Writing Process of Essays

Table of Contents

    Writing Process of Essays

    Essay writing requires a comprehensive approach while presenting coherent content. Right from the introduction to the conclusion, every detail must strengthen the significance of the topic. The methodology of writing an exceptional essay can be summarised under 5 steps:

    1)    Pick a topic:

    The topic needs to be appealing based on the type of essay – be it narrative, descriptive, expository or persuasive essay depending on whether you want to tell about your personal experience, describe something, raise an issue, or persuade the reader respectively.

    If you have been assigned a topic, you have already achieved the first target. Otherwise, choosing a relevant topic must depend on the purpose of your message, the resources required to deliver your message and the uniqueness of the topic.

    2)    Strategise and organise:

    You need to collect the data and organise it accordingly. Make a list, flow chart etc. as per your suitability to sort the data and establish a connection between them. List the bigger ideas, with smaller ideas following in order to avoid incoherent compilation.

    • Research, brainstorm, repeat.
    • Sort the data carefully.
    • Avoid repetition.

    3)    Write the body:

    Irrespective of the significance of other points, the body of an essay must be one’s focus point. The first part of the body requires Thesis statement. It must include the general view of the topic and its significance. After thesis, the main body of the essay must be written. The main body of an essay has different paragraphs with a main idea and supporting ideas. Every paragraph needs to emphasise on a different idea pointing towards the topic. The supporting ideas must contain credible facts from verified sources to support the main idea in a paragraph. A line must be left as a margin after every paragraph.

    • Use the formula of ‘Intoduction to evidence + evidence + analysis’
    • Try to make shorter sentences. Use transitional words such as ‘despite’, ’however’, ’in contrast’ etc.
    • Use the correct citation technique
    • Avoid plagiarism

    4)    Introduction and Conclusion:

    The first and the last impressions may define a writer’s comprehension skills.

    An introduction must contain brief information about the main ideas included in the body without revealing out any information. Many students write the introduction in advance and complain about leaving out crucial details. Once the draft is completed, one can comfortably provide a trailer of his work. From the perspective of a writer, an introduction is basically a teaser to lure the reader to reach to the conclusion.

    • Try to use an anecdote if possible.
    • Use startling information considering the target audience.
    • Avoid disclosure of all the interesting points.

    While writing the conclusion, the student needs to combine all the thoughts and infer to a point. This section must leave the reader with closure.

    • Avoid using too many syllables and words like ‘in summary’, ‘to conclude’ etc.
    • Stand by your conclusion and Resist the urge to apologise.
    • Finishing the essay with an innovative quote leaves a positive impression.

    You don’t want the reader to get disappointed after he has taken the journey you wanted him to undertake. Make a decisive ending.

    5)    Finishing Touches

    It is very normal for your essay to evolve and change when you revisit the words. Multiple revision is the key to refining. One must avoid grammatical or typographical errors at every cost. Reverse-outline the essay. If the paragraphs are too long, cut them short by either editing the irrelevant part, or dividing one paragraph into two or more. The last thing you would want is your teacher blaming you for plagiarized content. It is advisable to use plagiarism checking tools like Copyscape and Turnitin before submission.

    Follow these steps with a stroke of your own and see your assignment grades skyrocketing.