Introductions will universally provide the reader with an understanding of where the essay is headed. In some contexts, it makes sense to include an essay map that explicitly states the 'steps' the paper will take. Put another way, the essay map presents the paper's 'main beats' in order.
An essay map is helpful because it provides the reader with an organised understanding of the work they are about to enter. The map will often directly precede or follow the thesis/aim statements, though in some cases the map contains those statements, as we'll explore below.
We're using essay map as a blanket term to describe the moves made in the introduction to signal the shape or path of the writing to follow. However, that mapping can take different forms depending on your needs and preferences. We will share two of the most common styles of mapping, below.
This style works in tandem with the thesis statement, presenting (in order) the major subtopics or themes that will be explored. Consider this example, with the essay's main subtopics highlighted:
THESIS→ While the implementation of no-fault policy has succeeded in removing many outdated barriers to divorce, court fee costs remain prohibitive to those with lower incomes; thus, this essay argues for the introduction of an income-contingent (or 'sliding scale') system of court fees. ESSAY MAP→ The proposed system will be justified through comparisons with relevant international law, a demographic analysis of UK divorces, and an examination of how sliding scales function in other contexts.
In this example, the writer is arguing for an amendment to UK divorce law. Their essay map signals to the reader that the main argument will be defended using three strategies. The reader now knows to expect those three lines of support (in the order stated) in the body of the essay.
This style of essay map charts in order what the writer will do. In other words, it lines up the writer's rhetorical moves, often using a 'first > then > next > finally' style that reflects the essay's structure. The thesis statement sometimes (but not always) appears within the mapping when using this style. Here is an example with the overt 'mapping words' highlighted:
ESSAY MAP→ In this essay, I first outline the reforms to divorce law that became active in April 2022. Next, I define the concepts of 'fault' and 'discrimination' through several legal perspectives. THESIS→ Using that foundation, I argue that the abolition of court fees is the next step necessary to ensure equal and nondiscriminatory access to divorce in the UK. ESSAY MAP→ Finally, I recommend realistic actions the government could take to finance the suggested abolition of fees.
This writer's argument is similar to the one above, yet they have chosen a different mapping style. Paying attention to the choices made by other writers in your discipline can help you build a range of mapping techniques, and then choose the best technique for the writing context at hand.
Even a tentative essay map can be a helpful tool while drafting your essay: you can look back at the map to check if you're 'staying on course', so to speak. Remember, though, that your stance and thinking may evolve during the production of your first draft.
For example, imagine that Jameela first envisions using ideas A, B, C and D to illustrate the merits of a viral marketing strategy that she has designed. Her essay map looks like this...
[...]. By adopting this marketing approach, the company will see benefits including A, B, C and D.
But as Jameela continues writing, she starts to feel like idea B is weaker than the others. She also comes up with another merit, idea E, that she didn't think about during her initial planning. Finally, she realises it makes more sense for the reader to hear idea C before idea A. This is all great: it shows Jameela is refining her work and embracing the recursive nature of writing. She therefore edits her final essay map to look like this...
[...]. By adopting this marketing approach, the company will see benefits including C, A, D and E.
Schedule time to re-edit your introduction (including the essay map) after you have edited the rest of the essay: this will let you account for any changes to the original plan.
You might also need to edit your essay map to accommodate style conventions for your discipline or assignment. For example, are you writing in a context that prefers first-person pronouns ('First, I will...') or third-person voice ('First, this essay will...')? You can use what feels most comfortable in your rough draft, but you should edit the final draft to adhere to expectations in your field.
