All written compositions, including the essay, follow a three-part structure that consists of the introduction, the body and the conclusion. The introduction presents the essay topic to the readers, including an initial overview of what is expected in the essay. The body, on the other hand, contains the facts, examples and other supporting material that elaborates on the general premise presented in the introduction. The conclusion restates the general premises and provides a resounding closure for the readers. Each part has a major contribution to the overall effectiveness of the essay.

Introduction. In any essay, it is important to make a good impression in the introduction. If the reader cannot easily grasp the intent of the essay in the first few paragraphs, much more get interested in reading them, they may not bother reading the succeeding parts of the essay. In the introduction, the main position of the essay must be stated clearly. It must also encourage the reader to continue reading the essay material.

Body. The body is probably the longest part of the entire essay structure. It must be able to present the supporting points that the introduction has outlined in a clear and interesting method. The essay body must only consist of information that relates directly to the general premise to maintain the essay’s unity of thought. Even if the fact is interesting, it will not hold any credibility in the essay if it is irrelevant to the essay topic. Trivial facts are not included in the essay body—it is not advisable as the readers might be overwhelmed with information that does not support the main points presented in the essay.

Conclusion. The conclusion is the final element that can be used to further impress or convince the readers with the essay. Essays, then, must always end in a strong note – one that establishes the final message the writer wants to leave to the readers. The conclusion should not leave the reader unsatisfied with unanswered questions or lingering doubts about the essay.