Learning how to write a good essay can seem difficult, but it does not have to be. It’s important to remember that your paper will have the same basic structure no matter what kind of essay you are writing – expository, narrative, descriptive or argumentative. Follow these simple steps, practice, and you will get a perfect essay in no time! And if you have run out of time or want to find out how a perfect paper should look like, order one at WriteMyPapers.org now!
Quick Steps:
- Decide on your topic.
- Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas.
- Write your thesis statement.
- Write the body.
- Write the main points.
- Write the subpoints.
- Develop the subpoints.
- Write the conclusion.
- Write the introduction.
- Add the finishing touches.
Choose a Topic
If the topic of your essay has been assigned, all you need to do is to read the assignment carefully and proceed to the next step.
If you are free to choose your topic, here is what you can do:
- Think about your purpose. Do you want to write an analysis? Are you required to tell a story, describe something or argue for a point? Choose one and proceed further.
- Brainstorm. Write the first thoughts that come to your mind. Think about subjects that you are passionate about or simply look around. Write as many thoughts as you can without evaluating them just yet.
- Pick a topic. Evaluate each topic, think about the number of ideas you have
about it. How do you feel about writing on that particular subject? Narrow the topic down if is too general. - Match the topic with your purpose. Now that you know what you want to write about, think about the form you would like to choose for your paper – whether you want to investigate an idea, tell a story, describe something or argue for something in particular.
Organize Your Ideas
Organize your ideas on a piece of paper or in a computer program if you prefer. A brain map is one of the most effective ways of doing that.
1. Draw a circle or a horizontal line or any other shape in the center of the page.
2. Write your topic inside the circle or in the shape.
3. From the center, draw several lines in different directions.
4. Along each line, write the main ideas that you have about your topic, or the main points that you want to make. Write your best arguments or the steps that should be followed. Remember about Beginning, Middle, and End.
5. From each of your main ideas, draw three or four lines out into the page.
6. Along each of these lines write the information and facts that support your main idea.
This is your basic structure. Here’s a mind map of how to draw a mind map:
Write a Thesis Statement
The thesis informs the reader what your essay will be about, and what point you will be making. Look at your brain map and think about the point you want to get across. Your thesis statement will usually have two parts. The first part (1) states the topic, while the second part (2) is about the essay’s point. For example, Writing a good essay (1) takes time and patience (2).
Write the Body Paragraphs
Describe the topic in the body of your essay. You expand each main idea into a paragraph. Each main idea that you wrote down in your brain map will become one of the body paragraphs:
1. Write down one of your main ideas.
2. Next, write down supporting points for that idea.
3. Expand the supporting points by further describing, explaining or discussing.
The Introduction and Conclusion
There are just two more things you need for your essay: the conclusion and the introduction. These paragraphs serve as an entry point to your essay and a point of exit from your paper.
Introduction
Write the introduction in such a way so that it attracts the reader’s attention and gives him an idea of what you are going to write in your essay.
1. It’s a good idea to start with an attention grabber, which can be:
- A piece of startling information. It could be an interesting fact that illustrates your point or casts a new light on an old perspective.
- Anecdote. It is a story that describes your point. An anecdote is an effective opener if it is short. Remember that it must also be relevant to your topic.
- Summary. Explain your topic from a general point of view and lead the reader to your thesis.
2. Lead the reader from your opening to the thesis statement.
3. End the introduction with your thesis.
Conclusion
The conclusion should sum up your main points or provide a final look on what you have to say.
The conclusion consists of several strong sentences (usually 3 or 4). You can review your main points (and be careful at the same time not to formulate them the same way) or describe what you feel about the subject matter.
Add the Finishing Touches
Play with the order of your paragraphs.
Have a look at your text. Start with the strongest paragraph, put the weakest in the middle, and end your text with the second strongest paragraph in the middle. Whatever order you choose, it’s important that the order of your paragraphs makes sense.
Review the assignment instructions.
Follow all the instructions you have been given:
- Include the information that is missing (for example, name, date, etc.)
- Are your lines double-spaced?
Check your paper
Revise your paper and improve weak points. Take time to reread the paper. You can also leave your essay for some time and come back later to see if it is still logical.
- Add some words and phrases to connect the sentences if they do not flow smoothly. Use the so-called transition words, such as “therefore” or “however,”. Additionally, you can refer to a thought in the previous sentence, especially when moving from one paragraph to another.
- Use the spell checker to find any misprints.
Once your work is revised and the formatting is perfected, your essay is ready.
Congratulations!
Remember! If you are having difficulty with your paper, have no time for it or your are not sure how it should look like, order your essay at WriteMyPapers.org!
You can download manual «How to write an essay» here.