Things You'll Need:
- Internet access (for research)
- Library card
- Word processor
- A topic
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Step 1
Determine the topic. If this is not a direct assignment (for class, publication, etc.) find a topic that interests you. Also, try and offer a fresh perspective on a topic. Decide if the essay needs to be a general overview of a particular subject or a very detailed and specific account.
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Step 2
Determine if you want to persuade people about a certain argument or want to write an informational, non-biased essay.
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Step 3
Write a thesis statement. This will help determine the overall theme for the essay.
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Step 4
Outline. This includes both a structural and thematic outline. What are the major themes you want to cover? Once this is determined, create a structural outline—-how each paragraph builds on information in the previous paragraph. An outline is useful for a page-long essay or an entire thesis. Outlining means writing the main topic header for a paragraph, and a number of sub-headings, using Roman numerals for main topics, and a,b,c for sub-headings.
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Step 5
Research. If you’re just starting as an essayist, choose a topic you know something about—-or, at the very least, something you want to learn about. If you’re a practiced essayist choose a topic that can be easily researched. The Internet has made essay research a lot easier because you have virtual library’s worth of information on your desktop. Take notes on research materials and see how the information works into the outline from Step 4.
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Step 6
Begin writing: Taking into account your thesis, theme, research and outline. Start with an introductory paragraph. This should give a sense of what is going to be covered in the essay, without giving too much away. It will also set up the tone of the essay; either informational, conversational, or persuasive. After the intro, each paragraph should have a topic sentence and information to support that topic sentence--this information should be part of your outline. The conclusion should sum up what was covered by the essay, without being overly repetitive.
Comments
antagonist89 said
on 3/2/2009 Oh, remember to check out some books on your topic also. When you research online, you have to make sure it's a good website!
antagonist89 said
on 3/2/2009 Essays are so easy to write. Pick a topic you know about or want to learn about. Research your topic in depth and write your thesis. Once you have your thesis, support it with your opinions and facts that you know about your topic. Then share your essay with your professor and a few friends/classmates. I'm sure they'll give you some ideas on your topic and how to improve it, so go back and revise your essay. Revising is not a pain in the ass, trust me. Once you get some feedback, and you take a second look at your essay, your own eyes will tell you how to revise it. Easy!
mjanojan said
on 9/5/2007 I knew that, Give me something I didn't know!!!
rhyme said
on 8/15/2007 * Try writing a longer essay than you need, then cutting it down to size. This will help you to "tighten it up", including as many important points as you can while cutting out the fluff.
rhyme said
on 8/15/2007 * Do your research before you develop the outline. It helps to know as much about the topic as you can first, and you might come up with a great idea for how to structure the essay while you're researching.
* While researching, jot down notes from as many sources as possible that relate to your topic. Keep track of where the notes come from so that you can reference them properly when you write the essay. You don't need to use everything that you note down, but the more research you do, the more points you can choose from to strengthen your argument.
* Be imaginative. Readers like to see something different, especially if they are teachers who have to read many essays on the same topic. For example: start with a striking statement or quote, then build the essay around proving that the initial statement was wrong (or right).