Components of College Essay Writing?

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What are the Components of Basic Essay Writing?

What is the college professor talking about when he says that writing an essay should contain basic components or parts? An essay must have a sentence explaining what it is about, and a couple of paragraphs. But what exactly are the "basic components" ? This article is to help you get an A+ for grasping the concept of essay writing.

Introduction of the Essay

People think they know what the introduction is and what it should include, however they are wrong. A lot of students fail at the very opening sentence because they do not understand how to present the introduction. The introduction should detail what is contained in the paper. Especially if there are different subjects, the introduction should state what is contained in the paper.

The introduction is usually only a paragraph, three at the most. The writer should sum up the introduction with a THESIS SENTENCE, TOPIC SENTENCE OR CLARIFYING STATEMENT. This will allow the reader to know the subject of the paper and an introduction to that subject. This is one of the most important things cited by the professors.

Writing a Hypothesis

This is not as hard as many students believe. A Hypothesis is a statement by the writer as to their beliefs, the factors of the essay, and a "to the point" statement. An essay will sometimes require a topic sentence or a purpose statement, which is close to a hypothesis. An example of a hypothesis statement on an essay about nutrition could be the following: It is very important to follow a balanced diet throughout the course of your life.

The Body of the Essay

The body of the essay is essentially the "meat and potatoes" of the paper. Several paragraphs will explain the topic that you are discussing. The paper will prove or disprove the hypothesis. There will be many citations, references and information which will lead the reader to understand what the paper is about. The body must be relevant to the subject, with clear and concise thoughts. Jargon or very technical terms should be explained so the reader does not become confused. Do not attempt to make the paper meet the required length by using "fluff" - repeating sentences or details in several different ways, but saying the same thing. Research needs to be done, and, in a really good essay, good research and a strong knowledge of the topic will show.

The writer must also make a smooth transition between the subjects or paragraphs. Basically, one idea leads to another. For example, a paper on animals could link the essay together by starting to write about domesticated cats and then transition into wild, or feral, cats.

Remember all the guidelines, slow down, follow all the steps, try not to constantly "second-guess" yourself. Have confidence in your work, share with others, and pay attention to the feedback from the professor.

The Conclusion of the Essay

This is where an essay is summarized and the topic is wrapped up. It is very important to have a clear, concise conclusion. This reiterates the thoughts and ideas of the paper. It can also lead to different directions for the topic at hand.

The conclusion is between one an three paragraphs and summarizes the entire paper. The reader gets a feeling of closure or completeness, when a paper with a good summary, detailed and interesting body, and strong conclusion is presented.