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.

  1. Specific and precise - not general, broad or obscure
  2. Concise - one or two sentences
  3. Clear - not vague, ambiguous or confusing
  4. 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:

  1. "This paper examines . . ."
  2. "The aim of this paper is to . . ."
  3. "The purpose of this essay is to . . ."
  4. "In this paper, I will describe/explain/review/etc. the..."
  5. "My reason for writing is to..."
  6. "This paper will discuss the..."
  7. "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


Composition FAQ