What is the structure that an essay should have?

Nowadays knowing how to write a text correctly according to the context and the purpose for which it is carried out is essential. Knowing the format in which a text should be written allows to express the ideas contained in a consistent, coherent and understandable way for the target audience that is going to read it.

One of the multiple types of text that we can find is the essay, which has a specific structure that we detail below.

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The essay: what is it?

Before going on to visualize how to structure an essay, it may be useful to clarify what type of text we are talking about.

We understand by essay all that text in which the reader, through prose, expresses, investigates and delves into a specific topic. As a general rule, it supposes an investigation regarding the subject and a more or less clear exposition of the analyzed, pretending to be a well-founded text.

They tend to pretend to offer an explanation and point of view on a little-known or controversial aspect of reality. The essay is, in addition to a type of text,

a highly appreciated and valued literary genre as a way of transmitting knowledge.

But this does not mean that every essay is an objective and totally reliable work. Yes OK it is intended to do a deep analysis On a subject, it must be taken into account that in many cases the information offered may be biased by beliefs or even base its argumentation on them. They can also become motivated by personal interests.

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Structure of an essay

A literary essay is an attempt to analyze or interpret a certain aspect of reality, allowing the reader to understand both the topic and the arguments used to analyze it. As usual, the essay has a defined structure consisting of the following parts.

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1. Introduction

The initial part of the essay, in this part of the work the topic in question is reflected throughout the text.

It also reflects the main position you have in this regard or from what perspective you are going to work, that you intend to achieve or the hypothesis generated by the research and establish the first bases of what will be established throughout the rest of the document.

2. Developing

This is the main body of the text. During the development, the different aspects that the author has valued, the ideas in this regard and the arguments that are given in your defense and / or against you. Although in general the essay in its entirety must be well founded, it is in the development in which the author can offer his opinion on the matter.

3. Conclution

The final part of the essay. The main ideas that have been discussed throughout the body should appear in the conclusion of the text, establishing the most solid relationships between the subject matter and the argumentation carried out.

No new information should be offered, although possibilities for improvement can be established as far as the investigation of the subject is concerned. This is so because in case of giving new data, confusion can be created about whether the text has been understood correctly, by not remembering having read that kind of arguments or aspects to be dealt with in the preceding lines and be within the framework of a section that in theory serves to recapitulate.

Aspects to take into account in its preparation

When preparing a literary essay it is necessary to take into account different aspects and characteristic elements.

First of all, you have to take into account that it is necessary use clear and concise language. The arguments used must be coherent with each other and relevant to the topic at hand.

Although the subject can be very varied, in general the essays have to be relatively short texts that allow reflection and think about the subject matter. Arguments must be well founded, even if based on your own interpretation or opinion. In addition, it is important to plan in advance both the topic and the arguments to be used, requiring prior research.

Regarding the title, it must be attractive and linked to the subject matter. or to the conclusions drawn. It is usually advisable to decide it at the end of its performance.

Bibliographic references:

• Breton, J.C. (1978). A plan for writing. Month York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.