The Structure and Elements of a Good Essay
- Cecilie 🇩🇰
- 4. sep. 2016
- 1 min læsning
Disclaimer: This is how Danish students who take English A are required to write an essay. Nevertheless, I hope it will give you an idea of the different elements and/or structure of an essay.
Structure
The essay can generally be divided into three different elements. Each elements then again has different elements:
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction to the theme
Analysis
Quotes to prove your point(s)
"He went for a walk and looked angry" (p.5, l. 7)
Conclusion
Recapitulation
Summarization of the message
Include the theme
This is the general structure of the essay.
Elements
The following are point that I recommend that you touch on:
Start by introducing the theme of the story – do not start your essay by mentioning the story but try making it a bit more "philosophical" if you like. After that you should narrow it down so you get to the main theme of the story – then mention the story as a transition to the analysis. The latter can be done by, for example saying: "... and this is exactly what we see in the short story [...] by [...] where..."
When writing the analysis tough on things like (in no particular order):
The protagonist
Character analysis
Environment
How is the reader affected and/or involved?
The intention of the author
Author
Language
Adjectives
Imagery og metaphores
Narrator
Point of view
Message
Title
Theme
Message
At last, write a conclusion where you summarize what you found out and relate it to the introduction. The latter point is very important!