If you’re a college student, chances are you’ve been asked at least once to write an essay for one of your classes. If this is your first time facing such an assignment, it can be tempting to throw up your hands and say, I don’t know how to do this! But if you follow the seven steps below, writing an essay will seem like child’s play. And to write my paper means higher grades, greater confidence in your abilities as a student, and perhaps even extra credit!
Step 1: Brainstorm
Brainstorming is the first step to writing your essay. Give yourself a few minutes to think about what you want to say and jot down any thoughts that come to mind. It may seem like a waste of time but brainstorming will help you formulate your ideas in a clear, concise manner. Plus, it’s always good to have some notes before diving into the more detailed steps. This can be done on paper or through a word processor. If you choose to type, try using bullet points so that each idea stands out on its own. Continue brainstorming until you’re happy with the content of your post.
Step 2: Outline
The next step to writing an essay is outlining. Outlining your essay will help you know what your major points are, and how you’ll go about developing those points. This way, when it’s time to write the body of the essay, you’ll be able to focus on making sure that each point has enough evidence and examples to support it. In order to outline your essay, start by jotting down a list of topics or key words that are related to your thesis statement.
Step 3: Write the Body Paragraphs
Write the body paragraphs. In a body paragraph, explain your thesis statement in detail and provide evidence to support it. The most important thing to remember is that each paragraph should have one idea and follow a logical sequence. Try to keep your paragraphs between three and five sentences long. In addition, use transition words so that readers know how you are moving from one topic or idea to another. Finally, end each paragraph with a sentence that has some sort of hook or summation of what you just said.
Step 4: Write a Conclusion
A conclusion is the final part of your essay that should summarize what you have already discussed. It should include a strong concluding sentence that will leave your reader thinking about what you have written. It is important to make sure that you do not put too much information in the conclusion because this is where people are likely to stop reading. You want to leave them wanting more so they are more inclined to read through all of your paper, but not give them so much detail that they lose interest.
Step 5: Proofread and Revise
Proofreading is the final step in the writing process. It’s best to do this on a computer, so you can search and change words as you go. This will help you find any typos or mistakes that may have been overlooked in previous steps. Once you’re done with proofreading, be sure to ask someone else (preferably one who isn’t a family member) to read your essay over and offer feedback. After they finish reading it, show them the document with all of the edits you’ve made and see if they agree with what you’ve changed. If not, don’t hesitate to undo some of your changes or revert back to how it was originally written!
Step 6: Check Grammar and Mechanics
Checking grammar and mechanics is the last step in proofreading your essay. It’s important to be sure all spelling errors have been corrected and sentences are grammatically correct. This is a final opportunity to find any mistakes you may have made before turning in your essay to your professor or instructor. Remember, it’s always better to check yourself than ask for help!
Step 7: Turn it in
Submit your essay to your professor as soon as you can. The sooner you submit the essay, the sooner your professor will be able to grade it. Avoid cramming and instead dedicate some time each day to work on the assignment. Make sure that all of your sentences are grammatically correct, that there are no spelling errors, and that you have done a thorough job with citations and references.
