How to Write a Basic Essay

Thousands of high school and college students stress each year about those pesky essays English teachers assign to students. Many students don’t see any use for them because they plan to be a mechanic or construction worker where not a lot of writing is required. But being able to convey your thoughts and ideas in a clear and concise way can be beneficial no matter what field you may enter. So for those who simply want to get a good enough grade so you won’t have to take that English class again, here are some steps that should get you by.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

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

1. In most cases your teacher/instructor will tell you to pick any topic to write about. Therefore, pick a topic that interests you or a memorable moment. If you’re a sports fan then write a paper on the history of your favorite sport, why a particular sport is your favorite, how to play a sport, rules to the game, or a memorable moment you had playing that sport. You can’t do a good job if you don’t have any interest in the subject.
2. Write an introduction paragraph explaining to the audience what your paper will be about. Seems simple enough, but many times this can be one of the most difficult parts to writing an essay. Basically look at your opening paragraph as a sneak preview to a movie. Think to yourself that you’re about to tell your audience what they are going to read without giving away what you’ve written. If you are about to explain your love for something, open your essay by saying why you love that sport, book or song, and then tell your audience how you are about to go into detail about how you fell in love for that special thing.
3. Write your thesis statement, which is the last sentence of your first paragraph. The thesis statement brings closure to your opening paragraph and specifically states what your paper will be about. You might have started your paragraph by stating how everyone has hobbies and why each individual chooses their own specific hobby, and then state your favorite hobby. Well once you get to that last sentence in your first paragraph just simply tell your readers something along the lines of, “ I will tell you how I got started in collecting stamps and why this hobby has brought me great joy and a tradition I hope to pass on to my children.”
4. Write an outline of your three to five main points. The paragraphs that are stuck between your opening and closing paragraphs should each have one idea that takes center stage. For example, you may have three paragraphs describing your fondness for collecting stamps. The first point discusses how you got in the hobby, the second paragraph discusses the first steps you took in getting into the hobby, and the third paragraph explains the joy you get out of collecting stamps. The easiest and most basic way of writing an essay is to think chronologically where you begin with the first step and end with the final one.
5. Write each individual paragraph that follows your opening one using the information from your outline.
6. Write your conclusion paragraph. There are two ways to end an essay. The easiest one is to simply restate your main points. The second way is to tell your readers what you got out of writing your thoughts down or what you hope your audience got out of reading your paper.