I nte r nati o nal e n g LI s h lan g uag e testi n g syste m

hat

 

is

 

an

 

essay

?

Let’s start with simplified definitions of these basic English structures:

What is a sentence?

A sentence is a group of words.

What is a paragraph?

A paragraph is a group of sentences.

What is an essay?

An essay is a group of paragraphs.

An essay supports or refutes an argument through the use of examples and reason.  

The purpose of an essay is to persuade the reader of a position on a topic, so it is 

vitally important that your writing is logical.

The easiest way to score well in your Task 2 response is to structure your writing in 

a solid essay format that allows you to make claims, give examples and draw conclu-

sions.  Strong essays are typically divided into four or more paragraphs.  Each para-

graph is also subdivided into several sentences.  Each sentence carries out a specific 

job.  Together, the sentences work towards a strong centralized argument.

To illustrate, look at this essay structure: