How to Write an Academic Essay - Structure

Do either of these sound like you?

You dread the idea of writing an academic essay and still don't know how to approach it, or you don't really think much of it and just slop through it without worrying much about planning or structure or anything else.

Maybe you're a mixture of both. Either way, you really need to get it together and figure out what to do, how to do it, and how to do it efficiently and comfortably.

The internet is your friend here. Don't just wing it. If you don't know how to do something, check out the Imperium University Blog, Google or YouTube and figure out how to do it properly. You're not in high school anymore. University demands higher standards.

Now, let's look at a basic example of how to structure an academic essay.

Obviously you already know about the Introduction, Body, Conclusion rule, so let's go from there. Keep in mind that this is just an example for you to build on and adapt as appropriate.

INTRODUCTION - Make it compelling.

• About 10-15% of essay length.
• Introduce the topic and give the reader context.
• Give an overview of the arguments and points you will make.
  
• Your thesis statement goes here.
  

 BODY - Keep it flowing and substantiated.

• About 80% of essay length.

The body of your essay should be divided into paragraphs, ideally between 100-200 words. That point sounds obvious but is so often ignored that I'll even ask you to read it again. 

Here you explore and argue your thesis, providing and analysing supporting evidence throughout.

An ideal paragraph layout to stick to is as follows:

1. Topic (Introductory) Sentence
2. Your point/issue/argument
   
3. Example/evidence/support
4. Your second point/issue/argument
5. Example/evidence/support
6. Conclusion/Linking Sentence
   

Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of that paragraph, catching the reader's interest. Then you discuss your first point/argument in more detail, which you immediately back up with examples and supporting evidence, naturally citing the literature you are referencing. You repeat this with your second point/argument, again providing credibility to your stance, and then you finish the paragraph with a short conclusion.

Conclusion sentences in paragraphs are also known as linking or transition sentences. This is because you should provide smooth transitions from one paragraph to the next, linking the main ideas of both. Your essay should flow smoothly from start to finish, not be hammered together in a staccato word dump.

CONCLUSION - Keep it strong and end on a high note.

• About 5-10% of essay length.
• Restate your thesis.
• Summarise your findings.
• State your conclusions based on your findings.
• State final insights and implications.

BIBLIOGRAPHY - Reference your sources!

• This goes on its own page at the very end of your essay.
  
• Imperium requires you to use the Harvard referencing method.
• Check out the Student Forum page for more information.
  

 

And those are the basics of essay structure. It's a good idea to search for different example essays online and read through a few to get even more comfortable and confident with writing your own, which is an absolute must. Then check out our blogs on:

• How to Do Academic Research, and our
  
• Checklist for Writing Academic Essays.
  

You're a university student. Essays are part of your life now and make up a huge part of your final grade. It's paramount that you get the basics down pat so that you don't have to worry about them anymore and can focus on the content. And yes, the technicalities of structure, format, spelling and so on are just as important as your chosen topic. You won't sell a diamond if it just looks like a piece of coal.

Imperium University is an accredited online university that offers flexible and affordable degrees to fit your lifestyle and your budget. Go to imperium-uni.com to find out more and talk to one of our advisors!