SPARK: Student Papers and Academic Research Kit: Essay Structure

The structure of an essay refers to its form or organization. There is no one structure that is expected in an academic essay, but the following are some structural elements common to almost all essays:

• Sentences
• Paragraphs
• Topic sentences within paragraphs
• Transition sentences between paragraphs
• Thesis statement
• Title
• Quotations & Citations

A writer must consider their purpose (why they are writing), subject matter and anticipated audience (a professor? A business?) in order to form an appropriate structure from these elements. 

For suggestions regarding the writing process, see the Writing Step by Step module.