Structuring your essays

Dr Peter Levin
(Teaching and Learning Centre, LSE)

Two kinds of writing

Writing as thinking (often slow) Writing as assembling material (can be quite quick)

Why have a structure? Writing an essay

First draft thinking Final draft assembly job A good structure will help you to assemble put together your essay in such a way that it is logically ordered and easy for the reader to follow.

But Before you can structure your essay, you have to structure your thoughts. So

Think!
- about how to interpret the topic that youve been set. - about how to answer the question/ comply with the instruction (i.e. about what methodology to use). - about what materials to use.

Interpreting your topic (1)

Is the subject a theme (debate)? Or a phenomenon? Or a theory of some kind?

Interpreting your topic (2)

Look for Technical terms, metaphors, colloquial language Facts, assumptions, reasoning Generalizations, hidden questions Judgmental words

Methodology
For a question: How can I tell (discover, find out) what the answer is? For a proposition (statement): How can I tell (discover, find out) whether the proposition is valid or not?

Materials
What information sources are available that would be useful to me?

Applying your methodology to your materials will generate

Findings description, evidence, facts Reasoning analysis, synthesis Results inferences, explanation Argument opinions, judgments This sequence provides a logical basis for structuring your essay.

Some other structures (1)

Introduction Main body Conclusion

Some other structures (2)

Beginning Middle End

Some other structures (3)

Points for Points against Summary

An all-purpose essay plan 1 2 3 4 Introduction Methodology Materials used Findings/Reasoning/ Results 5 Discussion (inc. Argument) 6 Conclusions
1. Introduction > > > > > Context/background Interpretation of topic/question Methodology (very brief) Materials used (very brief) Outline of following sections

2. Methodology > > > > > > > Analytical perspectives Data processing Testing against evidence Logical testing Comparing and contrasting Synthesizing Evaluating 3. Materials used > > > > Raw material Case studies/research reports Reference materials Other literature

4. Findings/Reasoning/Results > Findings: taken directly from materials > Reasoning (applying methodology to materials) > Results (what you get from applying reasoning/analysis)

5. Discussion > > > > > Validity of your results Implications of your results Comments on literature Argument Answer to the question (including conditions/qualifications/ limitations)

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6. Conclusions > Briefest possible summary of Discussion > Revisit your starting point

Write Great Essays!

Reading and Essay Writing for Undergraduates and Taught Postgraduates
by

Peter Levin
(Open University Press 2004, price 7.99)