10 Essay Writing Steps

1. Research: Begin the essay writing process by researching your topic, making yourself an expert.
Utilize the internet, the academic databases, and the library. ake notes and immerse yourself in the
words of great thinkers.
!. "nalysis: #ow that you ha$e a good knowledge base, start analyzing the arguments of the essays
you%re reading. &learly define the claims, write out the reasons, the e$idence. 'ook for weaknesses of
logic, and also strengths. 'earning how to write an essay begins by learning how to analyze essays
written by others.
(. Brainstorming: )our essay will re*uire insight of your own, genuine essay+writing brilliance. "sk
yourself a dozen *uestions and answer them. ,editate with a pen in your hand. ake walks and think
and think until you come up with original insights to write about.
-. hesis: .ick your best idea and pin it down in a clear assertion that you can write your entire essay
around. )our thesis is your main point, summed up in a concise sentence that lets the reader know
where you%re going, and why. /t%s practically impossible to write a good essay without a clear thesis.
0. 1utline: 2ketch out your essay before straightway writing it out. Use one+line sentences to describe
paragraphs, and bullet points to describe what each paragraph will contain. .lay with the essay%s order.
,ap out the structure of your argument, and make sure each paragraph is unified.
3. /ntroduction: #ow sit down and write the essay. he introduction should grab the reader%s attention,
set up the issue, and lead in to your thesis. )our intro is merely a buildup of the issue, a stage of
bringing your reader into the essay%s argument.
4. .aragraphs: 5ach indi$idual paragraph should be focused on a single idea that supports your thesis.
Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, support assertions with e$idence, and expound your ideas in
the clearest, most sensible way you can. 2peak to your reader as if he or she were sitting in front of
you. /n other words, instead of writing the essay, try talking the essay.
6. &onclusion: 7racefully exit your essay by making a *uick wrap+up sentence, and then end on some
memorable thought, perhaps a *uotation, or an interesting twist of logic, or some call to action. /s there
something you want the reader to walk away and do8 'et him or her know exactly what.
9. ,'" 2tyle: :ormat your essay according to the correct guidelines for citation. "ll borrowed ideas and
*uotations should be correctly cited in the body of your text, followed up with a ;orks &ited
<references= page listing the details of your sources.
1>. 'anguage: )ou%re not done writing your essay until you%$e polished your language by correcting the
grammar, making sentences flow, incoporating rhythm, emphasis, ad?usting the formality, gi$ing it a
le$el+headed tone, and making other intuiti$e edits. .roofread until it reads ?ust how you want it to
sound.
THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY
A classic format for compositions is the five-paragraph essay.
Introduction:
Introductory Paragraph
See, first, Writing Introductory Paragraphs for different ways of getting your reader involved in your essay.
The introductory paragraph should also include the thesis statement, a kind of mini-outline for the paper: it tells the
reader what the essay is about. The last sentence of this paragraph must also contain a transitional "hook" which
moves the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
Body:
Body First paragraph:
The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, most significant example, cleverest
illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the "reverse hook"
which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should
be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The
last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body.
Body Scond paragraph:
The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument, second most significant
example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up the first paragraph in the body. The first sentence of
this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first
paragraph of the body. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should
relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a
transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the body.
Body Third paragraph:
The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest example, weakest illustration,
or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the
reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this
paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the
introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional concluding hook that
signals the reader that this is the final major point being made in this paper. This hook also leads into the last, or
concluding, paragraph.
!onc"usion:
!onc"uding paragraph:
This paragraph should include the following:
1. an allusion to the pattern used in the introductory paragraph,
2. a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language or language that "echoes" the original
language. (The restatement, however, must not be a duplicate thesis statement.)
3. a summary of the three main points from the body of the paper.
4. a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to an end. (This final statement may
be a "call to action" in an persuasive paper.)