Points to Consider on Essay Writing Analysis: Once a topic is given, analyzing the arguments of the essay that you

will write is one of the most necessary. Clearly define the claims, write out the reasons and the evidences. Look for weaknesses of logic, and also strengths. Learning how to write an essay begins by learning how to analyze the topic. Brainstorming: Your essay will require insight of your own, genuine essay-writing brilliance. Ask yourself a dozen questions and answer them. Take walks and think and think until you come up with original insights to write from the results of your analysis. Main Idea: Pick your best idea and pin it down in a clear assertion that you can write your entire essay around. Your main idea is your main point, summed up in a concise sentence that lets the reader know where you're going, and why. It's practically impossible to write a good essay without a clear main idea. Outline: Sketch 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. Play with the essay's order. Map out the structure of your argument, and make sure each paragraph is unified. Building an outline is like drawing a map of your essay. The job of an outline is to sum up each paragraph in your essay. Think of these as your topic sentences. Introduction: The introduction should grab the reader's attention, set up the issue, and lead in to your body. Your introduction is merely a build-up of the issue, a stage of bringing your reader into the essay's argument. The title and first paragraph are

probably the most important elements in your essay. This is an essay-writing point that doesn't always sink in within the context of the classroom. In the first paragraph you either hook the reader's interest or lose it. Of course your teacher, who's getting paid to teach you how to write an essay, will read the essay you've written regardless, but in the real world, readers make up their minds about whether or not to read your essay by glancing at the title alone. Body: Each individual paragraph should be focused on a single idea that supports your main idea. Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, support assertions with evidence, and expound your ideas in the clearest, most sensible way you can. Speak to your reader as if he or she were sitting in front of you. In other words, instead of writing the essay, try talking the essay. Conclusion: Gracefully exit your essay by making a quick wrap-up sentence, and then end on some memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an interesting twist of logic, or some call to action. Is there something you want the reader to walk away and do? Let him or her know exactly what. Language: You're not done writing your essay until you've polished your language by correcting the grammar, making sentences flow, incorporating rhythm, emphasis, adjusting the formality, giving it a level-headed tone, and making other intuitive edits. Proofread until it reads just how you want it to sound. Writing an essay can be tedious, but you don't want to bungle the hours of conceptual work you've put into writing your essay by leaving a few sloppy misspellings and poorly worded phrases.

Getting Started on your Essay

An effective essay is to offer your reader an opinion or arguments that are necessary for them to know. Before you start writing an essay, you need to decide three things. What are you writing about? Who do you imagine will be reading your essay? What do you want to tell them? You can write a successful essay by starting off with a plan. The key to doing a successful essay is to break the writing down into short, simple steps. Main idea for your essay is required for the introduction. Write down the main idea of your essay. To express your main idea, write only a few words. The essay will revolve around this idea. Begin the body of your paragraph by brainstorming. Brainstorming doesn't involve writing complete sentences or paragraphs. Brainstorming involves coming up with ideas in words or short phrases. Write a word or a phrase that relates to your main idea. This should be something about your main idea that you agree with. Write words or phrases relating to your main idea. This should also be something about your main idea that you agree with. Brainstorming against your main idea

Write a word or a phrase that relates to your main idea. This should be something about your main idea that you disagree Building an outline for your essay

Pre-writing for your essay

Introductory paragraph of your essay. Reread your main idea. Now, write a complete sentence about your main idea. Support this sentence by succeeding sentences that builds the issue. This will be your Introduction. Use simple but striking words. This is your chance, your make or break to get the interest of the reader. First part of essay body Reread your words or phrases that you agree with. Write a complete sentence using each. Second part of essay body Reread your words or phrases that you disagree with. Write a complete sentence using each. Conclusion Finally, reread your whole outline. Finish organizing your thoughts. Decide if you like the order of your topic sentences, or need to change the order a little.

Writing your essay

Introductory paragraph of your essay

 Reread your introductory sentence. Add a one or two more sentences explaining your main idea. Remember that the job of your introductory paragraph is to get your readers attention. Essay body Reread your topic sentences. Each topic sentence now becomes the first sentence of a new paragraph. Add to the first sentence of each paragraph. Write two or three more sentences to each. Use these new sentences is to support and explain your ideas. You can do this by offering facts, details, or examples. Remember that the job of your essay body is to share ideas with your reader. See if you can convince your reader to share your opinions. Be careful about generalizing. Statements such as "_____ is the most important problem facing the world today," can cause your reader to dismiss your position out of hand if he/she disagrees with you. On the other hand, "_____ is one of the most important problems facing the world today," is at least a bit harder to argue with. Be careful not to use 'I statements' such as "I think this..." For most essay topics, your opinions will not be persuasive. Use evidence instead. In college and university, some professors in Liberal Arts or Humanity disciplines (English, History,

Sociology, Political Science, etc) do not mind or even encourage their students to use the discursive "I." Some professors argue that it gives the writer ownership over their arguments. Check with your teacher or professor about this. For the most part, however, using the third person is the conventional method. Note that some writers find the first person useful; however it is not generally recommended that those without significant experience use it. Conclusion Its time to write a final paragraphyour conclusion. A conclusion restates the main idea of your essay, and sums up what your essay is about. Do this in one or two sentences. Remember that the job of your conclusion is to leave your reader with something to think about.

Reviewing and revising to improve your writing Are you happy? Youve almost completed an essay. But youre not done yet. You can always improve your writing. The way to complete a successful essay is by looking over your work. Try reading your draft aloud. Ask yourself questions. Do you like the order of your essay? Do you need to add words so your sentences

make better sense? Do you need to add any sentences so your paragraphs connect? Do you have ideas that youd like to add more to?

Do you like your introduction? Your essay body? Your conclusion? Make at least three changes that could improve your essay. Remember that even professional writers make lots of changes!

Proofreading your essay to improve your writing Its time to check your work. Read your improved essay aloud slowly. Look at details of punctuation and grammar in your writing. Are your sentences complete? Do your verbs go with your nouns? Do you need to add any missing punctuation? Hows your spelling?

Use English punctuation correctly. Consult a style book if you are unsure how to properly use quotation marks, colons, semi-colons, apostrophes, or commas. Avoid using exclamation points to emphasize your statements. Pick out any repetitive words. Avoid using colloquial (informal) writing. Do not use contractions or abbreviations, such as don't, can't, won't, shouldn't, could've, or haven't. Use formal English: do not, cannot, will not, should not, could have, have not. Your essay should have a serious tone, even if written in a light or lyrical style.

Remember that the job of proofreading is to catch and change anything that would stop your reader from enjoying your essay. Try catching and changing at least six mistakes.