1. A computer-implemented method for annotating an essay, comprising: identifying by a processing system a sentence of the essay; identifying by the processing system a plurality of features associated with said sentence; determining by the processing system a probability of said sentence being a discourse element by a statistical evaluation that includes mapping the plurality of features to a model, said model having been generated by a machine learning application trained based on at least one annotated essay, wherein said mapping comprises extracting a pattern from the sentence based on the plurality of features and based on the training of the machine learning application; and annotating by the processing system said essay based on said probability, wherein said discourse element is at least one of: a title, a background, a thesis statement, a main point, support, and conclusion.