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Step 1
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT
even the best writer cannot write a well written essay without having an understanding of the topic he/she is going to write about. Do your research, gather all your data, and write out a brief outline. Don't worry about grammar, just get your ideas down on paper. Focus on three main points you want to serve in your paper. -
Step 2
There are more than one type of essay: persuasive, narrative... the most common in school are persuasive and narrative. Persuasive meaning explaining something to the point as to engage the reader into your method of thought. Narrative essays are more designed to tell a story. Sometimes they are to explain a story, or maybe a theme in a story. Make sure you know what kind of essay you are supposed to write.
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Step 3
Begin with your outline. A 5 paragraph essay is broken down into parts.
1st paragraph - intro, thesis statement
2,3,4 paragrams - giving strength to thesis with examples and research
5th paragraph - conclusion
The 1st paragraph is crucial. This sets the tone for the essay. This is also where you will state your thesis. A THESIS STATEMENT is usually the last sentence/s in the intro and tells the reader what you plan to discuss in your paper. -
Step 4
In the next three paragraphs, you want every single thing you write to relate back to your thesis. This is crucial. You want to create a constant relation from you supporting ideas to the thesis. Make sure you site everything that is not yours.
These are the basics. Making sure you have a clear thesis and having all your ideas fall back to that one point. In the conclusion, tie everything up. -
Step 5
Hope that helped. That is about as in-depth as I want to get. If people need help with editing (comma-splice, split infinitives, dangling modifiers) let me know and I would love to write a article on grammar. Have a great holiday!
