This post will explain in simple steps what an academic essay is and how to write one. This is a skill that is required not only for students of higher and further education, but also for students of English who are taking the IELTS academic exam, or the Cambridge English exams, or similar.
An academic essay is a formal piece of writing that presents and defends a thesis or argument on a specific topic. It is typically structured with an introduction, body paragraphs containing supporting evidence and analysis, and a conclusion. Academic essays aim to demonstrate a deep understanding of a given subject matter, as well as critical thinking skills and an ability to articulate ideas coherently.
An academic essay for further or higher education will require relevant research, citation of sources and adherence to a specific style guide. On the other hand, an academic essay for an English writing exam should showcase a good grasp of the language, a high standard of grammar and a large lexical resource, but it will not require you to show in-depth research on the given topic.
Essays are commonly assigned in educational settings to assess a student’s comprehension of course material and their ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, organised manner. This aspect of essay writing is relevant both to native English students as well as to foreign students.
Academic essays are helpful for fostering critical thinking, honing communication skills and assessing students’ depth of understanding, and they provide a structured platform for individuals to articulate well-reasoned arguments and, where relevant, demonstrate mastery of their subject matter.
Understanding the assignment
Before exploring how to structure a response, it is important to understand one’s assignment. Many, if not all, marks can be lost when an essay is not directly relevant to what has been asked, or does not cover every aspect of the question.
Take the time to analyse the essay prompt and gain an understanding of the specific requirements and expectations of the assignment. Identify key terms and directive words, as well as content-related terms such as ‘democracy’ or ‘symbolism’, which should guide one’s approach to a topic.
Examples of directives can be:
- compare
- contrast
- analyse
- explore
- argue
- describe
- explain
- discuss
- evaluate
- assess
It is vital to check the directive used in an essay prompt because this clarifies exactly what kind of essay is required. For more details on these, and on all matters to do with essay writing, see the list of books in the bibliography at the foot of this page.
In addition, breaking down the essay prompt ensures that all components of it are addressed, so that the essay will meet the given criteria directly.
Furthermore, if necessary, clarify any ambiguities on any aspects of the instructions that are unclear or are open to multiple interpretations. Ambiguities may arise from vague terms, unclear directives or potential misunderstandings of the prompt’s intent.
Structuring the essay
Once any necessary research has been conducted, it is important to structure the essay according to an academic standard, consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs containing supporting evidence and analysis, and a conclusion.
The introduction
An academic introduction includes three main components: the question paraphrased, your opinion in answer to the question (also called the thesis statement, which presents the main argument of your essay), and a brief overview of the main points your essay will make. In essence, the introduction should be a compact overview of the entire essay, so that the reader will already know what to expect.
Body paragraphs
The main body of an essay is the ‘sandwich-filler’ between the introduction and the conclusion. Here, more detail is given about each of the points raised in the introduction.
Each point made should be allocated its own paragraph with a topic sentence to lead the reader into the paragraph, a sentence or two of further explanation, and one or more examples with supporting evidence.
Essay length varies from a degree essay that can be 1500 words or more to an IELTS essay that may only be 250 words long. In a short, 250-word essay, two points are sufficient for an argument and one example for each. In a longer essay, there may be three or four more detailed points made with more than one example for each.
Finally, a body paragraph should be concluded with a sentence or two that analyse and interpret the given evidence and/or examples.
The conclusion
As with the introduction, a conclusion must provide a snapshot of what has been written in the body. The thesis must be restated, the main points summarised and a sense of closure provided. It is a good idea to refer back to the essay prompt to demonstrate that the essay has answered it.
When writing an essay for an English exam, it is also essential to demonstrate a wide lexical reach, so avoid repeating the same vocabulary and be creative.
Writing style and tone
When writing an academic essay, a formal tone is required. This means using appropriate language and avoiding colloquialisms and slang:
Contractions should not be used (it’s, aren’t), but words must be written in full.
Colloquial words such as ‘a lot’, ‘get’, ‘very’ and ‘really’, colloquial expressions such as ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, and phrasal verbs such as ‘get on with’ should be omitted.
Abstain from emotive language such as ‘brilliant’ and ‘awful’; likewise, words that express personal judgements are inappropriate.
Personal pronouns and adjectives should largely be avoided, such as ‘I think’, ‘in my opinion’, ‘we’, ‘me’, ‘everybody’, ‘my’, ‘you’ and ‘your’. Similarly, the reader should not be directly addressed.
Subordinating conjunctions should be used in preference to coordinating conjunctions, and sentence structure should be varied for readability.
Sentence linkers should be used to guide the reader through the essay in an orderly way:
- firstly
- secondly
- on the one hand
- on the other hand
- in addition
- moreover
- furthermore
- however
- in conclusion
- in contrast
- nevertheless
- alternatively
- similarly
- therefore
- thus
An academic style of writing maintains an objective tone and refrains from exaggeration. Frequently, the passive voice is used to avoid the use of personal pronouns and the appearance of partiality.
Citations and referencing
An essay that has required research will also require references and a bibliography, and sources may also need to be cited within the text. Choose the appropriate citation style according to instructions received:
Some style guides commonly used in the United Kingdom are:
Used in humanities disciplines, especially in the UK.
Widely used in the UK, with variations based on institutional preferences.
Oxford University has its own style guide, often used in various disciplines within the university.
The above links can be consulted for further guidance.
Some international style guides are also commonly used in the UK, and these include:
Used in social sciences, education, and psychology.
Commonly used in humanities, especially in literature and language studies.
Other referencing styles also exist such as those specific to the medical, legal or journalism professions.
Style guides stipulate distinct use of quotation marks, italics, spacing, capitalisation, punctuation and other methods of formatting, and students are required to conform to the chosen style of the institution they write for.
To retain academic integrity, one must understand plagiarism, and its consequences, and properly attribute sources to avoid giving an impression that ideas put forward by another academic are one’s own.
Conclusion
An academic essay can be assigned by various institutions. It must have a formal tone and usually will have to adhere to a given word-count and a given style guide.
After conducting any necessary research, structure the essay with an introduction, a main body consisting of paragraphs assigned to the individual points made in the essay, and a conclusion.
Ensure the essay is carefully proof-read before submitting it.
If you have any questions, please do enter them below.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cottrell, Stella. Critical Thinking Skills: effective analysis, argument and reflection, 3rd edn (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017)
Hutchison, Hazel. Teach Yourself Writing Essays and Dissertations (Hodder Education, 2010)
Quirk, Randolph, and others. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, reprint edn (Pearson, 2011)
Seely, John. Oxford A – Z of Grammar & Punctuation (Oxford University Press, 2020)
Trask, R. L. The Penguin Guide to Punctuation (Penguin Books, 1997)
New Hart’s Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors (Oxford University Press, 2005)