1. Essay Organization Overview
Academic Essays
Pasco Hernando Community College
Tutorial Series

2. Important Note:
Although there are some variations, the approach taken in these tutorials is generally accepted.
If you have a question about what is expected for a particular assignment, contact your instructor.

3. Essay Organization Overview of Organization
Introduction Paragraph
Gets reader’s attention, gives background, gives thesis statement
Body Paragraphs
Paragraphs which prove the thesis are placed between the Introductory Paragraph and the Concluding Paragraph. The number of body paragraphs depends upon length of paper
Concluding Paragraph
Sum up proof and restate thesis. Some instructors ask for a statement drawing an implication of the information presented instead of or in addition to a restatement of thesis.

4. What is meant by organization?
Essay organization is the use of paragraphs with specific content in a certain order to create a unified and coherent writing which proves a point: the thesis.
There are three different types of paragraphs in an academic essay:
Introduction – opening paragraph which gives background and states thesis
Body – middle paragraph(s) which prove the thesis
Conclusion – last paragraph which sums up proof and restates thesis
Sample essay showing organization

5. What paragraphs are required in an academic essay?
There must be at least three paragraphs: an introduction paragraph, a body paragraph (proof/support), and a concluding paragraph. Typically, a 500-word essay will have two to four body paragraphs (four to six total) paragraphs. The longer the essay, the more body (proof/support) paragraphs there will be.

6. Why does an essay need a specific organization?
Academic essays must take a position on a topic and then show why that position is right.
The paragraphs are designed and organized as follows:
to give information about the topic and clearly state a thesis (introduction)
to prove the thesis (body paragraphs), and
to review and reinforce the information presented (conclusion)

7. Specific content of paragraphs
Because each paragraph has a particular function, organization helps present the information in a clear, logical way
The organization helps to focus on the point which is to prove the thesis
The organization helps to assure unity and coherence where all the paragraphs work together to focus on the thesis in sentences and paragraphs that smoothly and logically flow from one to the next.

8. To summarize
Essay organization of an introduction paragraph with thesis, body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph
gives the reader a background and states the thesis in the introduction (first) paragraph
gives the reader proof for the thesis in body paragraphs
sums up the proof and restates the thesis. (Some instructors ask for a statement looking to the future or about the significance of the topic instead of or in addition to restating the thesis.)
assures unity in that each paragraph is focused on a specific proof point
assures coherence in that each paragraph flows smoothly and logically from one to the other in support of the thesis

9. Research Essays
The organization of a research paper is exactly the same as an academic essay unless a specific assignment requires otherwise.
Introduction with thesis at the end
Body paragraphs which prove the thesis
Concluding paragraph which sums up proof and restates thesis. (Some instructors may ask for a statement looking to the future or explaining the significance of the topic instead of or in addition to a restatement of thesis.
In fact, sometimes, research papers are referred to as research essays.
The only difference from an academic essay is that information from sources is included in a research paper.