ORGANIZING YOUR ESSAY

Chronological Structure

          The chronological approach to writing your essay is a simple structure that allows the writer to discuss the events in the order that they occur. This approach is also referred to as the cause-and-effect approach. The chronological approach is most useful when discussing a series of events. Example of the chronological essay outline:

I.        Introduction

a.       Hook

b.       Background

c.        Thesis

II.      First Main idea 

a.       Discussion of main idea

b.       Consequences

III.     Second Main Idea

a.       Discussion of second main idea

b.       Consequences

IV.     Third Main Idea

a.       Discussion of the third main idea

b.       Consequences

V.      Conclusion

a.        Summary

b.       Importance of the topic

c.        A strong statement to close the essay

Reinforcement

COMPARE AND CONTRAST STRUCTURE

          Essays that contain two or more main ideas often use this structure. In a literary essay, for example, the content of the essay compares different texts. The argumentative essay will use this structure to discuss the strength and validity of different arguments. The compare-and-contrast structure can be the alternating method or the block method.

Alternating Method

          This method allows you to make comparisons in each paragraph. You can make specific points along with specific comparisons.

Example of an alternating essay outline:

I.        Introduction

a.        Hook

b.       Background

c.        Thesis statement

II.      First idea or point that you wish to compare

a.        Subject or point A

b.       Subject or point B

III.     Second idea or point that you wish to compare

a.        Subject or point A

b.       Subject or point B

IV.     Third idea or point that you wish to compare

a.        Subject or point A

b.       Subject or point B

V.      Conclusion

a.        Synthesis of arguments

b.       Importance of topic

c.        Provide a strong closing statement

BLOCK

      This method allows the writer to cover all the subjects in one sitting. This means that each subject is covered across multiple paragraphs. So, you may want to discuss the first idea in two paragraphs and then the second idea in another two paragraphs and refer to or make a comparison to the first paragraph.

Outline for Block essay

I.    Introduction

a.   Hook

b.   Background

c.   Thesis statement

II.  First idea

a.   Point 1

b.   Point 2

III. Continue with first idea

a.   Point 3

b.   Point 4

IV. Second idea

a.   Point 1 (compare)

b.   Point 2 (compare)

V.  Second idea continued

a.   Point 3 (compare)

b.   Point 4 (compare)

VI. Conclusion

a.   Summarize or synthesize

b.   Importance of the topic

c.   Present a strong statement to close the essay.

Problems-Methods-Solutions-Structure

      This structure is more commonly used with an essay that has a specific problem. The problem can either be theoretical or practical. Therefore, the structure of the essay should take an approach that identifies the problem and give methods and solutions to the problem. Hence, you define the problem, characterize a method or a theory that will help to solve the problem, and use this method to solve the problem.

Problems-methods-solutions essay outline

I.    Introduction

a.   Introduce the problem

b.   Give background information that relates to the problem

c.   Describe your approach to solving the problem

II.  Problem

a.   Give a precise definition of problem

b.   State the importance of the problem

III. Method

a.   Talk about previous ideas and points that relate to the problem

b.   Put forward new ideas or the new approach that you would take to

      solve the problem. Then, state why this new approach is better.

IV. Solution

a.   Apply the new theory or method to the problem presented

b.   Point out the solution that you propose

V.  Conclusion

a.   Discuss the effectiveness of the solution you propose

b.   Describe the implications of the solution

c.   Present a strong closing statement