How to do an

essay.
In this lesson you will learn
The basic structure of essays.
How to organise an essaythe steps to do an
essay.
Some suggestions to support your ideas in an
essay.
Kinds of essays.
Definition: A short piece of writing on a particular subject. A short piece of writing about
a subject, especially one written by a student.
University of Canberra says: An essay is a piece of writing that methodically analyses
and evaluates a topic or issue. Fundamentally, an essay is designed to get your academic
opinion on a particular matter.
Characteristics:
Anytime you are asked to inform, explain, analyze, or write persuasively about a
subject.
Basic essays usually contain at least three to five paragraphs.
In essays, you support your point of view using the facts and figures you have gathered.
Work with solid information.
Kinds of essays.
There are two kinds of essays: expository (you have to present information about a
subject of personal interest. Your goal will be to share facts, explaining them) or
persuasive essays (you have to try to convince your readers to think the way you do about
a subject. You should support your opinion using effective facts and details).

General
1. Beginning.
In your opening paragraph should accomplish two things: it should gain your
readers interest inyour subject, and it should identify the focus or thesis that you
will develop.
Open with a series of questions about the topic.
Provide an interesting story or anecdote.
Present a starling or unusual fact.
Quote a well-known person.
Define an important, subject-related term.
2. Middle.
Developmental paragraphs must celarly and logically support your thesis-
chronologically, by order of importance or another way.
The first sentence in each new paragraph should be an effective link.
3. Ending.
It should tie all important points in the essay together and draw a final conclusion
for the reader. Maybe you write about reminding of importance of the subject or
reafirming your position.

Structure.
SEARCHING AND SELECTING.
Searching. Think of a subject you would like to know more about and page through textbooks or newspapers.
Make a brainstrom of topics.
Selecting. Look over your list and focus your attention on interesting subjects.
GENERATING THE TEXT.
Collecting. Find at least two good sources of information and begin reading. List important facts as you come
across them.
Planning. Review your facts, looking for a main idea or impression that could serve as the focus or thesis of
your essay.
WRITING AND REVISING.
Writing. Develop your first draft according to your planning and organizing.
Revising. Carefully review your first draft, making sure that the main idea you had intended to share has, in
fact, been clearly put forth. Also make sure that you have effectively supported this idea and that your writing
flows smoothly.
Is the essay well organized?
Do the facts effectively support the focus?
Will reader appreciate the treatment of this subject?

How to organize and do an

essay.
 Topic outline or
sentence outline.

Planning.
 Graphic
organization
To support and and develop your main points with facts.

1. Using facts.
2. Using quotations.
3. Using examples.

The importance of
support.