Guide to Essay Writing: 5 Steps to Write an Outstanding Essay
Feel passionately about something and want to share it? Write an essay! Disagree with a popular opinion and wish to convince others to join you? Write an essay! Need to write something because the college you dream of attending is making you? Write an essay!
“Essay” is a loose term for writing that asserts the author’s opinion on a topic, whether academic, editorial, or even humorous. There are a thousand different approaches to essay writing and a million different topics to choose from, but what we’ve found is that good essay writing tends to follow the same framework.
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Below we discuss that framework and how you can apply it to your essays, whatever types they may be. But first, let’s start with a basic overview of how to write an essay.
Table of contents
How to write an essay.
Your essay needs a thesis statement
The essay-writing process
Essay structure, know your essay’s audience, 6 types of essays, essay writing tips.
The basic steps for how to write an essay are:
- Generate ideas and pick a type of essay to write.
- Outline your essay paragraph by paragraph.
- Write a rough first draft without worrying about details like word choice or grammar.
- Edit your rough draft, and revise and fix the details.
- Review your essay for typos, mistakes, and any other problems.
Want to know more? We cover the specifics below, but for now let’s talk about the nucleus of any good essay: the topic.
Your essay needs a thesis statement
Three things to consider before writing your essay:
Of these, the most important by far is your thesis, or the crux of what your essay is about.
Your thesis, encapsulated in your thesis statement , is the central point you’re trying to make. The thesis of Bertrand Russell’s essay “ In Praise of Idleness ,” for example, is that people focus too much on work and don’t value time spent idly. Essays can occasionally stray and go into related tangents, but they always come back to that one core idea in the thesis.
You should always pinpoint your thesis before writing. If you’re having trouble nailing it down, ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I want my reader to remember when they’re done reading my essay?”
The best practice is to include your thesis as soon as possible, even in your topic sentence if it’s appropriate. You’ll want to reiterate it throughout the essay as well, especially when wrapping up everything in the conclusion.
The rest of your essay, then, supports your thesis. You can include empirical evidence, testimonials, logical deductions, or even persuasive rhetoric —whatever gets the job done. The point is that you’re building upon your initial thesis, not switching to completely different topics.
If you’re writing an essay, research paper , term paper, novel, short story, poem , screenplay, blog article about essay writing—when writing just about anything , really—it’s crucial to follow an efficient writing process. Even if you prefer the stream-of-consciousness style for writing your rough draft, you still need to have an orderly system that allows you to revise and hone.
For essay writing, we recommend this five-step writing process :
1 Brainstorming
It always helps to collect your thoughts before you begin writing by brainstorming . Based on your prompt or thesis, try to generate as many ideas as possible to include in your essay. Think of as many as time allows, knowing that you’ll be able to set aside the ideas that don’t work later.
2 Preparing
The preparation phase consists of both outlining your essay and collecting resources for evidence. Take a look at the results of your brainstorming session. First, isolate the ideas that are essential to support your thesis and then organize them in a logical and progressive order. In this stage you’ll incorporate your essay structure, which we explain below.
If you want empirical evidence or complementary citations, track them down now. The way you write citations depends on the style guide you’re using. The three most common style guides for academics are MLA , APA , and Chicago , and each has its own particular rules and requirements for citing just about any kind of source, including newspaper articles , websites , speeches , and YouTube videos .
This is the main stage of essay writing where you roll up your sleeves and actually write your first draft . Remember that everything doesn’t have to be perfect; this is your first draft, not your final draft, so give yourself the freedom to make errors. If you’re focusing on getting every single word right, you’ll miss the big picture.
The revisions stage involves your second draft, your third draft, or even your twelfth draft if necessary. Address all the nuances and subtleties you glossed over in the first draft.
Pay attention to both word choice and clarity , as well as sophisticated writing techniques like avoiding the passive voice . If you’re not confident in your writing skills yet, the Grammarly Editor ensures your writing is readable, clear, and concise by offering sentence structure and word choice suggestions, plus clarity revisions as you write. Grammarly helps catch common mistakes with sentence structure—like run-on sentences, sentence fragments, passive voice, and more.
5 Proofreading
When all the heavy-duty revisions are finished, it’s time for the final polish. Go through your essay and correct misspellings , formatting issues, or grammatical errors. This is also where you can turn to Grammarly’s AI-powered writing assistant, which helps catch these common mistakes for you. Or copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.
Essay structure almost always follows a simple beginning-middle-end format, or in this case, an introduction-body-conclusion format. However, it’s what’s contained within those sections that makes all the difference.
Introduction
Essays follow the same guidelines for introductions as any other piece of writing, with an extra emphasis on presenting the thesis prominently, ideally in the topic sentence. By the end of your introduction paragraph, your reader should know without a doubt what your essay is about. From there, follow the conventional best practices on how to write an introduction .
Body paragraphs
The majority of your essay is body paragraphs , all of which support your thesis and present evidence.
Pay close attention to how you organize your body paragraphs. Some arguments benefit from a logical progression, where one point leads to a second, and that second point leads to a third. Remember that the reader doesn’t understand the topic like you do (that’s why you’re writing the essay), so structure your paragraphs in the way that’s best for their comprehension.
What if you’re writing an argumentative essay where you compare and contrast two or more points of view? Do you present your argument first and then share opposing points of view, or do you open with your opposition’s argument and then refute it?
Serious writers can get pretty technical about how to organize an argumentative essay. There are three approaches in particular used often: Aristotlian (classical), Rogerian , and Toulmin . However, these can get exceedingly complicated, so for a simple essay, a basic structure will do just fine:
- Counterpoint
- Evidence supporting your point and/or disproving counterpoint
Essay conclusions wrap up or summarize your thesis in a way that’s easy for the reader to digest. If you get the chance, you can add a new perspective or context for understanding your thesis, but in general the conclusion should not present any new evidence or supporting data. Rather, it’s more of a recap. For more specific tips, read about how to write a conclusion for an essay here .
Five-paragraph essay
For quick and simple essays, you don’t need to get too technical with your essay structure. The five-paragraph essay structure works well in a pinch. This contains:
- One introduction paragraph
- Three body paragraphs
- One conclusion paragraph
While this essay structure might not be flexible enough for more advanced topics, it comes in handy when speed is a factor, like during timed tests.
Your final consideration is who will read your essay—a teacher, an admissions counselor, your peers, the internet at large, etc.
No matter what you’re writing, your audience should influence your language. For one thing, your readers determine whether the essay is formal or casual , which has an enormous impact on language, word choice, and style . Take emojis for example: In a casual essay they might be welcome, but for formal writing they’re not the most appropriate choice. 😓
Your audience also affects the essay’s tone, or how you sound on an emotional level (enthusiastic, cautious, confident, etc.). If you’d like to know more, you can read about the 10 common types of tone here .
Like any form of writing, essays come in many different types . Sometimes the assignment dictates the type, as with admissions essays, and other times the thesis will determine it. Regardless, it helps to know what your options are, so here are some of the most common essay types:
1 Argumentative essay
Argumentative essays assert or defend a position. This is the most common type of school paper, so keep that in mind when writing your first college essay .
2 Admissions essay
Most colleges request an admissions essay in applications, which typically revolve around why you’re interested in their school.
3 Persuasive essay
A persuasive essay is just as it sounds: an essay to persuade or convince the reader of a certain point. It’s similar to an argumentative essay— they both strongly favor a particular point of view, but the difference is the end goal: Argumentative essays just have to present their case, while persuasive essays have to present their case and win over the reader.
4 Compare-and-contrast essay
When you want to devote equal attention to two opposing things, a compare-and-contrast essay works better than argumentative or persuasive essays, which lean to one side over the other.
5 Personal essay
Personal essays are often anecdotal or real-life stories of the authors, like the works of David Sedaris . Because they tend to follow narrative structures, the thesis can be flexible or interpretive.
6 Expository essay
An expository essay thoroughly explains a certain topic to expand the reader’s knowledge. It is similar to an argumentative and persuasive essay in format, but with one key difference: expository essays don’t have a bias.
Master the five fundamentals
Especially for school essays, your reader will scrutinize how well you handle the fundamentals. Knowing about essay structure and the writing process is one thing, but can you demonstrate an understanding of language style? Can you develop your thesis logically and coherently? Are your references and citations trustworthy?
When you’re ready for the next step of essay writing, take a look at the five concepts you must master to write better essays . The tips there pick up where this guide leaves off.
Seek out another pair of eyes
This tip is not just for essays; it’s always advisable to have someone else read over your writing before finalizing it. All too often we miss the forest for the trees, and thinking long and hard on the same topic can give you tunnel vision. The solution is to get a fresh take from someone who’s seeing it for the first time.
Typically you can swap with a friend and edit each others’ works. If that’s not an option, however, you can also use a writing center or join a writing group online. At the very least, you should sleep on it and take another look when you’re refreshed.
Remember: Grammar and form are essential
It’s not always about what you say, but how you say it. You could have the most obvious, objectively agreeable thesis in the world, but if your writing is incoherent, confusing, and full of mistakes, it’s tough to engage with your reader.
For when your writing needs to make the right impact, Grammarly Premium offers full-sentence rewrites for confusing sentences—from splitting long sentences, cutting extra words, or rearranging key phrases—in addition to catching common grammar mistakes. It also gives you readability-focused formatting suggestions, so you know your writing is clear. It also helps those who are looking to improve their writing skill level in English, with suggestions for commonly misused words and phrases.
Honing your writing with these elements in mind is key to relaying your point to your reader—and asserting your thesis as effectively as possible.
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- How To Write an Essay in English: 11 Tips To Write a Great Essay
- Learn English
- James Prior
- No Comments
- Updated February 23, 2024
Writing essays in English can be challenging even for native speakers, and they can be even more difficult if you’re learning English. Fortunately, there are various steps that you can take to make the essay writing process easier. In this guide, we delve into the intricacies of essay writing, providing a step-by-step approach on how to write an essay in English to help you craft more compelling and impactful essays.
So, if you want to know how to be good at writing essays in English, read on!
Important Essay Writing Considerations
Before we begin, it’s important to note that there are different types of essays in English. You could find yourself writing an academic essay, a college essay, an argumentative essay, a narrative essay, an expository essay, or an application essay, among others.
How you write an essay will depend upon the type of essay, its purpose, the subject matter, and the given topic. You therefore need to consider the goal of the essay and make sure you understand the assignment. If you’re unsure about this, seek clarification from your teacher, professor, or person who will be receiving the essay before you start writing. That way you can ensure that you are starting correctly and don’t end up submitting something that doesn’t match the initial brief.
Once you’re feeling confident about this, it’s time to get writing!
How To Write an Essay
Whether you’re a student navigating academia or a professional honing your communication skills, the ability to express your thoughts coherently in English is invaluable. And, while writing can often be a challenge, it forms a key part of communication and often comes in the form of essays.
Here we’ll run you through the steps you need to follow to write essays you can be proud of.
1. Understand the Prompt: The Foundation of Your Essay
At the core of every essay lies the prompt – an instruction that shapes and defines your writing. Before ink meets paper or fingers touch keys, it is paramount to analyze the prompt and make sure you understand it. This foundational understanding forms the bedrock upon which your entire essay will be built, so it’s vital that you uncover any requirements.
To truly grasp the essence of the prompt, consider the key terms or phrases. Identify the central essay question, discern any specific instructions, and take note of the intended scope.
For example, if the prompt requires an analysis, understand the depth of analysis expected. If you’re expected to write a narrative essay, what is it about?
You then need to consider the length of your essay. It could be that you need to write a five-paragraph essay, or you may be expected to write two pages.
The better your understanding of the prompt, the more effectively you can tailor your response. If you don’t understand the prompt and are unable to clarify it with someone, you can always seek out help from your teacher to get some valuable feedback.
Once you’ve established the exact requirements it’s time to start your preparation for the writing process. The first stage of this is to come up with a thesis statement and plan your essay.
2. Craft a Compelling Thesis Statement
With a clear understanding of the prompt, for most essays, the next step is to determine your thesis statement. This is a sentence or two that encapsulates the core of your argument, providing both you and your readers with a roadmap. A well-crafted thesis serves as your guide, ensuring a focused, purposeful essay.
The thesis statement should not merely summarize your main points on the essay topic but also articulate a specific stance or perspective. It acts as a beacon, signaling to your readers the central theme and direction of your essay. Think of it as a compass that navigates your audience through the topic you’re about to explore.
Having a strong thesis statement will be particularly important for an argumentative essay if you want to write a good essay.
However, just be aware that if you’re writing an essay from a narrative writing prompt , a thesis statement may not be as applicable. In this case, you may be better off with a good introductory paragraph that introduces what you’re going to write about. We’ll cover this shortly.
3. Build a Solid Outline
Organization is the glue that binds your ideas and essays together. Before you start writing, you should therefore create an outline for your essay. This acts as a basic structure for your essay and can include your thesis or introduction, plus the core ideas or topics that you want to cover in your essay. It can also help you establish your paragraph order so that you have a good idea of how your essay will flow before you’ve even written it.
Begin by identifying the key sections: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Break down the body into specific points or arguments, each supported by evidence or examples. This detailed structure helps maintain focus and prevents your essay from meandering into unrelated tangents and forms the initial basis of a well-written essay.
Your outline should act as the blueprint for your essay, offering a structured framework for the thoughts and arguments that will follow. This step not only aids in organizing your ideas but also ensures a logical and coherent progression throughout your essay.
4. Write a Captivating Introduction: The Hook that Ignites Interest
The introduction is your essay’s first impression, and you chance to capture your reader’s attention. Therefore, your introduction paragraph should be strong and make the reader want to learn more.
A great idea is to start with a hook. This can be a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a striking statistic. This initial engagement sets the tone for the entire essay, inviting readers to delve further into your exploration.
Consider the introduction as a narrative in itself. It should not only introduce the topic or thesis but also create anticipation. You can use vivid language and imagery to transport your reader into the world of your essay.
By the end of the introduction, your reader should be eager to explore the arguments you’re about to put forward or read the story you’re about to tell.
5. Provide Clear Topic Sentences: Navigating the Reader Through Your Essay
Each paragraph in your essay should have a purpose, and this purpose should be encapsulated in a clear and concise topic sentence. These sentences act as signposts, guiding readers through the various facets of your argument.
Once you get into the body paragraphs, consider the topic sentence as the main idea of each paragraph. It should encapsulate the essence of the paragraph and relate directly to your thesis or the story you are telling. This approach not only facilitates a smooth flow of ideas but also ensures that each paragraph contributes meaningfully to the overarching argument.
Clarity in topic sentences enhances the overall coherence of your essay, making it easier for readers to follow and understand your narrative or arguments.
6. Support Your Arguments with Evidence: Building a Credible Case
Arguments, no matter how compelling, are strengthened by supporting evidence. When you’re writing an essay, back up your claims with relevant and credible evidence. This can take the form of quotations from authoritative sources, statistical data, or real-world examples. A well-supported argument not only validates your perspective but also demonstrates a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
When you incorporate or present evidence, consider the credibility of your sources. Peer-reviewed journals, expert opinions, and empirical data enhance the authenticity of your arguments. They can also showcase the depth of your research.
If you’re writing an academic essay, be meticulous in your citations, and adhere to the conventions of the chosen citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
7. Maintain Consistent Style and Tone
The mastery of writing an essay extends beyond individual sentences. You should aim for a consistent tone and style throughout your essay. This not only ensures a cohesive reading experience but also reflects a good understanding of the subject matter.
Consistency in style encompasses aspects such as sentence structure, vocabulary choice, and the use of rhetorical devices. These elements collectively contribute to the overall fluency and coherence of your essay.
You should also consider the tone of your writing. Whether formal, informal, persuasive, or analytical, the tone should align with the purpose and audience of your essay.
For example, if you’re doing a piece of narrative writing the tone is likely to be very different to that of an argumentative essay. Different writing styles can be applied to different essay types and this should be reflected in your writing process.
8. Revise and Edit
Once you’ve completed the first draft of your essay it’s time to revise and edit it. The first draft is the raw material of your essay, a foundation to be refined. Take the time to review it with a focus on clarity. Trim unnecessary words, refine overly long sentences, and ensure that each paragraph contributes seamlessly to the overall narrative. This process can transform your prose into a polished and articulate piece of writing and is a key part of writing an essay.
If you have time, it helps to approach the revision process with fresh eyes. Come back to your essay after having a break from writing and consider each sentence’s clarity, coherence, and relevance to the thesis.
Structural elements, such as paragraph transitions and the logical flow of ideas, are equally crucial. While focusing on clarity, also consider the engagement factor – does your writing captivate and maintain the reader’s interest?
The revision process is an opportunity to elevate your writing from functional to exceptional and turn a good essay into a great essay.
9. Check Grammar and Punctuation: The Finishing Touches
Even the most brilliant essays can be overshadowed by grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes. Before marking your essay complete, conduct a thorough review. Ensure that your grammar is impeccable, and your punctuation is spot-on.
You can use spell-check tools and grammar checkers like grammarchecker.com to check this but don’t rely on them entirely. After all, you won’t have them if you’re writing an essay in an exam!
Furthermore, manual proofreading can be essential to catch errors that automated tools might overlook. Pay attention to common pitfalls such as verb tense consistency and the appropriate use of punctuation marks. It’s easy to make mistakes with commas, semicolons , and colons if you’re not careful. And, if you’re unsure about something either don’t use it or look up how to use it.
This meticulous attention to detail adds a professional touch to your essay. A well-polished essay not only enhances your credibility as a writer but also makes your work more enjoyable to read. If you want to show off your writing skills and be rewarded for it, it’s important to spot and correct any common mistakes before submitting your essay.
10. Seek Peer Feedback: A Fresh Perspective
Before finalizing your essay, it can be helpful to seek feedback from peers or mentors. A fresh perspective can uncover blind spots, identify areas for improvement, and provide insights that enhance the overall quality of your essay.
When seeking feedback, be specific about the aspects you’d like your peers to focus on. Are you looking for input on the clarity of your thesis, the effectiveness of your evidence, or the overall structure of your essay? Constructive criticism is a valuable tool for refinement, helping you view your work through different lenses and identify opportunities for enhancement.
11. Conclude Strongly: Leaving a Lasting Impression
The conclusion paragraph is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression. So, knowing how to write a conclusion is an important skill. It presents the chance to summarize your main points, restate your thesis, and leave your readers with something to ponder.
While summarizing your main points, avoid introducing new ideas. Instead, emphasize the significance of your argument in the broader context. A strong conclusion not only ties up the loose ends of your essay but also resonates with your audience, prompting further reflection on your arguments or points. Ideally, you want to leave a lasting imprint on your readers, inviting them to think about your essay beyond its final words.
And remember, there are many different ways to say in conclusion . So, don’t be afraid to mix it up, especially if you are writing more than one essay.
Conclusion: Write an Essay
Essay writing is a key skill and one that is worth mastering whether you’re a native speaker or if you’re trying to become more fluent in English .
By incorporating these eleven tips into your essay writing process, and with practice and a commitment to continual improvement, you can elevate your English essays from standard to exceptional.
So, armed with this guide, unleash the power of your words, start writing, and transform your essays into compelling narratives that captivate and resonate with your audience. I hope you’ll write an essay to be proud of!
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Writing Skills: How to Write an Essay in English
Struggling with another English essay? Inside, find a basic structure that will help you make the essay writing process easier and turn in a remarkable essay.
Determine the Purpose of Your Essay and Stick to It
Brainstorm ideas, develop a thesis statement, create an outline, start writing, edit and proofread, the bottom line.
For many beginning English learners writing a whole essay in English can turn out to be a challenge. It’s no wonder why – English students often face a lot of difficulties because there are so many grammar rules and stylistic nuances that it can be daunting for even the most determined students.
However, essays are an integral part of the education system. Essays allow teachers to evaluate your critical thinking and written communication skills. You’ll also need good essay writing skills if you want to apply for universities in English-speaking countries.
The great news is that, with a little hard work and determination, anyone can become a proficient English writer. In this article, we'll discuss some tips that will boost your writing skills and help you ease the essay writing process. Keep reading and learn how to start writing remarkable essays in English!
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There are many different types of essays, and each one requires a different writing approach. Some essays, such as persuasive essays , require a lot of research to form well thought-out arguments. Others, such as personal narratives , are more informal and may not require as much additional research.
If you're assigned a research paper , you'll need to use more factual evidence to support your claims. Admissions essays , in turn, require you to present yourself to the admissions committee and demonstrate why you're a good fit for their school.
In an expository essay you explain or define a concept, while in a descriptive essay you'll describe something in great detail.
Understanding the purpose of your essay will help you determine what kind of information to include and how best to organize it. No matter what type of essay you're writing, it's important to determine the purpose early on and stick to it . Keep in mind that trying to accomplish too many things in one essay will only confuse and frustrate your reader.
When you want to write an essay, one of the most important steps is brainstorming . This is when you sit down and come up with ideas for your essay.
Here’s a few questions to get your brainstorming session started. What am I trying to say with my essay? What points do I want to make? What examples can I use to support my claims?
Simply jot down all of your ideas on the topic, and then look for common themes and patterns. By taking the time to think about your essay before you start writing, you'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration later on.
Once you have a general idea of what you want to write about, it's time to develop a thesis statement . This is a short, concise sentence that states the central point of your essay. It should be specific and direct, without being too narrow or broad.
Some things to keep in mind to help you develop a clear thesis statement:
- Make sure it is directly relevant to the prompt or question.
- Be as specific as possible.
- Browse sample essays to get a better idea of how yours should look like.
- Don't be afraid to revise your thesis statement as you write!
For example, if you want to explore the theme of justice in the play Antigone , a good thesis statement might be:
- In the play Antigone, Sophocles uses irony to highlight the contradictions between what is morally right and what is legally right.
This thesis statement tells us that the essay will be about how Sophocles uses irony, and what that says about the literature. It gives the reader a specific idea of what to expect, and it also helps to keep the writer focused on their essay’s main purpose.
After you've developed a thesis statement, it's time to create an outline . This will be a roadmap for your essay and help you keep your thoughts organized and on track. A good outline includes a main idea for each paragraph (usually expressed in a topic sentence), and supporting details.
To get started, simply list all of the ideas that you want to include in your essay. Then, look for any common themes or patterns. From there, you can start to develop a more specific outline.
To give you an example, here is a basic outline for a five-paragraph essay on the abovementioned play Antigone :
Introductory Paragraph:
- Brief summary of the play.
- Overview of your main argument.
Body Paragraphs:
- Paragraph 1: Sophocles uses irony to explore the theme of justice.
- Paragraph 2: The consequences of conflicts between morality and law.
- Paragraph 3: The role of family in Antigone's decision.
Conclusion Paragraph:
- Restate your thesis statement.
- Summarize your main points and arguments.
- Leave the reader with something to think about.
Remember, this is just a basic structure you can refer to. As you write your own essay, you may find that your ideas change or that the direction of the essay has shifted. That's okay! Just be sure to revise and adjust your outline as you go.
Now it's time to start writing your essay! Most people begin with an introduction paragraph where they present their topic and a thesis statement. If you’re struggling to write your thesis, it can also be helpful to start on a body paragraph. Experiment to find out what works for you. Be sure to use strong vocabulary and clear, concise sentence structure.
Avoid run-on sentences and stick to active voice whenever possible. Overusing passive voice is one of the most common mistakes when it comes to essay writing, as it unnecessarily complicates the text and makes it more challenging to get through. Also, avoid using first person pronouns (I, me, my, etc.) in formal academic essays.
When it comes to an overall paragraph structure, make sure that each paragraph focuses on one idea only. Keep in mind that the first sentence of each paragraph is a topic sentence . This means that you should express the main point of the paragraph in it.
Then, you can use transition words to connect sentences within a paragraph, present evidence and argument, and make the text more readable overall.
As you write, be sure to support your thesis statement and provide evidence from the source material. This could include quotes, examples, or simply referring back to specific scenes. Remember, your goal is to persuade your reader that your argument is valid. The more evidence you can provide, the stronger your argument will be.
This is especially important if you write an argumentative essay , as it should take a stance on an issue. Your goal is to make your argument as clear and easy to follow as possible to keep the reader's attention throughout the whole essay.
If you find yourself getting bogged down in the details, take a break and come back to it later. Writing essays can be taxing, but with a careful approach to word choice and a bit of creativity, you can turn a simple essay topic into something remarkable.
After you've finished writing your first draft, it's important to edit and proofread your work . A good essay is clear, well-organized, and free of spelling and grammatical errors. You’ll need to edit and make sure that your essay meets all of these requirements.
Here are a few simple steps that will help you proofread and edit your essay:
- Start by reading through your essay aloud. You can also print your essay out and mark errors with a pen. This will help you to catch any typos, grammatical errors, or punctuation mistakes .
- Read through your essay again to ensure your sentences are clear and concise and make any necessary changes. Use a Thesaurus to find better words to use in your essay.
- Have someone else read your essay and ask for feedback. They may be able to spot errors that you missed, provide feedback on the essay’s tone and your overall writing style, or give professional opinion on an explored subject.
Once you’ve checked your writing for errors, you’ll want to make sure you properly format your final draft.
One of the most important things of essay writing is to format your final draft correctly. This includes using the correct font, margins, and spacing. It's also important to be consistent with your formatting throughout the entire essay. Be sure to check the style guide of your assignment.
Some teachers will let you choose the font, and if they do it’s a good idea to stick with something simple and easy to read. Times New Roman or Arial are both good options for academic essays. Most teachers prefer 1-inch margins on all sides of the page. Spacing is typically double-spaced, with each new paragraph indented.
If you're not sure how to format your essay, check the style guide of the assignment. If you can’t find any info there, ask your teacher for guidance. They will be able to tell you exactly what they're expecting.
With these tips, you'll be well on your way to writing an excellent essay in English! Just remember to start early, stay focused, and be willing to revise your work. With a little effort, you'll be sure to turn in an essay that you can be proud of.
Writing a good essay in English isn't as difficult as it may seem. By brainstorming ideas, developing a thesis statement, and creating an outline, you'll be well on your way to success. Just be sure to edit and proofread your work before submitting it.
With a little bit of effort and some helpful tips, you can produce an essay that is clear, concise, and well-written. Make sure to follow these guidelines and you're sure to impress your teacher (and yourself) with your writing skills. With these tips and tricks, you can write all different kinds of essays in English.
While you may think that a good writing style is something one’s born with, we at Langster know that it’s just another skill you can successfully develop by practicing. So, keep writing and you’ll get there!
Ellis is a seasoned polyglot and one of the creative minds behind Langster Blog, where she shares effective language learning strategies and insights from her own journey mastering the four languages. Ellis strives to empower learners globally to embrace new languages with confidence and curiosity. Off the blog, she immerses herself in exploring diverse cultures through cinema and contemporary fiction, further fueling her passion for language and connection.
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8 Tips to Write Better Essays in English
Learning a foreign language is an overwhelming experience, especially if it’s one of the most widely spoken languages in the world – English.
Many people are under the impression that learning to read and speak in English is enough without realizing that written English skills are an equally vital asset to have.
From improving academics to boosting career prospects – the ability to write in English not only lets you communicate and express yourself better in today’s globalized world but also makes you more confident.
An effective way to improve your writing skills is to write essays. Wondering where to begin? We bring you eight useful tips to write better essays in English.
1. Keep a Vocabulary Notebook
Using the right vocabulary is an essential element of writing essays. When you make efforts to expand your vocabulary, you will be able to pick accurate words to take your writing to the next level.
Instead of coming across new words and forgetting about them, it’s a good idea to make a note of them in your vocabulary notebook. Doing this helps you remember the meanings of new words and you can also refer to it while writing essays.
So, give yourself a target to learn at least ten new words every day, which you can jot down in your diary and take baby steps in building a strong vocabulary.
2. Refer to Credible Sources
Research forms the first step in writing any kind of essay. The stronger your research, the better is the quality of your essay.
At a time when we have access to a wide range of data, it’s important to evaluate research sources carefully and only refer to credible ones. For example, Wikipedia is not a reliable source and should not be attributed to while writing essays.
Take the effort to read through published journals, research studies, scholarly papers, academic databases, and encyclopedias published within the last 10-15 years. It’s also important to assess the credibility of the author while evaluating the source.
3. Draft a Basic Outline
Once you’ve done your research, don’t rush to write. Take a moment to draft a basic outline for your essay and organize your research and findings.
“Is that necessary,” you ask? Very much.
Working on an outline lets you approach the essay in an organized manner. It serves as the skeleton of your paper while ensuring you’re not missing out on any information and that your points flow logically.
Most essays are categorized into – introduction, body, and conclusion.
The introduction is where you introduce the topic and give context. The body paragraphs need to include your arguments and research methodology (if any). The conclusion needs to reiterate the thesis statement and tie all the points together.
4. Hook the Reader
With attention spans getting shorter with time, it’s become all the more important to start with a bang and hook the reader from the beginning to ensure they are invested in your writing.
Essay hooks refer to the first one or two sentences of your essay which have the power to make or break the reader’s interest. The key is to write a hook that grabs the reader’s attention and reels them in.
From an alarming statistic and relevant quote to using humor and asking a rhetoric question – there are various tactics you can employ to keep the reader engaged.
If you’re unable to think of an impactful essay hook, don’t waste too much time on it. Finish the rest of your essay and come back to write a compelling hook later.
5. Use the Pomodoro Technique
It’s not easy to write an essay in one go, especially if it’s not in your first language.
A smart way to approach essay writing is to use the Pomodoro technique. This technique asks you to set a timer for 25 minutes to finish your task in question and then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles of repeating this, you get to take an extended 20-minute break.
So, start with breaking down the assignment into smaller tasks such as research, outlining, writing the different paragraphs, citing references and proofreading. You can then set the timer, start working on the essay as per the technique and track your progress.
Using this technique keeps distractions at bay and helps you stay more focused.
6. Pay Attention to Grammar Rules
You may raise interesting points in your essay, but poor grammar disrupts the reading experience and should be avoided at all costs.
Be careful when adding punctuations, check your sentence formations, avoid passive voice as much as possible and know the difference between adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs.
So abide by grammar rules to deliver a well-written and cohesive essay.
7. Write with Clarity
You might be tempted to use complex metaphors and jargons to impress the reader, but the truth is, none of that guarantees “good” writing.
One of the most important ingredients of effective writing is clarity. You don’t want to leave the reader confused and puzzled after reading your essay. So, use simple words, stop beating around the bush and explain concepts with the help of examples because clear writing always wins.
8. Reread the Essay
Finally, make it a point to proofread your essay (multiple times) to ensure you have covered all the aspects, cited references accurately and not made any silly errors.
It’s a good idea to read your essay out loud so you’re able to identify errors and awkwardly formed sentences with ease. You should also get a friend or family member to read your essay, to spot mistakes or discrepancies that you may have overlooked.
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35 comments
Thanks a lot all we can derive from reading is the technique to write with clarity, good research and involvement of readers in writing.
Thank a lot dear EnglishClub, it’s help me a lot
I think it is very good site for learn essay writing
As a teacher trainer this contribution is helpful
Thanks for the tips! I’ll have an essay tomorrow and this will surlely prepare me!
Thank you so much
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Nice one but I don’t understand yet
Knowledge supporter is who u are, keep d good work nd ur reward is from God nd thanks.
thanks alot for your tips…your tips will help me alot while examss!!!
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My hobby is home garden
ur intentinon and thoughts was very nce its useful to somny pepole to learn english tysomuch adela belin
Thanks you for helping
This did help a lot! Thank you very much 🥰
Good tips, I should give it a try, after all, we all improve by exercising hard so I’ll just do the same thing, but right now I gotta focus on what matters, and what I need now is to read as much as I can to know how to spell the words right. Is grammar so important in this task, I mean can’t I just pick the things up because of my experience in listening skill ?
Thanks for the information!
This is a nice explanation ,,,,,proud of you!
Is very interesting for me I really apreicete you help
Thanks so much for these useful tips!! Now, I need to start preparing my essay (“starting” has been always the stone on my way :$)
Please, what is the difference between an essay and an article?
Are they same?
Thanks in advance,
Thanks & best regards English Club
Helpful updated tips to share with our students!! thankssss
I want to know if it is only at the University or if we may take the course online.
Thank you verry much for important advices
thank for your key points, this is really helpful
Thank you and best wishes,
Very pragmatic and helpful essay. Thank so much English club
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How to Write the Perfect Essay in English: 6 Easy Steps
If you are an international student at college or university and you need help with your essay writing in English, you are in the right place! We have created this simple 6-step guide to help you achieve the best results in the shortest possible time. This guide includes essay writing tips, examples, templates, and links to helpful resources. Let’s jump right in…
- Step 1: Plan
- Step 2: Research
- Step 3: Introduce
- Step 4: Argue
- Step 5: Reference
- Step 6: Conclude
What you will learn:
Step 1: Plan Step 2: Research Step 3: Introduce Step 4: Argue Step 5: Reference Step 6: Conclude
Quick Intro
Essay writing in English is very different from other types of written communication, such as composing emails for work or personal letters to friends. The main difference is that you need to demonstrate your ability to think and write critically .
When writing an academic text, you need to clearly introduce and explain an argument . This means you must show that you have understood and carefully considered the opinions of experts in the subject/topic.
There are also rules (or conventions) that you have to follow when introducing theories and using quotes from other people’s work . We have included tips and links to help you get this right in your English essays.
Do not let academic writing in English scare you. You can do this!
Step 1: Plan Your Essay
Have you ever heard the phrase “fail to prepare and prepare to fail” ? Well, it is famous for a reason – and is certainly true when it comes to writing a good essay.
Having a detailed plan makes it so much easier to produce a great essay, dissertation or research paper.
In any sort of academic writing, your preparation and planning are important. Before you start to write, make sure you complete a detailed plan .
Of course, while you are writing your essay, you may change parts of your original plan – but only if you are sure that there is a good reason for making these changes.
Here are some tips to help you plan your thoughts effectively to make essay writing in English a lot easier.
How to plan an essay in English
- Study the essay question carefully. Make sure you completely understand it. Write it out in full and then try to say it using different words. This will help you when you start to write your assignment.
- Underline the most important words (the “key words”) in the essay question. Make sure you understand them – use a dictionary or synonym bank to help you. Define the key words in the essay question, but using your own words .
- Create a ‘mind map’ on a big piece of paper. Write the essay question in the middle and then surround it with any key words, ideas or quotes that you would like to include in your essay. People sometimes call this “brainstorming”.
- List the research work you will need to complete to write your essay well. This includes all the relevant textbooks, as well as the prominent authors you will reference with quotes. Make sure you have access to all the books you need before you begin (online, library, shop).
- Plan your argument so that it makes logical sense. To write a great essay, you need to answer the question fully. This means you must show independent thought, and present your argument in an intelligent and convincing way.
- Choose a suitable person and register for your writing. Most academic texts must be written in formal register. Although you should not use the first person in an essay (“I”) , it is still important to demonstrate your ability to think critically. We will show you how to do this later.
- Decide how many sections your essay will contain. This depends on the required wordcount (length), but here is a simple section plan to get you started:
Example: essay structure
- Introduction – paraphrase the question to show you understand it in the context of your studies. We will look at paraphrasing – with a useful example – a little later (in Step 3).
- Body text 1 – present your main argument early in your essay, with carefully considered points to justify it. Show that you have read about the subject and are well-informed in the relevant theory or ideas.
- Body text 2 – show that you know the key arguments against your main point, and use references to these.
- Body text 3 – explain why your main argument is correct or justified, using the remaining points from your research.
- Conclusion – summarise the essay or assignment by returning to the original question, making sure you have answered it fully and clearly.
Template: plan for an essay in English
Question: Q. “ Tell me and I forget . Teach me and I remember . Involve me and I learn .” Discuss what Benjamin Franklin meant by this statement. Do you agree with it?
Underline the important words (key words) in the essay question: Involve me and I learn . Discuss what this means . Do you agree?
Rewrite the essay question in my own words: Benjamin Franklin was a self-taught learner and believed in the power of allowing people to complete tasks and activities themselves, rather than being told how to do them in a traditional classroom setting. This essay aims to discuss how this inclusive approach could be used to form teaching tools and programmes to empower educators and students – both now and in the future.
Research I need to do:
- Benjamin Franklin – his life and ethos, his attitudes towards education.
- The main forms of current student-centred/inclusive education styles and how they work. Theory vs. practice.
- Theories of deductive vs. inductive education styles. Arguments for and against each, supporting my thoughts on the positive power of student-centred learning.
- Complete a reading list of key texts.
My initial thoughts (the argument I need to articulate):
- Including students in activities and tasks, making lessons student-centred, is a better way of helping them to learn than traditional teacher-centred methods.
- Link education to the concept of democracy; giving people the power to make autonomous decisions is a more productive way of helping a group to develop independent thinking skills and therefore evolve as a society.
- My essay must argue why this is true, analysing theories of deductive vs. inductive (i.e. inclusive) education methodologies from the most prominent educational theorists of recent times.
- I need to remember to conclude my essay by returning to the original question.
Step 2: Research the Topic
Any piece of academic writing – whether it is an undergraduate essay, post-graduate dissertation or post-doctoral research paper – requires detailed and relevant research .
However, researching for an essay in English does not need to be a difficult or painful process!
Learning how to research effectively and efficiently will save you a lot of time and stress.
Remember that even academic professionals are not expected to know absolutely everything. We all learn something new every day.
However, it is important that all academic writing demonstrates the author’s readiness to explore a variety of facts and theories, and discuss them critically.
“Critical thinking” means thinking logically and rationally about facts, ideas and concepts, as well as the possible connections between them .
Critical thinking is different from everyday thinking. It is an essential skill for any college or university student, studying in any language – not just English. In academic or essay writing, you must show you are able to explain your critical thinking skills clearly.
Everyday thinking is something most of us do all the time – it does not usually require any real effort.
Critical thinking is the opposite to this. It is when we intentionally use our powers of analysis, combined with our knowledge and research, to produce a theory or argument about something.
How to think (and write) critically in English
Critical thinking involves several skills, including: conceptualising, analysing, refining and evaluating.
- Conceptualising: To conceptualise means to combine pieces of information to form a new idea, or concept.
- Analysing: To analyse means to study a fact, idea or concept in great detail, using independent thinking and research to discover its meaning or validity.
- Refining: To refine means to break something down into its essential parts. In other words, to take out all the unnecessary (or irrelevant) information and present the most important information, ideas or facts in a clear and concise way.
- Evaluating: To evaluate means to understand an idea, thought or argument and go on to assess how accurate or useful it is. A key part of critical thinking is acknowledging that not all arguments are equal, and being able to explain why some are more valid than others.
You will also need to evaluate your own work, after you have written your essay, to see where improvements can be made. This is an important step to complete before submitting your essay for marking.
Step 3: Write a Great Introduction
To create a great introduction to an essay (or any academic piece of writing) in English, you need to do two things:
- Demonstrate that you understand the question fully
- Introduce your argument clearly
Here is how to do this…
- Show that you understand the question
The most important thing is to show you understand the question that you are answering in your essay, assignment or thesis. You should use clear and concise English. A simple way to do this is to paraphrase the essay question within the introduction to your essay.
What is paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing means explaining what a statement or question means, using different words and grammatical structures. In academic writing, this demonstrates that you understand a point and are able to think critically about it – and express those thoughts using clear written English.
- “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Discuss what Benjamin Franklin meant by this statement. Do you agree with it?
- American self-taught writer, scientist and diplomat Benjamin Franklin believed in the power of learning through experience. This quote demonstrates that he advocated inclusive education, rather than a teacher-centred, or didactic, approach to learning.
Franklin himself was a self-taught polymath. He learnt through experience, which greatly informed this view. This essay aims to demonstrate why today’s educators should take inspiration from Franklin by adopting an experiential approach to delivering lessons.
How to paraphrase in English
- Make sure your first statement starts at a different point than the original sentence or question.
- Try to use synonyms (alternative words that mean the same thing – such as “different” instead of “alternative”) for the words in the original sentence or question.
- Break down the information, for example into two sentences (instead of one).
- Use different words to the vocabulary used in the essay question.
- Use different sentence structures to those used in the assignment question.
Although you do not need to go into great detail in your introduction, you should definitely begin to answer the essay question by referencing the direction your argument will take .
In this particular essay question, the student is being asked to express their agreement or disagreement with Franklin’s point of view. Therefore, expressing an argument for or against the quote is especially important here. Remember that you should never use the first person (“I’) in academic writing, unless it is specifically asked for.
“This essay aims to demonstrate why today’s educators should take inspiration from Franklin by adopting an experiential approach to delivering lessons.”
(Not! In MY essay… or … I will aim to… )
Step 4: Present Your Argument
When writing your essay, it is a good idea to explain both sides of the argument in the first section of the body text of your essay (body 1).
This helps to show that you have analysed the question, and understand the importance of considering different viewpoints. Including the work of prominent writers and theorists in your field of study also shows you have done your research on the topic.
To help you do this, write a list of arguments for and against the point you are discussing. Then incorporate what you have written into your essay.
Based on the question below, we might create the following table to use in our essay. This shows agreement AND disagreement with Benjamin Franklin’s statement.
Step 5: Use Quotes Effectively
As we said in the research section (Step 2) of this guide, including the work and theories of prominent experts in the subject you are writing about is very important.
However, it is also important to reference the work of other people in the correct way – otherwise you could be accused of plagiarism (copying or cheating)!
There are several different systems of referencing. These include:
MLA (Modern Languages Association) system APA (American Psychological Association) system Harvard system MHRA (Modern Humanities Research Association) system.
It is very important that you use the referencing system that is used and accepted by your academic institution or university.
For example, Nottingham Trent University in the UK requires students to use the Harvard referencing system, whereas other institutions might insist that students use the MHRA system. If you are in doubt, check with your tutor or lecturer.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is when you use another person’s work and pretend that it is your own. Sometimes, plagiarism is not committed intentionally, but is just the result of bad referencing.
Plagiarism is against the rules in all UK universities, and could cause a student to fail an assignment – or, in the worst-case scenario, they could even be asked to leave the course without graduating!
How to avoid plagiarism
- Make sure you understand what plagiarism means. Most UK universities have a detailed definition of plagiarism on their websites – as well as tools you can use to detect plagiarism in your own work before you submit it. Make sure you use them!
- Write quotes in a different colour or font type. Only change the format to match the rest of your essay text after you have referenced everything correctly.
- Read your essay back carefully before handing it in. Check for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, as well as for plagiarism.
- Ask a native English-speaking student or colleague to read your essay and check for inconsistencies in tone and style of writing – this can often indicate accidental plagiarism .
- Check the referencing system used by your academic institution, and learn how to use it yourself before starting your essay. Give yourself plenty of time to do this.
- Complete your bibliography. Your bibliography is the list of all the books, articles, websites and any other sources you have used to complete your essay. Check with your tutor to make sure your bibliography is written to suit the standards of your college or university. This is a very important part of the referencing process.
Here’s a useful video on how to use the Harvard referencing system:
Step 6: End with a Strong Conclusion
The conclusion of an essay is just as important as the introduction.
It is here that you have your final chance to summarise your main points, highlight any research you have done and bring your thoughts together to end with a strong and convincing conclusion.
A great essay conclusion in English shows your ability to refine complex information and summarise an argument in clear and concise English.
Paraphrasing is important for the introduction of an essay, whereas summarising is important for the conclusion. Paraphrasing is saying the same thing as an original statement (but in different words), whereas summarising is providing a shortened version of the key points and defining exactly what they mean.
How to summarise
- Read your essay through at least twice. What are the key points?
- Identify these key points and rewrite them using different words.
- What do these key points mean when they are combined together?
- Write this out, making sure you refer back to the original essay question again.
Example summary (from essay conclusion):
In summary, by saying “tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”, Benjamin Franklin was not simply referring to education in the traditional classroom sense, where a teacher stands in front of a group of students and instructs them.
As this essay has referenced, many popular modern-day teaching styles, such as Montessori and Steiner, focus on student-centred learning. This focus on inductive learning in the early stages of a child’s life can be seen to be not only beneficial to the individual, but to society as a whole.
In conclusion, writing a great essay in English does not need to be painful or scary. In fact, it can be fun. Contact us if you need any support with English for academic, business or general purposes – we can help!
If you need native English tuition to improve your academic English, request a consultation today and speak to one of our experienced EAL instructors!
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Difference Between: Just vs. Only
Just (d ʒʌ s) and only (o ʊ nli) are adverbs (words that change the meaning of a word or phrase). We can use just and only interchangeably when they mean ‘not more than or a small quantity of something’ – e.g. I just have 2 meals a day or I only have 2 meals a day . However, there are some situations where we have to use one word and not the other. Let’s take a look!
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The basic steps for how to write an essay are: Generate ideas and pick a type of essay to write. Outline your essay paragraph by paragraph. Write a rough first draft without worrying about details like word choice or grammar. Edit your rough draft, and revise and fix the details. Review your essay for typos, mistakes, and any other problems.
Do your research and gather sources. Come up with a thesis. Create an essay outline. Write the introduction. Write the main body, organized into paragraphs. Write the conclusion. Evaluate the overall organization. Revise the content of each paragraph. Proofread your essay or use a Grammar Checker for language errors.
Our free online tool helps you to practise your writing and get valuable feedback instantly. Write & Improve is simple to use: just choose a task, write or upload a written response and use the feedback to quickly improve. It shows you how to improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Join over 2 million learners of English who have used ...
In this post, we will explore the best essay writing tips and cover different essay types, the essay structure, an essay outline and much more to help you succeed on an upcoming English essay. These 10 tips are perfect for school, college or university essays, as well as English exams like IELTS, PTE and TOEFL.
5. Provide Clear Topic Sentences: Navigating the Reader Through Your Essay. Each paragraph in your essay should have a purpose, and this purpose should be encapsulated in a clear and concise topic sentence. These sentences act as signposts, guiding readers through the various facets of your argument.
Conclusion Paragraph: Restate your thesis statement. Summarize your main points and arguments. Leave the reader with something to think about. Remember, this is just a basic structure you can refer to. As you write your own essay, you may find that your ideas change or that the direction of the essay has shifted.
There are three main stages to writing an essay: preparation, writing and revision. In just 4 minutes, this video will walk you through each stage of an acad...
7. Write with Clarity. You might be tempted to use complex metaphors and jargons to impress the reader, but the truth is, none of that guarantees “good” writing. One of the most important ingredients of effective writing is clarity. You don’t want to leave the reader confused and puzzled after reading your essay.
IELTS Writing Linking Words and Phrases – Video In this lesson, you can learn how to use linking words and phrases for the IELTS writing exam.Linking words are important for your IELTS writing, especially for the essay.
Step 4: Argue. Step 5: Reference. Step 6: Conclude. Quick Intro. Essay writing in English is very different from other types of written communication, such as composing emails for work or personal letters to friends. The main difference is that you need to demonstrate your ability to think and write critically.