central idea essay structure

Reading Skills

Finding the central idea.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: December 27, 2023

What We Review

Introduction

Understanding the central idea in reading is an essential skill for comprehending both literary and informational texts. Think of it as the heart of what the author wants to tell us. It’s not just the subject of the text but the key message or argument the author is presenting.

In articles or speeches, you might find this main idea in the first few sentences. But when it comes to novels or stories, it’s a bit like a puzzle. You’ll need to connect the dots throughout and sometimes even after you’ve finished reading to really grasp it.

In this blog post, we’re going to explore some great ways to identify this central idea, and we’ll try out some activities to practice this skill. Are you ready to get started? Let’s jump right in!

Defining Central Idea

The central idea of a text is not quite the same as the topic or theme. But that does not mean that both things are not important! In fact, being familiar with both the topic and theme is a stepping stone to grasping the central idea.

For example, take Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice . One of the initial topics is Antonio’s venture trading. Another possible topic is Antonio’s melancholy, but more is needed to understand the play’s central idea. As the play continues, the theme of Antisemitism is apparent in Antonio’s treatment of Shylock, the Jewish money-lender. However, there are so many other themes present! Love, deception, and marriage also feature – the theme alone does not accurately represent the central idea. 

Looking at the play as a whole allows us to understand Shakespeare’s broader message about the human experience. For instance, a possible central idea in The Merchant of Venice is how it exposes the hypocrisy in both Christian and Jewish communities, showing how neither is morally superior despite their claims.

Additionally, a text can have several messages or central ideas expressed throughout the text, and Shakespeare is no exception to this.

The play suggests that these concepts are intertwined. In the climax, when Portia, disguised as a lawyer, serves justice to Shylock, it’s more than he bargained for. Meanwhile, Antonio, who was at risk of death, receives mercy. This twist of events highlights that mercy can sometimes be a form of justice, and vice versa, as seen when Antonio shows mercy to Shylock through his daughter, Jessica.

Strategies for Identifying the Central Idea

To find the central idea in a text, it’s essential to practice close reading , which means reading the text multiple times, each time with a different focus. Here’s how it works:

• Preview the Text: Start by quickly going through the text to get a general idea of what it’s about. Look at things like headings, opening sentences, or any images or graphs.
• First Reading – Basic Understanding: Now, read the text more thoroughly to understand what it’s saying. This is where you get a grip on the main topics and the basic storyline or arguments.
• Second Reading – Deeper Understanding: Read the text again, but this time, pay attention to the key ideas and details. Think about how different parts of the text connect to each other.
• Third Reading – Author’s Purpose and Perspective: In this reading, try to understand why the author wrote the text and their viewpoint. What are they trying to tell us? Why do they think this topic is important?
• Identifying the Central Idea: After these readings, use everything you’ve gathered to figure out the central idea. This is where you put together the main messages from the text and understand what the author wants to say about life or the human experience.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to dive deep into a text and really understand not just what it’s about but what message the author is trying to convey.

Drawing Conclusions about the Central Idea

To accurately understand the central idea of a text, it’s important to analyze key elements systematically. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

• Understand the Plot: Make sure you have a clear grasp of the story’s events. What happens and in what order?
• Review the Characters: Focus on the characters, especially those who undergo significant changes. How and why do they change throughout the story?
• Analyze Character Motivations and Actions: Consider what drives these characters. How do their motivations and actions highlight the main themes or key ideas in the text?
• Link Themes to Character Development: Connect the dots between what motivates the characters and the broader themes of the story. This will help you form a clearer picture of the central idea.

For example, The Merchant of Venice characterizes Shylock as a greedy, vengeful money-lender bent on punishing Antonio for mistreating him. He maintains this character until he receives his verdict from Portia, which condemns him, instead of his enemy, for plotting to murder another Venetian. This verdict changes him into a sorrowful, broken man.

Shylock’s actions reveal that the theme of justice, in Shylock’s eyes, is merely vengeance. When Portia enters the scene, however, she brings with her the notion of the coexistence of justice and mercy. The final events of the play reveal the error of Shylock’s vengeance and how Shakespeare believed justice should be delivered alongside mercy. 

Classroom Application

There are many things you can do to identify the central ideas in a text. Here are some tips to help you uncover the central idea in any text you’re reading:

• Keep an Eye on the Characters: Pay attention to what the characters in the story are doing and why they’re doing it. As you read, jot down notes about their actions and motives. This will help you understand them better.
• Back Up Your Ideas with Evidence: When you have a thought about a character or something that’s happening in the story, don’t just keep it in your head. Find a sentence or a scene in the book that supports your idea . This is like detective work – you’re finding clues to solve the mystery of the story’s main message.
• Look for Themes: Themes are the big ideas in a story, like friendship, courage, or justice. Sometimes your teacher might give you a heads-up about what themes to look for. Keep track of parts of the story that show these themes. This is like collecting puzzle pieces to see the whole picture.
• Put It All Together: Now for the cool part – take everything you’ve learned about the characters, their actions, and the themes, and mix it all together. This is where you start to see the bigger message the author is trying to tell us. It’s a bit like being a chef, combining ingredients to make an awesome dish.

Remember, figuring out the central idea isn’t just about spotting details – it’s about connecting them to form a bigger picture. And just like any skill, it gets easier and more fun the more you do it. So, dive into your next book and see what you can discover!

Practice Makes Perfect

In addition to the recommended activities above, Albert provides a wide range of texts for students to analyze and interpret. For emerging readers, check out our Short Readings course, which uses short passages to reinforce fundamental reading skills. Readers at all ability levels may enjoy our Leveled Readings course. It offers Lexile® leveled passages focused on a unifying essential question. This allows students to stay on the same page regardless of reading level. Learn more about the Lexile Framework here !

For authentic practice, check out our Essential Readings in Literature course. This course provides an overview of the core texts that American students often read in English class. We break each text down by skill, ensuring that students approach their reading from every angle.

With our easy-to-use interface and informative feedback, Albert.io is the perfect tool for reinforcing close reading skills and helping students develop a deeper understanding of the texts they encounter.

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Central Idea in Literature: Definition, Meaning, and Examples

By Krystal N. Craiker

In literature, there are many elements that work together to make a cohesive story. At the heart of each story is the central idea.

The central idea, also called the main idea, is a brief, overall summary of what the entire story is about. Typically, we explain the central idea in one sentence.

The central idea is different from the theme and the message. It’s the backbone of a story’s plot. Let’s take a closer look at what the central idea means in literature.

Central Idea Definition: What Is It in a Story?

Central idea meaning: what does it mean, the importance of a central idea in a story, tips on using central ideas in your story, examples of the central idea of a story, conclusion on central ideas in a story.

The definition of the central idea is a statement that explains the main scenario of a story. All plot lines, supporting details, and conflicts support the central idea.

You can think of the central idea as a very brief summary of a story. In other words, if someone asks what the story is about, the central idea is what you would tell them.

Fairy tales are a great way to understand literary elements. Let’s use Goldilocks and the Three Bears as an example.

The central idea of this story is:

A girl named Goldilocks enters a house in the woods, helps herself to porridge, and breaks furniture, not knowing the house belongs to three bears.

We don’t explore every individual event of the story or even dive into the themes. We briefly summarize the plot and hint that there will be consequences to Goldilocks’ actions. The central idea doesn’t give away “spoilers” by revealing what happens in the story’s climax when the bears come home.

People often confuse the central idea with a story’s theme. These two literary elements are closely related but distinct.

The central idea addresses the main ideas of the plot. The theme, on the other hand, is the unifying element or elements weaved into a story. A literary theme is a generic truth found in many stories. Themes often have a message for readers from the author.

Examples of literary themes include courage, friendship, revenge, and power.

Central ideas are not generic. They are specific to an individual story.

Let’s return to our example of Goldilocks and the Three Bears . The theme is the effect of selfishness on others. There’s a message or moral there too: Be considerate of other people.

You can see how these differ from the central idea statement, which dealt with the story’s main character and plot.

The theme and message all come from the central idea. You can’t have a cohesive story without the central idea as a starting point.

Imagine writing a story is like building a house. When you have a clear central idea for your story, you have laid the foundation. This foundation supports every other part of the story.

The floors and walls of your story are the external conflict, internal conflict, characters, plot elements, setting, and more. The theme is like the electrical system that runs throughout the entire building.

You can’t have a sturdy house without a solid foundation. Likewise, you can’t have a strong story without a clear central idea.

In the Goldilocks story, the plot events, characters, and theme all relate back to our central idea. Imagine if the theme of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was forbidden love overcoming all. That doesn’t fit the story at all! The fable would sound very strange.

Here are a few tips on the most effective ways to use central ideas in your writing.

Write a Strong Central Idea Statement

The stronger your foundation, the sturdier your house. The same goes with a central idea.

You can get the point across with a poorly written central idea statement. In fact, a poorly written central idea is a great starting point.

But spend some time honing your central idea. A well-written central idea will explore not just the main plotline but also touch on underlying themes.

Let’s improve our Goldilocks central idea statement:

A young girl suffers the consequences of her selfish actions after breaking and entering and destroying property in a home owned by three bears.

This central idea still tells us the gist of the story and introduces the main characters, while also touching on the theme of selfishness.

Match the Theme to the Story

Like we discussed above, throwing in a theme about forbidden love to the classic Goldilocks tale won’t fit the story. The themes of a story must be relevant to the central idea.

Most novels or other long-form work have more than one theme expressed in the story. Spend some time figuring out which themes fit your central idea. Then you can plan character arcs , conflicts, or other elements to help you explore that theme.

Start Big, Narrow Down

It’s difficult to sum up an entire story in one or two brief sentences. Start with a big overview then whittle it down to find your central idea.

You can start by writing a synopsis, which is a roughly two-page plot summary. Then try to narrow that down into a paragraph by focusing on the main events and key characters.

Writing a central idea statement from a paragraph is much easier. Keep it short: one or two sentences max.

As an added bonus, you can then use your central idea as your elevator pitch to quickly introduce people to your book.

Your book is likely more complicated than a fairy tale. Let’s look at some examples of central ideas in other works.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Two young, star-crossed lovers cause a deadly war between opposing families when they hastily marry.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In the 1920s, Jay Gatsby has achieved great wealth through unsavory means in an attempt to impress the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. Regardless, they are still divided by their differences in social status, rampant materialism, and Daisy’s abusive husband.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A lonely miser named Ebenezer Scrooge is haunted by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future to confront his life choices and learn about love and compassion.

Finding the central idea of a story will help you understand how the plot and themes work together. Discovering your own story’s central idea will guide your writing process and help you develop a cohesive story.

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Krystal N. Craiker

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

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What Is a Central Idea (Definition & Examples)

The central idea is the essential and unifying element in writing.

It captures the essence of the piece. Unlike the theme, there’s a central idea to both fiction and non-fiction texts.

What Is a Central Idea (Definition)?

The central idea communicates the general truth of the article. It’s often understood as the main point or the keypoint.

What Are Its Main Characteristics?

• Unifying element of the text;
• The dominant impression one gets after reading;
• The main idea of the writing;
• Can be written in one sentence;
• Different from theme;
• Often found in the first sentence of the article;

Difference Between Central Idea and Theme

A central idea should serve a specific purpose in the text and shall not apply everywhere like a universal theme.

Take this children’s  short story , for example:

It was an incredibly hot day, and a lion was feeling very hungry. He came out of his den and searched here and there. He could find only a small hare. He caught the hare with some hesitation.

“This hare can’t fill my stomach” thought the lion. As the lion was about to kill the hare, a deer ran that way. The lion became greedy.

He thought “Instead of eating this small hare, let me eat the big deer.” He let the hare go and went behind the deer. But the deer had vanished into the forest.

The lion now felt sorry for letting the hare off.

It was an incredibly hot day, and a lion was feeling very hungry. He came out of his den and searched here and there. He could find only a small hare. He caught the hare with some hesitation. “This hare can’t fill my stomach” thought the lion. As the lion was about to kill the hare, a deer ran that way. The lion became greedy. He thought “Instead of eating this small hare, let me eat the big deer.” He let the hare go and went behind the deer. But the deer had vanished into the forest. The lion now felt sorry for letting the hare off.

In this story, you can say the theme is greed (general theme), but you may write the central idea in one sentence as, “Lion lets go of prey in hand to catch the bigger prey, loses both.”

However, you can’t write a central idea as a generic truth found in the story. For example, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

• Themes are often instructional; central ideas are the specific purpose statement;
• A theme can be applied to fictional texts; a central idea statement can be applied to non-fictional texts as well;
• Themes help students understand the moral of a story; the central idea has the general purpose of unifying a text;
• Theme can be found after reading the entire book; the central idea can be found in the first sentence of an article;
• Themes can be applied outside of the story; central idea is text-specific;

Four-Step Process to Identify Central Idea

You can generally find a central idea in the topic sentence and the concluding sentences of an article.

Here’s a four-step process to identify the central idea:

1. Looking for the primary text aspects

The central idea most often will be found in the main heading of an article. However, every section or paragraph of a text can have its central idea. You can unify these main ideas from each division into one main point or the  meta  central idea.

However, you should be cautious not to confuse it with supporting details. An example of supporting details is analogies, quotes, or other contextual information.

2. Analyze the content structure

Look for contrasting elements, chronological order, the framework of scenes and events, problems, and solutions.

Understanding the content structure and asking questions along these topics will usually reveal the central idea.

Once the article’s main subject is determined, ask what the writer has tried to convey about the text. The answer is the central idea.

3. Overlooking supporting details

Elements specific to the text should be omitted to emphasize the central idea. These are not part of the larger picture the text wants to demonstrate and are unnecessary to understand a central idea.

Although these details help the reader perceive the main idea, they are not essential to identifying the central idea.

4. Finding thesis statement

If you’re still unable to figure out the central idea, you can generally find it in the concluding passages of the text. More or less, every closing paragraph has a clear, concise thesis statement.

However, not all pieces have a thesis statement. In such cases, you must deduce the central idea by reading the text several times.

Sometimes, seeking outside help can also be beneficial; for instance, when students decide to pay for an essay , they often receive a model paper that demonstrates how to identify and articulate the central idea.

Two Examples of Well-Written Central Ideas

Here are examples of well-written central ideas:

• The story’s central idea is how a young girl goes through immense struggle and sacrifice to build a successful career for herself. (connects all dots of the story)
• The central idea of this text is how women are systematically discriminated against in workforces, which are essentially men-centric. (summarizes women’s struggle in the workforce)

Two Examples of Badly-Written Central Ideas

• The central idea of the story is friendship. (incomplete statement)
• Don’t judge a book by its cover. (avoid using cliches, proverbs, idioms)

How to Use Central Idea as a Tool to Explain the Big Picture Concept to the Reader

Here’s the  formula for finding a central idea : [subject] + [writer’s idea about it].

An easy way to find out the central idea statement is to determine the subject and then add to it what the author has said about this subject.

Every writer has a perspective in mind while writing a text, a stance they want to take, a feeling they want to convey.

All of these components that make up the content combine to produce concentrated ideas. If you’re an author and are wondering how to make a point of conveying a successful central idea, here are some.

Tips for Using the Central Idea in Your Story

• Use proper chronology while writing about historical events;
• Break the text into paragraphs and let each paragraph have its point;
• Have a broader idea in mind;
• Don’t use the same concept in supporting paragraphs;
• Try having a clear, concise thesis statement;
• Remember to be brief for the reader to grasp the big picture concept;
• Have a title, headings, and subheadings;
• Align the title with the subject of the piece;
• Identify and explain complex parts in a way that supports your main idea;
• Summarize the ideas in the concluding paragraph;
• Make sure every part of the story converges into your central idea;

If the central idea were to have a tagline, it would say: “Unity of point, idea, and action!”

Tomas Laurinavicius

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Central Idea

Free lesson plans and resources to help your students identify topics, central ideas, and supporting details. Resources utilize short passages and focus on both stated and implied central ideas.

• ReadTheory >
• Lesson Plans >
• Central Idea >

Whole Week Overview

This week students will engage in deep dive into identifying topics, central ideas, supporting details in various short passages, as well as the difference between central ideas that are stated by the author versus implied.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2/4.2/5.2

Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

• Teacher Guide
• Daily Powerpoints with Teacher Notes
• Printable Passages, Notes, Activities, Warm Ups, and Exit Tickets
• Short Standards-Focused Assessment

Day 1 - Introduction

Activate students’ prior knowledge by asking them to come up with their best definition for “Central Idea.”

Core Instruction

Using the guided notes and handouts, define central idea and introduce the central metaphor for the week: The Central Idea Sundae

Guided Practice

As a class, identify the topic of numerous photographs.

Independent Practice

Annotate the provided passages and begin identifying topics, central ideas, and whether those ideas are stated or implied.  Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the Powerpoint as well.

Day 2 - Whole Class Practice

Students will practice identifying possible topics and central ideas of an image. Whole class will discuss.

Review the 3 essential ingredients of a central idea with students.

Annotate the provided passage (yesterday’s exit ticket) and a book cover as a class and begin identifying topics, central ideas, and whether those ideas are stated or implied.

Group Practice

Analyze two book covers and begin identifying topics, central ideas, and whether those ideas are stated or implied.

Students will craft short paragraphs focusing on supporting a central idea about themselves.  Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the Powerpoint as well.

Day 3 - Working Backwards

Students will practice identifying possible topics and central ideas from images. Whole class will discuss.

Students will learn about how to work backwards from key details to determine a central idea.

Students will read supporting details as a class and practice forming central ideas from those details.

Students will read supporting details and practice forming central ideas from those details. Students will craft their own paragraphs and break them down into supporting details and central idea. Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the Powerpoint as well.

Day 4 - Group Practice

Students will review all elements of the week’s lessons: topic, supporting details, central idea.

Students will craft central idea statements with multiple passages. Exit tickets and checks for understanding are built into the Powerpoint as well.

Day 5 - Assessment

The assessment.

Hand out the assessment for students and then go over the directions:

• Read the passage carefully.
• Highlight/circle  key details that communicate the central idea.
• Use the close sentence scaffold to write a central idea statement.

Students will also be asked to apply what they’ve learned to two passages.

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Lesson Plans

Bring readtheory to your school or district.

Read Like This: Central Ideas and Supporting Details in Texts

• Show/Hide Line Reader
• Learn It Part 1
• Learn It Part 2
• Exit Ticket

This module is for Grades: 9-10 Welcome

Determining the central idea is an important skill for understanding a text and being able to summarize information. In this module you will read a story called “The Yellow Wallpaper“ and discover how specific details help to determine a central idea . You will also learn how to identify the central idea of a text and use it to provide a summary of the story.

Module Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Synthesize information and details from a story to develop a central idea statement about the story.
• Provide an objective summary of the story based on the central idea and supporting details.

• Analyze ideas, literary techniques and specific details in a text that develop a central idea.
• Summarize a text.

Learn How to Use This Module

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Teacher Resources | Accessibility

This website is a production of Maryland Public Television/Thinkport in collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education. The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Central Idea

The big idea or the most important message that the author is trying to convey in a piece of literature. It is the unifying element of a story, which ties together all of the other elements of fiction used by the author to tell the story.

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Module 5: Choosing and Researching a Topic

Finding the purpose and central idea of your speech, learning objectives.

• Identify the specific purpose of a speech.
• Explain how to formulate a central idea statement for a speech.

General Purpose

The general purpose of most speeches will fall into one of four categories: to inform , to persuade , to entertain , and to commemorate or celebrate . The first step of defining the purpose of your speech is to think about which category best describes your  overall  goal with the speech. What do you want your audience to think, feel, or do as a consequence of hearing you speak? Often, the general purpose of your speech will be defined by the speaking situation. If you’re asked to run a training session at work, your purpose isn’t to entertain but rather to inform. Likewise, if you are invited to introduce the winner of an award, you’re not trying to change the audience’s mind about something; you’re honoring the recipient of the award. In a public speaking class, your general purpose may be included in the assignment: for instance, “Give a persuasive speech about . . . .”  When you’re assigned a speech project, you should always make sure you know whether the general purpose is included in the assignment or whether you need to decide on the general purpose yourself.

Specific Purpose

Now that you know your general purpose (to inform, to persuade, or to entertain), you can start to move in the direction of the specific purpose. A specific purpose statement builds on your general purpose and makes it more specific (as the name suggests). So if your first speech is an informative speech, your general purpose will be to inform your audience  about a very specific realm of knowledge.

In writing your specific purpose statement, you will take three contributing elements and bring them together to help you determine your specific purpose :

• You (your interests, your background, experience, education, etc.)
• Your audience
• The context or setting

There are three elements that combine to create a specific purpose statements: your own interests and knowledge, the interests and needs of your audience, and the context or setting in which you will be speaking.

Keeping these three inputs in mind, you can begin to write a specific purpose statement, which will be the foundation for everything you say in the speech and a guide for what you do not say. This formula will help you in putting together your specific purpose statement:

To _______________ [ Specific Communication Word (inform, explain, demonstrate, describe, define, persuade, convince, prove, argue)] _______________ [ Target Audience (my classmates, the members of the Social Work Club, my coworkers] __________________. [ The Content (how to bake brownies, that Macs are better than PCs].

Example: The purpose of my presentation is to demonstrate to  my coworkers the value of informed intercultural communication .

Formulating a Central Idea Statement

While you will not actually say your specific purpose statement during your speech, you will need to clearly state what your focus and main points are going to be. The statement that reveals your main points is commonly known as the central idea statement (or just the central idea). Just as you would create a thesis statement for an essay or research paper, the central idea statement helps focus your presentation by defining your topic, purpose, direction, angle, and/or point of view. Here are two examples:

• Central Idea—When elderly persons lose their animal companions, they can experience serious psychological, emotional, and physical effects.
• Central Idea—Your computer keyboard needs regular cleaning to function well, and you can achieve that in four easy steps.

Please note that your central idea will emerge and evolve as you research and write your speech, so be open to where your research takes you and anticipate that formulating your central idea will be an ongoing process.

Below are four guidelines for writing a strong central idea.

• Your central idea should be one, full sentence.
• Your central idea should be a statement, not a question.
• Your central idea should be specific and use concrete language.
• Each element of your central idea should be related to the others.

Using the topic “Benefits of Yoga for College Students’ Stress,” here are some correct and incorrect ways to write a central idea.

A strong central idea shows that your speech is focused around a clear and concise topic and that you have a strong sense of what you want your audience to know and understand as a result of your speech. Again, it is unlikely that you will have a final central idea before you begin your research. Instead, it will come together as you research your topic and develop your main points.

• Purpose and Central Idea Statements. Provided by : eCampusOntario. Project : Communication for Business Professionals. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Finding the Purpose of Your Speech. Authored by : Susan Bagley-Koyle with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

Frequently asked questions

What is the structure of an essay.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Frequently asked questions: Writing an essay

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

If you’re not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.

The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general.

If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

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