What are the five requirements of an essay?

Depending on the type of essay you are writing,
requirements can change significantly. Originally, essays were opinion pieces, similar
to editorials today. For the purposes of this answer, we will assume the essay is for a
school or college.

The first step in an essay is the
Outline, which is optional. This is a numbered list of all the
points you want to make in your essay, with subtopics in their appropriate spots. The
outline contains within itself all the other parts of the essay, but in short,
unexplained form. The outline may or may not be part of the final essay. It is often a
good idea to include it, whether as a "table of contents" or as an
endnote.

The first major part of the essay is the
Introduction. This explains the motive behind the paper. The
introduction can be as long as one page and is usually kept to three paragraphs maximum.
You should be careful not to use the introduction to argue any of your points. The
introduction should be as neutral and clear as
possible.

The next important part is the
Thesis. This is a clear statement of the theme or conclusion you
hope to reach through the essay. The thesis can be a simple sentence, but should be no
longer than one paragraph. The thesis usually comes after your introduction and leads
directly into the main body of the essay.

The argument part
of the essay consists of the Body. The body is composed of
paragraphs, each of which explains and argues one point, usually transitioning into the
next with the last sentence. The body can be as long or as short as you want, as long as
you touch on all the points mentioned in the introduction and thesis. The body for an
academic paper is usually two-to-three pages long.

The next
part is the Conclusion. This is where you sum up all the points you
have made and explain the results. The conclusion is usually no more than two or three
paragraphs long; many are one paragraph. There should be no argument of points in the
conclusion.

The final part of an essay is the
Bibliography. This is a vital part of the essy, especially in
schoolwork, where you cite any sources quoted or drawn from. The important thing to
remember about citation is that there are several accepted formats to be used, each for
a specific audience. Legal essays cite differently than medical essays, for example. The
bibliography is absolutely essential if you are making arguments from outside sources;
without a bibliography, you may risk plagiarism.

The
critical essay is an important part of any school program. Using the proper parts
correctly will ensure that your essay cannot be faulted on technical
levels.