Process to Follow When Writing an Essay
If you are a high school or college student or an adult continuing your education, writing an essay can be stressful. Organizing yourself and taking the essay step by step is the best way to write your paper. Make sure that you have access to the Internet, books and any other reference materials that you need to make your essay clear and concise before beginning to work.
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Brainstorm and Outline
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Before you begin writing your actual essay, brainstorm and make an outline. If you are given a broad topic to write about such as "Romeo & Juliet" or the Civil War, come up with a specific area of the topic to focus on and a creative spin that will make your essay stand out from the rest of the class. Outline your essay by taking a piece of scrap paper and making a list of all the points that you want to hit during your essay. You can sort your outline in chronological order if that helps you, or you can do a more freestyle outline to use as a reference.
Great Opening
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The first paragraph of your essay is vital. It will be what draws your professor in or gives him the impression that the rest of your paper may be dull. A teacher will be looking for a thesis, or a solid idea of what your essay will be about, during the opening paragraph. If the teacher cannot understand what the purpose of your paper is upfront, you will likely get points deducted from your grade. Be specific, clear and intriguing while writing your thesis. A good thesis can make or break a paper.
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Body and Conclusion
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While writing the body of your essay, make sure to hit all of the points on your outline. Use accurate facts in your essay. While breaking down your essay, have each paragraph to two paragraphs focus on a specific topic. Avoid writing paragraphs that mix multiple ideas. Make sure that each section of your essay reverts back to proving your thesis true. When you reach the end of your essay, it is important to captivate the reader one last time. It is also imperative to make one more solid statement to support your thesis and wrap up all of your ideas.
Don't Delay
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Most teachers will assign an essay in advance, giving students ample time to complete the paper. Don't wait until the last minute to get started. Writing a long essay can be overwhelming. By starting out far in advance of the due date, you will give yourself plenty of time to take breaks and make revisions. You can choose to write your essay all in one day or to write it over multiple days since you will have your outline to refer back to. Not waiting until the deadline also gives you ample time to proofread your paper for spelling and grammar errors. A creative paper can be ruined if it is a grammatical nightmare. Also, be sure to cite your sources and quotes using the MLA (Modern Language Association) handbook style if your teacher requires it. Review your paper to make sure you have met these guidelines.
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References
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