A Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Essay

on

       As a student, we are always asked to write reflection papers, position papers, informative essays, persuasive essays, essays in general. I have always hated writing because I did not know how to. I just feel like I am not a good writer especially when I compare my output with others.

     As time passed by, I got to improve my essays especially when I was formally thought about the writing stages in my Reading and Writing class in 11th Grade. I learned that there are stages to follow and not just a spontaneous way like I used to do.  It made writing essays easier for me.

      Article overview
Parts of an Essay
             Parts of a Paragraph
             Stages of Writing
             Tips in Writing an Essay

      Before I share with you how I write my essays, I would like to recall first the parts of an essay and paragraph. Essays usually consist of introduction, body, and conclusion. An essay also consists of paragraphs— a group of sentences.

PARTS OF AN ESSAY


Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

1. Introduction

    - Introduce your main topic
    - State your position/stand
    - Should attract the readers to keep reading your paper

2. Body

   - State your ideas
   - Give proofs/supporting details
   - Add citations

3. Conclusion

   - Once again tell your stand
   - Summarize the whole essay
   - Give recommendations/suggestions
   - End it with a bang!

PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

1. Topic sentence

         Usually found at the first sentence of a paragraph and it introduces the topic

2. Supporting details

         This part provides details about the topic and it usually makes up most of the paragraph. Use proper transition markers to make the paragraph coherent.

3. Concluding sentence

          Summarizes the whole paragraph and usually, it is the last sentence.

STAGES OF WRITING

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
         Let’s proceed to the next step— writing the essay.

1. Pre-writing

         This is considered the most important stage in writing. There are several things you should do before writing your essay which will make it more simultaneous by the time you start doing it.

         • Generate ideas

                  Whether you are to choose your topic or there is one given to you, you must think of what you will write on your paper. Aside from the ideas you have thought, you may also look for supporting details in published journals, books, interviews, etc. Don’t forget to take note of the references.
         • Form your thesis statement
                  After gathering information, you should make a stand that you will support throughout the essay. Be sure to be consistent and not go far from the topic.

         • Create an outline

                  People always think that making an outline is a waste of time but it actually is not. This makes writing faster and easier. There are several ways in creating outlines. I usually use bullet points and keywords in making one. I also sometimes use mind maps to organize my ideas.

         • Bear in mind the requirements

                  Always consider what your teacher/professor is asking on your essay. Whether it is the word count, the number of pages/paragraphs, format, type of writing, just everything. Remember they are the ones who are to give you marks.

2. Writing

         After having everything prepared, it is about time to write formally the essay. Using the outline made earlier, you may now construct full sentences to make a paragraph. Make sure that your essay and your paragraphs consist of the parts needed. If you have new ideas about the topic, you may also add them. You may also do further research if you think you do not have enough information. Do not worry if it is not perfect yet, this is just your first draft. You may still improve it.

3. Revising

         This literally means to re-see or re-look. Add more information if you would like to. Rearrange your paragraphs to make them coherent. Also, remove things you think are unnecessary and replace them with something more significant.
         Ask yourself the following questions:

Revising for Audience

• Is my level of detail appropriate (not too specific or too general)?
• Do I say what I mean and mean what I say
• Is my tone and style appropriate for my audience?

Revising for Purpose

• Is my purpose clearly stated?
• Do I organize my ideas to best fulfill my purpose?

Revising for Form

• Do I follow the established form of the document?
• Do I separate ideas into paragraphs with clear topic sentences?
• Do I maintain balance among my points, developing each into the same extent?

4. Evaluating

         In this stage of writing, you must assess and edit your paper especially the grammar and spelling. Make sure to proofread your paper very well. In addition, ask someone to read your essay and get their feedback. From their suggestions, you may improve your paper way better. Once again, re-read your essay until you are satisfied with what you have written.

5. Publishing

         This is the final stage of writing an essay. It is time to pass it to your teacher/professor either by personally giving it or through e-mail. Essays can also be published in the school paper or online (social media or blog). Make sure you are turning it on time and with the correct format.

TIPS IN WRITING AN ESSAY


Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash

  • Take note of the required number of pages, paragraphs, and words, font size, font style, etc.
  • Start your essay as soon as possible and be mindful of the deadline
  • Only use reliable sources like books and published journals. You may also find a lot of academic articles in Google Scholar
  • Cite your references and use the right format (MLA, APA, Chicago)
  • Proofread your essay and you may also use an app/site to correct your grammatical errors such as Grammarly.
  • Make sure the essay is coherent (logically arranged) and cohesive (grammatically correct).
  • Type your essay to make your essay organize even after editing it multiple times.
  • Back up your essay in case, you have to access it somewhere and to avoid having the file accidentally deleted.
  • Stick to your topic.
  • Re-read and edit your paper until you feel it is perfect.
  • Avoid redundancy and utilize a dictionary and thesaurus well
  • Use the appropriate level of words according to the type of paper you are doing.

I hope this blog helped you to make writing essays easier. Keep learning, folks. Do you have other essay writing tips? Share them in the comment below. Let's stay connected!

“To be proficient requires the learner to be an active participant in learning.”


Misaki is a typical girl who dreams of becoming a doctor. She likes to document her journey and share tips as she write blogs. Follow her as she strive to reach her goals and the things in between.

Comments

Post a Comment