What is meant by “purpose” in an essay?
What is a purpose
The purpose announces the direction in which the paper will be going without giving the conclusion of which the author has discovered.
- Specific and precise - not general, broad or obscure
- Concise - one or two sentences
- Clear - not vague, ambiguous or confusing
- Goal-oriented - stated in terms of desired outcomes
Where is the purpose in an essay
The purpose is generally found in the introduction. It can consist of several sentences or a whole paragraph. Be sure to check with your instructor on whether or not they want a thesis or a purpose. Purposes are commonly used in academic settings when doing a research paper.
Examples of purpose statements
Good purpose statements:
- "This paper examines . . ."
- "The aim of this paper is to . . ."
- "The purpose of this essay is to . . ."
- "In this paper, I will describe/explain/review/etc. the..."
- "My reason for writing is to..."
- "This paper will discuss the..."
- "The purpose of this paper is twofold: to ___ and ___"
Remember to be specific and precise. The purpose explains very specifically what the paper will be about. Having a broad purpose will make the reader/audience uninterested in your topic.
Links
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Thesis_or_Purpose.html http://faculty.washington.edu/ezent/imwps.htm