- Brett Ramsey
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In school, you are bound to write countless essays, and from my experience, the entire process can be tedious. Teachers will push to ensure the essay is well structured and meets all the requirements. For example, many times teachers will like to see the entire process you went through before handing in your essay: They want to know how you chose your topic, formed a rough draft, and picked your thesis. For you to succeed, you'll have to know how to write a proper essay.
Over the years, I've created a specific outline for myself to follow each time I've completed an essay assignment. Today, I'll be going over some of the most important factors that matter when writing one. We'll be looking at the following:
- Picking an essay topic
- Preparing an outline
- Writing a thesis
- Introduction
- The body
- The Conclusion
Picking an Essay Topic
If you have been given free reign, then focus on a topic close to you. I've noticed when I write about a topic that I'm knowledgeable about, I'll have an easier time gathering sources and conducting research. Advertising
Writing about a passionate topic will also ensure I have previous knowledge about it so I'll know how to guide my writing. However, if your teacher has provided a topic, and you have to find something related, then pick one with many options. For example, it's better to write about “link building in SEO” then “weight loss soybeans” because you'll have a broader scope. From the top of my head, there are 15 link-building strategies, and having the ability to choose makes things easier.
Preparing an Outline
This is much easier than it sounds because you're simply summarizing what you have planned. Start by stating your topic, what points you'll be covering, your thesis, and what you'll include in the introduction, body, and conclusion. You'll also want to mention the research sources you'll be using to gather all your material.
By taking what's in your head and jotting it on paper, you'll be able to see how everything connects. You'll see the ideas more clearly and what's missing. It's a great way to find structure in your essay and it will help with the completion because you're organizing before starting. Advertising
Writing a Thesis
For those of you not aware, a thesis statement reflects the main idea of your paper. A thesis has two parts-and make sure you complete both when creating an outline. First, always state your main topic, and secondly, it's important to state your main point. For example, “The United States And Its Impact on Europe” (topic), and your thesis statement would be - “The United States Has Negatively Impacted Europe By Reducing Its Currency” (the main point).
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Scroll down to continue reading articleIntroduction
I like to write this part last because it helps me stay focused since I know what I've written about in the body. In the introduction, you'll provide a slight history on the topic and why it's important to you. You'll also state the main purpose of your paper with a strong emphasis on the thesis statement.
The Body
Take this time to go in-depth on your topic. Make sure you focus on the main points and always provide the sources to back up statistical statements. Advertising
You can also include focus keywords that are relevant to your essay. For example, when writing about “The United States And Its Negative Impact on Europe's Currency”, you'll want to discuss some aspects regarding the “negative impact” throughout because this is your main idea… right?
Depending on your assignment rules, it's important to format accordingly, stick to the word count, and include whatever else your teacher outlines for you.
The Conclusion
This part is easy because, unlike your introduction where you explain what you want to accomplish, in the conclusion you'll focus on what you've done and summarize everything in short form. It's also a great place to provide your own personal thoughts on the topic. At the same time, repeat your thesis and write about how you've proven your main point. The conclusion should be right to the point, with a summary statement mentioned as well. Advertising
Final Thoughts
If you still need some guidance on how to write an essay or information on how to write specific essay formats such as how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, then do a quick search in Google. You'll find a lot of free resources. However, you can always use this quick guide the next time you sit down to write your essay paper.
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