The Multiple-Paragraph Essay
UWF Writing Lab
An essay is a written discussion of a limited topic. An essay always has a specific purpose. It may express the author’s opinions or ideas or his responses or reactions to a particular subject. An essay is always a personal expression although it may vary in formality. The formal essay is serious in nature and demands the use of formal English. A more conversational, less serious form is the informal essay.
An essay must say something specific. Statements such as “The future lies ahead,” “Agriculture is important,” or “Automobiles are here to stay” are too general to use as the basis (thesis) for an essay. The author should choose a subject with which he is familiar, one in which he has some interest.
The author must always use specific details to support his major point. These details may include data, statistics, examples, illustrations, and anecdotes. The quality of the essay is largely determined by the supporting details.
The author must begin an essay with an organized plan. Organization is the key to success in essay writing. There is a definite structural pattern for the essay. This structural pattern is explained below.
A correctly structured five-paragraph essay may have more than five paragraphs; however, it may never have fewer than five. Certain components must be included in all structured essays, regardless of the literary classification (persuasive, comparison, etc.). The basic structural pattern of all essays contains an introduction, which must include a thesis, at least three paragraphs to support the thesis, and a concluding paragraph.