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Summary How to Write an Essay
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A Summary of How to Write an Essay. There is a checklist and a list of useful words and phrases that you can use when writing your essay.
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How to write an essayWhat is an essay ?
An essay can have many purposes, but the basic structure is the same no matter what. You
may be writing an essay to argue for a particular point of view or to explain the steps
necessary to complete a task. Either way, your essay will have the same basic format. If you
follow a few simple steps, you will find that the essay almost writes itself. You will be
responsible only for supplying ideas, which are the important part of the essay anyway.
Essay format
These simple steps will guide you through the essay writing process :
1. Decide your topic
2. Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas
3. Write your thesis statement
4. Write the introduction
5. Write the body
6. Write the mainpoints
7. Write the subpoints
8. Elaborate on the subpoints
9. Write the conclusion
10. Add the finishing touches
Organize your ideas
The purpose of an outline or diagram is to put your ideas about the topic on paper, in a
moderately organized format. The structure you create here may still change before the
essay is complete, so don’t agonize over this. Decide whether you prefer the cut-and-dried
structure of an outline or a more flowing structure. If you start one or the other and decide
is isn’t working for you, you can always switch later.
Composing a thesis statement
Now that you have decided, at least tentatively, what information you plan to present in
your essay, you are ready to write your thesis statement.
The thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will be about, and what point, you, the
author will be making.
You know what the essay will be about. That was your topic. Now you must look at your
outline or diagram and decide what point you will be making. What do the main ideas and
supporting ideas you listed say about your topic ?
Thesis statements
Your thesis statement will have 2 parts. The first part states the topic. The second part states
the point of the essay.
, Writing the body paragraphs
In the body of the essay, all the preparation up to this point comes to fruition. The topic you
have chosen must now be explained, described and argued. Each main idea that you wrote
down in your diagram or outline will become one of the body paragraphs. Each body
paragraph will have the same basic structure.
Start by writing down one of your main ideas, in sentence form. Next, write down each of
your supporting points for that main idea, but leave four or five lines inbetween each point.
In the space under each point, write down some elaboration for that point. Elaboration can
be further description or explanation or discussion.
Once you have fleshed out each of your body paragraphs, one for each main point, you are
ready to continue.
Conclusion
The conclusion brings closure to the reader, summing up your points or providing a final
perspective on your topic. All the conclusion needs is three or four strong sentences which
do not need to follow any set formula. Simply review the main points (being careful not to
restate them exactly) or briefly describe your feelings about the topic. Even an anecdote can
end your essay in a useful way. The introduction and conclusion complete the paragraphs of
your essay.
Add the finishing touches
Check the order of your paragraphes.
Check the introduction for the assignment.
Check your writing.
Essay writing checklist
Content
• To include all the notes given in the task.
• To add a new idea in the final paragraph.
• To give my opinion in the final paragraph.
Communicate achievement
• To stick to the essay format.
• To use 4 paragraphs.
• To use formal register (no use of lots of, a lot of, wanna, gonna, kids, stuff).
• To use a rhetorical question in the introduction.
• To use appropriate phrases to introduce ideas (first of all, secondly, in conclusion).
• To write as clearly as possible (making sure my writing is no struggle for the target
reader).
• To write a clear introduction.
• To write a strong conclusion.
• To use only ‘I’ in the final paragraph.
• To avoid the use of you/your.
• That I don’t need to use a title.
• To write everything in full, no contractions (no don’t but do not, no can’t but cannot).
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