windsor Castle, Dover Castle and Why not take a tour?
Kenilworth Castle.

Activity Two:
The text about frogs has been split up into three paragraphs.

Frogs are amphibians, which mean that they can live both on land and in the water.
They are cold-blooded, which means that their bodies are the same temperature as the air.
When they get cold, they need to lie in the sun to warm up and when they get too warm,
they need to go into the water or find a shady place to cool down.

Frogs are found all over the world. They are found in every climate and on all continents
except Antarctica. They are often found near any source of fresh water but they prefer
water which does not move very quickly.

Smaller frogs eat flies and insects, especially crickets. Larger frogs can eat mice! Frogs do
not need to drink because they absorb water through their skin.

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 Essay Writing Workbook 3: How to Structure an Essay Answers
Activity Three:
The text has been split up into five paragraphs.

Introduction / setting the scene

It was just past midnight and the entire city, or so it seemed, was sleeping soundly when
I first heard it. The entire city, except me. What began as a low whirring or perhaps a
dull hum, grew louder by each second until it reached a deafening crescendo. Then, it
just stopped.

New paragraph for change of focus

Glued to the spot, I looked around, expecting the streets around me to begin to fill with
the sounds of abruptly awoken, fearful residents running into the streets to find the
source of the ear-splitting siren. But nobody came. Mouth agape, I looked around in panic
for the source of the tumultuous sound, only to be met by the same darkness and silence
as before.

New paragraph for contrast in atmosphere

This time, though, it felt different; the darkness was staring back at me. Within barely
a few seconds, I felt whatever it was, this malevolent presence, lurking behind me and
without a second thought, I began to run.

New paragraph for change in pace

The freezing night air rushed past me as I bolted down the street ahead, my hair
vehemently whipping around my neck. My legs were beginning to burn, screaming for me
to stop or even slow down, but I knew that I couldn’t. There was no time to waste. I had
to get away, I had to escape its clutches. In a bid to lose its trace on me, I told myself
that I would turn the next corner at the very last minute. Lost in my racing thoughts and
panic, I didn’t see the crack in the pavement in front of me. I didn’t have time to react.
Behind me, I heard a low, menacing laugh erupt through the night air as I began to fall.

New paragraph for dramatic effect to create tension

There was nothing I could do to stop it.

Activity Four:
The opening paragraph of an essay is called the introduction. It should briefly introduce the
topic and outline your main ideas. It can also clarify your interpretation of the question.
An introduction might also provide background context and try to grab the attention of the
reader. It should not be too long or contain detailed or irrelevant information.

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 Essay Writing Workbook 3: How to Structure an Essay Answers
Activity Five:

Point Evidence Explain Link

Firstly, walking or riding would improve the health of our young people. Experts recommend
that we should all get at least thirty minutes of exercise a day. Walking and riding are great
forms of exercise as they do not cost anything, you do not need much equipment and you can
do it in all weather conditions. It is clear that if young people walked or rode to Forest School
and other clubs, they would increase their daily physical activity and improve their health.

Furthermore, if fewer people drove the car to clubs and activities, there would be less traffic
on the road. In the United Kingdom, there are almost 33 million cars registered to drive on the
roads, which causes terrible traffic jams in towns and cities throughout the country. Therefore,
fewer children being driven around would mean that there would be fewer cars in use at any
one time. From this, we can conclude that if more people walked or rode to Forest School then
it would ease the traffic and may also lead to there being fewer accidents on our roads.

Additionally, with fewer cars on the road, we would be reducing the toxic gases that are polluting
our environment. Data shows that half of all air pollution is thought to be caused by cars alone.
Many people’s health is negatively affected, it harms our environment and the animals and plants
that depend on it. We can therefore see that if the number of people using sustainable methods
of transport increases, then our carbon footprint would decrease and we would all be better off.

Activity Six:
Learners own responses, answers will vary. Readers should be able to clearly identify the
point, evidence, explanation and link sentences in the paragraph.

Activity Seven:
Learners own responses, answers will vary. Responses should include a clear answer to the
question: ‘Should mobile phones be banned?’ and summarise the main points raised in the
body paragraphs. Responses should demonstrate evidence of reflection.

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 Essay Writing Workbook 3: How to Structure an Essay Answers

Responses should include reference to most of the following key points (accept similar wording):

» Phones are everywhere and their use is increasing.

» There are both positive and negative aspects to using phones in schools.

» The technology provided on smartphones can be useful tools for learning.

» Phones create a distraction from learning.

» Unequal access to phones creates unfair disadvantages.

» Mobile phones create potential for cheating.

» Mobile phones increase the risk of cyberbullying.

» Using phones prepare children for adult life.

» Children should be taught to use phones responsibly.

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