How to Write Essays

Essays are usually a venue for students to express their ideas about a subject. In any grade or college level, essays are also a common part of exams that can test the student’s proficiency about the subject. That is why it is important to learn the basic steps in constructing essays so you can ace your homework or exam.

  1. Choose your topic: the whole idea of your essay will revolve around the topic that you will choose. You must determine what your essay will achieve and focus on it. From time to time you will have to go back to your topic to guide you as you go along your essay.
  2. Construct your thesis: the thesis is the idea that you have to defend in your essay. Constructing the thesis needs practice and will vary based on the topic of each paragraph. Depending on the subject of your exam, it will also vary, say, from English or History. For English, an example would be when trying to prove a person’s trait. “Ana is a dynamic character” Supporting parameters will prove the idea of your thesis.
  3. Set parameters for your thesis: parameters are used to support and prove your thesis. From the example in number 2, you could say “Anna is a dynamic character because (list all of Anna’s traits that will prove it). Make sure that you have back-up information on your parameters to prove your thesis. If you said that Anna is a dynamic character your will have to lift points from the novel to prove such claim.
  4. Outline and organize: this is the part where you will decide which idea goes first, second, third and so on. This will guide the flow of ideas of your essay and will keep you from drifting off from the topic of a particular paragraph.
  5. Begin with your introduction: Start by coming up with your thesis statement. The thesis statement is that one sentence that captures the gist of a particular paragraph. It can be found anywhere in your paragraph and there are no strict rules in terms of its position. You can start the introduction with facts, quotes, rhetorical questions etc. This is also the part that you need to hook your reader’s interest. So make sure that the starting sentence of your paragraph is catchy and interesting.
  6. Writing the body: the body of the paragraph will contain supplementary details of your topic. It is also in this part that you can expound on the parameters of your thesis. You can allot 2- 3 examples for your parameters. It is also easier to focus a parameter in one paragraph. This way, your teacher will be able to easily digest the details of the body of your essay.
  7. End with the conclusion: the conclusion part should serve as the summary of your essay. Keep it short and reinforce the important statements of your essay. Choose the 3 most important parameters of your thesis and it is here that you can also validate your opinions.

Tips:

  1. Listen to what your teacher will be expecting from your essay. You might get overwhelmed when writing your essay and thus stray away from the idea that your teacher wants to read.
  2. Take the chance to consult your teacher about the topic. It is always a good idea to ask for your teacher’s help as he or she most likely knows the essential ideas that can bulk up your essay.
  3. Your teacher may not be able to help with your essay. If this is so, brainstorm with your friends so that you can gather more information that can help you with your essay.
  4. Don't get upset if you have no time, you can always pay for essay and get it done in 24 hours.