How to Write an Essay

At Essay-Editor’s, we receive numerous requests from our constant and new readers regarding new topics for discussion. The most frequent questions and suggestions concern the way of writing an essay or another paper. Simplifying, it goes like “So, I’ve created a Word file, now what?” Let us analyze the process of writing an essay and fix its stages. Scroll down for a full checklist!

1. Check the deadline. The proper organization accounts for 70% of the success. When you’ve got a shape, it is easier to fill it with ideas. That is why; before plunging into the feverish search for information or the spontaneous writing, just check the technical part of the task. How much time do you have? It is vital to determine because you might take the task too easy and write a light essay in two hours, while the long deadline would mean a more serious research is required. Otherwise, while searching the data, you might go too deep investigating the interesting aspects of the subject, and not cope to complete an essay within the few days’ deadline. So, first of all, determine how much time you have – and allocate your effort accordingly.

2. Learn the technical requirements. The framework issue again. Read all the requirements attentively. Fix the volume of your future text, its type (an essay, a report, a critical analysis), structure, technical execution (font, size, color, a way of marking etc.) See if the assignment foresees the descriptive text to be represented (just outlining the stages of the development of the subject and its main characteristics) or if it should contain an individual point of view. Check the necessity for references. Knowing you would need to ground your words, you’ll be able to keep some books and sources on hand for citation.

3. Align the bookshelf. Today, this phrase sounds more like a metaphor. It implies that you’ve got to read the sources you can use for your essay and pick the ones that are relevant to your future text. For that, you’ll need:

• To determine the topic of the text. It can be wider or narrower depending on the technical task and your particular interest in the research;
• To check the sources recommended for reading in connection with the topic. If there is no recommendation list, simply perform a Google search of the key words or of the whole name of the topic;
• Read the abstracts of the works in order to determine their relevance for your text. Some areas of science might have the similar terminology, thus, the superfluous reading of the source might lead to the usage of the irrelevant data and thus, provision of the incorrect information or wasting of time. For example, if you intend to write about the specific usage of the Modal Verbs in English, you would hardly need an information about the newly invented textile called Modal.
• Select the works and sources you will use. These can be not only the sources you will actually quote but also the ones that will reveal the issue in detail for your own understanding. In other words, prepare the theoretical basis for your essay.
• Read the sources in full. However obvious, this clause is rarely adhered to. Simply read them. You will definitely gain a lot out of it.
• Arrange the sources by the principle of importance for your text. Mark the ones that you are going to quote and the ones that might provide a good illustration of your point of view. Perform a quality analysis of the material.
• Pay attention to the style of the sources. Determine if the style of your text will be alike or will differ from them.

1. Draw your conception. Here, it is not a metaphor. Take a pencil and a sheet of paper and draw a scheme of your text. Mark the introduction and some key words for it, the theoretical background you are going to provide. landmark the point, at which you are going to relay your own point of view. Let it be followed by some proofs from the reliable academic sources. Make a separate figure for the conclusion. Do not leave it blank, though. Consider how to make a brief yet comprehensive conclusive part of your essay. This occupation will allow you to spot the places where your information is insufficient or where another point of view, another development of the topic is possible. Consider the need for stating it in your essay. Remember that a complete integral and logical text would strike more than the fragmented and incoherent research providing many unfinished threads.

2. Pick the information block that seems the most comprehensive and simple to you. Some people are good at the critical analysis. For them, writing a conclusion might be the easiest part of the essay writing. For others, description of the theoretical background would mean another turning out of the aspects of the subject in mind. If you are good at the fluent and flowery talk, you might like to start with the introduction.

3. Use clichés. If you feel that you got stuck at some stage of the writing of your essay (even before the actual start), you can use the popular clichés of the scientific style. Search them in your browser or (preferably) in the sources that your “bookshelf” comprises. The roots of the event date back to … The eminent linguist Noam Chomsky in his work on syntax determined … Analyzing the material, we reached the following conclusions. Even if you wish your essay to be less formal and stereotypic, you can use these clichés as an initial push to writing and filling in the information blocks. Upon writing the content, you can take out the clichés or replace them with some other acceptable language forms. Back at the beginning of 1900-s … The opinion of the respected scientists … What we’ve got.

4. Make a breakdown. In case some substantial thought consists of more than two subcategories, shape it in the form of the list. In such a way, the information is perceived better. Besides, the visual alignment and diversification of the text provide for the easier and faster reading than the dull congestion of the similar lines.

5. Link the parts. When all the blocks are filled in, it is time to make them a whole. For that, use logic and conjunctive language means. Try to adhere to the structure you’ve outlined before. Adjust the blocks in respect of their volume, if needed. If you have space, it is preferred to replenish the blocks that are smaller than the other ones, rather than cutting the latter. Use the conjunctive phrases like This has led to, It resulted in, At the same time, However etc.

6. Introduce illustrations. Even the purely descriptive text featuring no author’s analysis can be perceived as a unique and original work, provided it possesses fresh and matching illustrations. Illustrations can be of a different kind. You can describe a fact or event illustrating some point of view or proving it. You can submit a table in order to represent the numbers and arrange them properly. Finally, you can provide a thematic picture or a pictogram. Such diversity of the types of information is important for the light and easy-read structure of your text.

7. Bring in the references. Never forget to curtsy the people who have given you the cushion of the theoretical background. Illustrate two or three thoughts by direct quotations. Mark the other ones as having their author. Even if you used your own words in order to describe their ideas.

8. Have a coffee break. Go for a walk. Go shopping. Call a friend. In other words, do anything that would distract your mind from the text. Consider your deadline, though (clause 1).

9. Read the text from the beginning to the end. Pay attention to the incongruities, insufficient proofs, clumsy expressions, unfitting illustrations. Take the time to fix these deficiencies.

10. Color and draw. Now that your text is compound well, it is time to make it more vivid. Choose the way of marking the important information. It can be color, underlining, bold typing etc. Remember to use the same type of mark for the similar elements.

11. Proofread the text. Check the alignment of the paragraphs, the presence of references, weed out the grammar mistakes, put the commas after the Adverbial Clause. Use the automatic grammar checking systems, if possible. While using it, do not let the system to fix the deficiencies by a fault. Consider each flaw the program has traced and decide with regard to its nature and further actions (delete, modify, preserve).

12. Repeat clause 11, if the deadline permits. If no, proofread the text again. Read it aloud this time, or in inverse order, or ask someone to read it to you. Introduce the changes if necessary. Correct the mistakes and typos (if there are any). Check the solid ground of your proofs.

13. Make a title page. Mention the title and the author’s name. Secure the document by means of the Word editor or other automated means.Submit the text. Receive A+. Enjoy the feeling!