How to Write a Basic Essay

Your topic sentence is the heart of your essay.

The essay has been the bane of college and high school writers for centuries. According to Purdue University, the word is derived from the ancient Latin "exigere," which means to test or examine a set of ideas. The essay is intended to help the student examine and test his ideas about a specific topic through the research and writing process.

Things You'll Need

• Open mind
• Pencil or pen
• Paper/word processing program

Instructions

1. Select your topic and research it completely. Use libraries, the Internet and even personal interviews to get as much information as you can find on the topic.

2. Write a topic sentence that states the basic concept or stance of this paper. Your introduction should revolve around this sentence and preview the rest of the essay. Your introduction is the first paragraph of your essay.

3. For the body, which is the central part of your essay, write three to five paragraphs, each on a different aspect of your topic sentence. Each paragraph should be three or four sentences long and add depth to your overall topic.

4. Close the essay with a reworded version of your topic sentence and summarize the supporting information you presented. Your conclusion is the last paragraph.

References

• The McDaniel Center: A Basic Essay Format
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Essay Writing