Essay Writing
Great results Every time
You probably want to know how to write a great essay without wasting too much time on it or forcing yourself into something that does not work for your style or personality? Well, here are some tips for great results every time!
Take time to plan and edit
When you’re planning, it's important to remember that you can drive yourself crazy by trying to plan out every single detail. A good rule of thumb is that if your outline looks like a dissertation, it's probably too detailed.
The best way to keep your essay organized is by utilizing an outline and working from the top down. Write down the thesis at the top of your page, then make a list of supporting points on each side or column of the page. Once these are done, fill in any gaps with other supporting points below or use brackets to mark them as optional or secondary information. You'll also want to come up with a few transitional words or phrases that will help connect one point with another. After this process is complete, you'll be ready for editing!
Know your purpose
Your main idea, or purpose, is what you want the reader to take away from your essay. It's the reason you're writing it and what feeling you’re trying to convey. For example:
● "I want readers to understand why I think X is important."
● "I want readers to see how Y connects with Z."
● "I want readers to know that A has changed my perspective on B."
Know the structure of an essay
To write a well-structured essay, you need to understand the basic structure of an essay. An essay is made up of three sections:
● An introduction that introduces the topic and gives some background information on it. In this section, your goal is to invite your reader into the topic by explaining why it's important or interesting and also providing some context for readers who may not be familiar with it.
● A series of body paragraphs that cover different aspects of your topic in more detail. Each paragraph should have one main idea or point about the subject, and each body paragraph should contain several sentences supporting that main idea. The last sentence in each paragraph should be a "conclusion" sentence stating how that particular aspect relates back to your thesis statement (the main point). For example: "In conclusion, I think…"
● A conclusion that wraps up what has been said throughout the paper and provides a final thought on why this issue matters (i.e., how it affects people).
Write an introduction
● Write an introduction. An introduction is a short paragraph that introduces the topic of your essay and gives a more detailed description of it than a thesis statement does. The introduction should be interesting, but not too interesting; you don't want to spend all of your time on this section! For example, you could start off with a hook or question (like "How can I learn to write better?"), then go into detail about what makes writing hard for you and how many people struggle with this problem—and end by introducing the main idea of your essay in terms of those difficulties.
● Write a conclusion. This section should summarize everything you've said in previous paragraphs so that readers understand how they relate to each other and why they matter as a whole before they read further into the essay (or stop reading altogether).
Write a thesis statement
Your goal is to write a thesis statement that is clear, concise, and arguable. The best way to do this is by writing the last sentence of your introduction paragraph first. This will help you see if what you have written makes sense and will give you a starting point for structuring your argument.
A good way to think about it is like this: if someone asked why they should read (or listen) to your essay, how would YOU answer that question? What would be compelling enough for them not only to read another line but also to keep reading until the end?
Write the body paragraphs
Now that you've finished your introduction and thesis, it's time for the body paragraphs. The body paragraphs are where you develop your ideas. Each one should have a topic sentence, at least three supporting points (with examples or explanations), and a conclusion that ties everything together.
● Topic sentences: These are what make each paragraph flow together as part of one argument. They can be simple statements that layout the point of the paragraph; they can also include explanations or elaborations on previous points made in the essay. For example: "In this paper, I will argue that students should be required to take fewer college-level courses in order to graduate earlier." Note how this statement both states this idea and explains why it is important—it's all about getting across a specific idea clearly!
● Supporting points: Think of these as examples or evidence for your main claim (or claims). You need at least three supporting points so that readers understand why they should believe what you're saying. For example: "First... Second... Third..."
● Conclusions: Conclusions link everything together by pointing back toward what was said earlier in the essay—and often give some hint about how things will turn out in future sections too!
Write a concluding paragraph
Your conclusion paragraph should be a summary of the main points you've made in your essay, and should also include any important ideas you may have left out. Don't introduce new concepts, or end on a cliffhanger. You don't want to leave your reader with unanswered questions; they're likely trying to think of something else they need to do, not wondering what happened next!
Review the essay
Once you have completed your essay, it is time to review it. You should take time to look over your work and make sure that everything makes sense and flows well. If there are any sections that don't seem right or need more explanation, edit them again until they do.
