If you’re searching for information on how to write an essay (and especially how to write a good essay), then you’ve come to the right place.
Step 1 – Determine What Your Instructor Wants
This is the single best piece of advice I can give to anyone who wants to do a better job in college and learn how to write an essay. It always surprises me when students skip this essential first step, but it happens – and it happens a lot! Let’s face it: if you don’t know what you’re supposed to be writing about or what you’re supposed to accomplish in your essay, then you are basically lost at sea. It really is that simple.
But that’s not even the most disappointing part of this baffling situation. What’s worse is your instructor really does tell you exactly how to write an essay that will make him or her very happy. Unless you’re dealing with a really bad instructor (and I mean REALLY bad), then you will not be able to figure this out very quickly at all. It does happen.
So how do you figure out how to write an essay your instructor will like? It’s very simple – look for the basic essay instructions. A writing prompt is a short but informative sheet of paper that explains exactly what you are required to do in the writing assignment. Once you’ve found that sheet and read it through very carefully, you’re ready to move on.
Step 2 – Make an Essay Writing Checklist
Now here’s my secret advice: rewrite the instructions in checklist format. Most of you will never do this because it does require a little extra effort. Of course, the problem most students have is not doing adequate preparation BEFORE writing their essay. But you’re not like most students because you’re reading about how to write an essay.
Step 3 – Create a Basic Outline for Your Essay
No, no, no! When I say “outline” I am not talking about anything very formal. Simple is best for “how to write an essay” step number three. Here’s an example of an outline for an essay:
Essay Outline
-Talk about the history behind the story
-Talk about the important characters
-Talk about how today’s stories are not like main hero
-Talk about why helps us understand history
-Talk about how also helps us understand the present-day
I want you to notice something very important here. The outline above is pretty crummy. Yes, crummy. But that’s not a bad thing because it’s going to help you get started.
Watch how we can quickly clean up this outline into something a bit more effective:
Essay Outline
Discuss history of the narrative
Contrast with contemporary literature
Analyze important characters
Show how provides a window on the past
Demonstrate that also speaks to the present day
This revised outline is not really much different from the original version; it’s just easier to read and more focused. Now we have something we can work with. Again, notice that when I say “outline” I am not talking about anything all that complicated!
Step 4 – Freewrite Each Essay Section
The outline from step three is going to provide a nice skeletal structure for the muscle of our essay. Now we’re ready to really write this essay!
For step four, you simply need to take each section title and do some freewriting to develop the ideas. You can do this in any order, but it’s probably best to complete it in an order that makes sense to you.
Once you’ve finished freewriting each section, you can move on to freewriting an introduction and conclusion. Note: you should NEVER try to write your introduction or your conclusion before writing your essay. This is the classic beginner’s mistake in the “how to write an essay” world.
Step 5 – Revise the Essay
Here’s the most important part of the total process. Most students will not make it this far. If you complete steps one through four correctly and thoroughly, you’ll be in the top of your class. But if you also complete step four, you’ll be in the very top of your class. No, I’m not being facetious. If you are not sure in some steps or details feel free to read Paper writing guide. Now that you have taken the time to develop each of the outlined sections by freewriting, you’re going to take your how to write an essay experience one step further and dig in for revision. If you completed step four correctly, you should be left with a bunch of garbled writing.