Some people are born writers, others struggle with words, but each of us has the unique experience worthy of being shared with the world. An essay is one of the most concise and reader-friendly ways to present your ideas in a written form. And everyone, believe us, can master the exciting art of writing an essay. We are eager to help you with these 7 simple and effective steps that will guide you through all the stages of writing an essay you can be proud of.
1. Make a smart start.
A smart start is half of your future success, so do not waste this opportunity. First of all, do not procrastinate. The longer you put off, the less time you will have to polish your writing: essays written in a hurry do not receive stars in the Academic Writing Hall of Fame. Secondly, read the requirements carefully, very carefully! If you can choose a topic for your essay, do not settle with the easiest option, rather choose something that you find really interesting – in the long run, it is always better to write about something that does not make you sick and tired. Pay attention to the type of essay. There are at least 5 major types: expository, descriptive, narrative, compare and contrast, and persuasive (argumentative) essays. Finally, define who your reader is going to be and keep that in mind while writing. After all, unless it is a diary, any piece of writing should be reader-orientated.
2. Brainstorm and work with the primary sources.
Before you read a single sentence written by another researcher, decide what you personally think about the topic of your essay. This will help you assume an independent position and avoid plagiarism. First, put down what you already know about the problem under consideration, include your initial reactions to the topic, come up with the questions to which you would like to find answers, and do some brainstorming. Then, work with the primary sources and make notes. Finally, look back at what you have written, and draw conclusions.
3. Do serious research.
Consult only serious sources, i.e., sources that have an author and, preferably, date of publication. Articles from peer-reviewed journals would be a perfect choice. To find them, you can use JSTOR, Questia, HighWire, and other respectable digital libraries. There are also apps that can help you annotate articles and cite your sources quickly and easily.
4. Create a functional outline.
An outline is an extended plan of your essay, which makes writing your first draft much easier. It helps you arrange your ideas logically and make sure your essay has a clear structure. It includes three main sections: an introduction with a thesis, a body (with at least three paragraphs), and a conclusion. If you feel that writing an outline is too much of a challenge, essaywritingservice can help you deal with this and any other stage of the writing process.
5. Have fun writing the first draft.
Luckily, the first draft is not the last draft. So, while writing it, do not strive for perfection. Otherwise, you will end up looking for the perfect words forever and miss the deadline. Write away and unleash your creativity! Sir Ken Robinson, an education guru, said in his iconic TED-talk that these days creativity is as important as literacy. Yet, no matter how far you will go along the creative path, stick to your outline and the internal logic of your essay.
6. Polish your writing.
Once the draft is ready, you can proceed to turning your rough diamond into a perfectly polished jewel. It is high time you came up with a gripping title: it should hint at the topic of the essay but also be intriguing enough. After you are done with the title, reread your paper, keeping in mind your potential reader. Imagine you were somebody else (your teacher, a classmate, or even a publisher) reading this essay for the first time. Would you understand all the points the essay is making? Would the arguments look convincing? Would you enjoy reading this paper?
7. Proofread your paper multiple times!
Proofreading your essay is showing respect for your reader, so do not neglect this essential stage. The good news is that there are many apps and services that can help you with this important task, such as, for example, Grammarly and Hemingway.
The secret to writing a good essay is to see the process of writing not as boring and tedious homework, but as a means to express yourself and be heard by other people. Everyone has a story, and an essay can help you tell it in an engaging and persuasive manner. As for the technicalities, they can be coped with through practice, one step at a time.
