Essay Writing Guide With Definition, Types, Steps & Examples
Uncertain about how to write your essay? What should the introduction and conclusion sections consist of? Which essay structure and style should you choose? If these are the questions you are asking, then we are going to answer them in this comprehensive essay writing guide.
What is an Essay?
An essay is a short and formal piece of academic writing that deals with a specific subject. It provides the author’s view of the argument. Throughout your academic life, if there is one thing you will have to write at some point, it is an essay. Hence, it is better to learn how to write an essay before it is dumped on you. Before learning the proper structure of the essay, let's have a quick review of the different types of essays that you might be asked to deal with.
What are the Different Types of an Essay?
There are over a dozen different types of essays, and they can all be grouped into the following four major categories.
In a persuasive essay, you use a logical argument to persuade the reader of your point of view. This kind of essay is written using proper research, solid facts, logical reasoning, examples etc.
Example: Newspaper Columns
Expository essays require you to investigate the idea, evaluate all the evidence and then give the argument clearly and concisely.
Example: Scientific Reports
Descriptive essays are a genre of essay that requires keen observation from the students to describe something. The description could be of anything from a tree to a war.
Example: Description of a person
In a narrative essay, you are required to narrate a story. It enhances the creativity of the students since these essays are mostly personal and experiential.
Example: Historical Narrating
Now that you are familiar with the definition and types of an essay, let’s move forward to the structure of an essay.
Step:1 Develop an Essay Outline
Before writing the essay, develop an outline that will provide insight into the contents of the final paper.
According to aims.edu, “An outline allows a writer to categorise the main points, to organise the paragraphs into an order that makes sense, and to make sure that each paragraph/idea can be fully developed.”
To put it in simple words, an outline will help you stay on track without getting stuck when writing the essay paper. Authors and academicians have reached a consensus that outlines are a plan of action for writers to stay organised whilst giving them the map to discuss all the important elements of the topic without getting sidetracked. Here is what an essay outline will generally include;
- Two or three catchy titles based on your essay’s topic so you can choose the most suitable one.
- A rationale and thesis, also known as the problem statement, so you know exactly what you are trying to achieve.
- The essay outline typically includes an introduction paragraph, main body, and concluding remarks.
Introduction Paragraph: Here, you present the essay’s hypothesis – an introduction to the main idea you wish to address in the essay’s body. How is the information in the introductory section related to the content of the main body?
Main Body: You deliver your research around the topic of the essay in the main body. Any supporting information taken from other academic sources must be cited accordingly. The length of this section will depend on the overall word limit of your essay assignment.
Concluding Paragraph: Your conclusion wraps up your essay in a tidy package and brings it home for your reader. Here you write a closing statement after reviewing key points from each paragraph’s main body and reiterating the23m.
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Step:2 Start your Essay
Let's have a quick review of what to do before starting to write the essay.
Examine the Essay Question
First, examine the essay question. Do not just write down everything you know on a subject without examining the keywords in the question. This question has been carefully crafted, and any misinterpretation at this point can be costly. Are you to “examine” or “compare” things, for example? It makes a big difference to your approach. As you progress through your essay, it is good practice to revisit the original question to ensure you are still on track. Once you have figured out the key points on the topic, you can proceed to start writing your essay paper. In most cases, it is better to write the main body of the essay before creating the introduction and conclusion sections.
This may sound surprising, but many renowned authors and researchers have recommended this method. The idea is to develop a better understanding of the topic and supporting facts before creating the opening statement.
By waiting until you have completed the main body, you will have more information to solidify your arguments in the opening and closing paragraphs.
Step:3 Write an Essay Introduction
Why Write an Essay Introduction?
The purpose of the introduction paragraph is not only to introduce the paper but also to grab the attention of the audience. This section of your essay will provide the basis of the arguments you will make in the main body.
As they say, “the first impression is the last impression”. So the introduction paragraph has to be inspiring and flawless. Imagine reading an essay that starts with a bunch of spelling errors and disorganised information. Would you be tempted to read all of it?
Hook the Audience
In the Introduction, you thoughtfully present your arguments and opinions on the topic of the essay. You want the readers to continue reading all of the material below, and it is vitally important to develop a hook that lures them into continuing to read.
Including engaging quotes, facts, and statistics related to the topic will certainly grab their attention.
Thesis Statement
Once you have the readers engaged, you can move on to present the thesis statement, which should be to the point and striking.
It is important not to exaggerate the thesis statement. Stick to a single-sentence explanation, so your readers know from the very beginning where you stand on the topic.
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Also Read: Why So Many Students Struggle With Essay Writing.
Tell the Reader What to Expect
Following that, support the thesis in the rest of your essay by developing an outline of examples to give readers a richer awareness of what the essay is about and tell them what to expect in the main body of the essay paper.
Keeping your basic introduction paragraph short will encourage them to smoothly move to the paragraphs in the main body of the essay. Typically, the length of your introduction paragraph should not be more than four to five sentences. If your introduction paragraph section is longer than that, you may want to cut down on the word count. See the basic elements of an introductory paragraph in the below illustration;
Example of An Essay Introduction
In its quest to reduce motor vehicle accidents and casualties, the British Columbia government has introduced stringent requirements for new drivers. While many applaud the new rules as a step toward reducing the carnage on our roads, many others argue that the new rules are unfair and unnecessary.By examining the transportation needs of young people, the issue of individual responsibility, the costs of driving education, and the accident rates for various age groups,we will see that these new driving regulations are indeed unwarranted and need to be modified.
Essay Introduction – The Do's and The Dont's
| The DOs – The Introduction Chapter is Critical | The DON’Ts – Avoid Using Passive Voice and Personal Nouns |
|---|---|
| Always pay attention to the introduction section because this is the first paragraph the readers will read. Know that it is your opportunity to impress your audience. | The examples provided and your explanation around those should be directly related to the thesis of your essay. Make every sentence count because it can be hard to condense the complete essence of any particular example in just a few sentences. For example, if you wish to attract your readers’ attention towards the footballing talent of Lionel Messi, you might consider skipping his food preferences. Keep it relevant! |
| A good essay introduction will help the readers understand how you will present information. Make sure you are putting the right amount of effort into this paragraph. Anything too short or too long will turn the readers off! |
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Step:4 Main Body of the Essay
Paragraph Structure
What comes after the introduction and constitutes the middle paragraphs of the essay are collectively referred to as the main body or the body content of the essay. As briefly mentioned above, the primary aim of this section is to support your thesis statement with appropriate examples and theories.
What to Include in the Main Body of the Essay?
The first body paragraph starts with the most significant argument or the strongest example or theory supporting your thesis statement unless you have been instructed to do otherwise.
Some essay assignments may require students to use chronological explanations in the main body of the essay. Make sure that you are unmistakably addressing the topic of your essay in the first sentence of this paragraph with the help of the examples outlined above in the intro paragraph.
Why is your Argument Relevant?
A one-sentence opening statement that highlights the example of “Michael Jackson”, “LED Traffic Lights”, or “Doraemon” is not going to be sufficient, so it is essential to present supporting material to help the readers understand in detail why the quoted example is relevant to your thesis statement.
Regardless of how well-known your quoted examples might be, you will be expected to provide context to them. This can be better explained by the example of “Donald Trump”.
We all know who he is, but in reality, his life is extremely complex. By using Mr Donald Trump as an example, which of his characteristics are we referring to – his wealth, bravery, social media image, or even the colour of his hair?
Add Facts to Support your Argument
Your audience would be interested in these explanations, and as a writer, it is your responsibility to smear that image. A good way of doing that is to provide some relevant facts about the example that you believe would put your point of view across.
Once you have done that, you can proceed to enlighten the readers about why that particular example was a valid argument for your thesis. Seal the deal right here.
The importance of this transitional step should never be ignored because, by all means, it is why you presented the example to start with.
Essay Body – The Do's and the Don’ts
| The DOs – The Introduction Chapter is Critical | The DON’Ts – Avoid Using Passive Voice and Personal Nouns |
|---|---|
| All the different fragments of the first sentence of the main body must be effectively put together so you can paint the image for your readers exactly the way you wish to. | Make use of active voice – don’t let the actions happen to the subjects; rather, make the subjects direct actions. For example, “she won the gold medal” is a much more potent and gripping way of writing rather than presenting the same information as “she was handed over a gold medal”. |
| While it is critical to make use of transitional phrases for a seamless switch from one idea to the next, it is equally important to maintain a common theme that ties the relationship between the paragraphs. | Don’t use contractions, such as “hasn’t” or “wasn’t”; write the two words in full. |
| For instance, you can make use of phrases such as “moreover”, “furthermore”, “secondly”, “lastly”, and “on the other hand” to synchronise the different pieces of information. | With the exception of personal narratives, do not make use of personal nouns such as Mr, My and I. It is better to keep it general and attract the readers’ attention. |
Use of Transitions in your Essay
Transitional Phrases Make an Essay Easier to Read
Discuss the second most important to the third or least important examples outlined in the introduction paragraph to create the remaining paragraphs of the main body.
When starting a new paragraph, do not forget to make use of transitional phrases such as “moreover,” “similarly,” “in contrast,” or “furthermore,” as these phrases will give so much more meaning to your justifications and help you introduce new sets of ideas flawlessly.
Also Read: How to Use Transitions in an Essay
And: Why Are So Many Students Struggling With Essay Writing?
Step:5 Write an Essay Conclusion
The Conclusion Paragraph Ties Everything up
The conclusion of an essay is the final step of your essay assignment, but that does not mean it is the least important. The closing paragraph is your final opportunity to justify your thesis statement and follow a logical structure.
In most cases, the conclusion paragraph contains much of the same information as presented in the essay’s opening paragraph.
How Long is the Conclusion Paragraph?
Note that you don’t want to end your essay on the wrong foot, so it is important not to get carried away when writing the conclusion paragraph. Most experts recommend keeping the length of the closing paragraph to four or five lines, depending on the required length of the essay.
Use a Transitional Phrase
You might want to use concluding transitions such as “in the end,” “in conclusion,” “finally,” “to summarise,” “to sum up,” etc., with a passing reference to the hook in the introductory paragraph of the essay.
Repeat your Thesis Statement
Following that; you should quickly reiterate your thesis statement, which will be the 4th or 5th time you restate your proposition.
TIP; Be careful of repeating the same information, word for word. While it would be fitting to use some of the original language used in the essay’s opening statement, it is also important to preserve a variety of vocabulary in the essay’s main body to deliver your message powerfully.
Restating the thesis strengthens your point of view. Also, it aids smooth transition into the subsequent portion of the conclusion paragraph – usually a few words emphasising the key points in the essay body.
Essay Conclusion – The Do's and the Don'ts
| The DOs – The Introduction Chapter is Critical | The DON’Ts – Avoid Using Passive Voice and Personal Nouns |
|---|---|
| While primarily a reiteration of your original idea, the conclusion paragraph is tricky to write and gives you the last chance to reinforce the thesis and influence the audience. | Make sure to not copy the keywords from the opening paragraph into the concluding statement. |
| Reaffirm the thesis statement confidently and unveil your opinions clearly so your audience may perceive the same vibes. | Showcase your expertise as a writer by not copying your statement verbatim. |
Example of Essay Conclusion
Here is an example for you to better learn how to write an essay conclusion.
Essay Conclusion Example
In the end, then, one thing is clear: mistakes do far more to help us learn and improve than success.
As examples from both science and everyday experience can attest, if we treat each mistake not as a misstep but as a learning experience, the possibilities for self-improvement are limitless.
How to Write an Essay about yourself?
While this might sound easy, it can be really tricky. There is more to writing an essay about yourself than simply listing your experiences and achievements.
Essay Preparation
Before starting, list all your weaknesses and strengths – whether emotional, physical, spiritual or mental. Ask yourself questions such as who are the people who have influenced your life? Do you have any special abilities and skills that set you apart from others?
Which Essay Structure Should you Use?
Choose the most suitable essay structure. The five-paragraph essay structure (hamburger) will be convenient if you have not been advised to use a more specific essay format.
Hamburger Style Essay
There are multiple styles of essay writing. The most common essay style is the hamburger essay. It consists of five parts. The top of the bun represents the introductory paragraph. Then the middle section consisting of the meat and vegetables represents the essay's body, and lastly, the bottom bun shows the conclusion.
The structure of the five-paragraph essay is outlined below.
Here is the structure of a typical five-paragraph (hamburger) essay once all pieces of the puzzle are put together;
Introduction
- A hook to grab the attention of readers
A Thesis Statement
- An outline of the examples/theories you will be presenting in the main body of the essay.
First Body Paragraph
- The topic sentence opens with a transition keyword and discusses the first topic example.
- Secondary examples and details
- A justification of how the example verifies the thesis.
Second Body Paragraph
- The topic sentence opens with a transition keyword and discusses the first topic example.
- Secondary examples and details
- A justification of how the example verifies the thesis.
Third Body Paragraph
- The topic sentence opens with a transition keyword and discusses the first topic example.
- Secondary examples and details
- A justification of how the example verifies the thesis
Conclusion
- Reaffirmation of your thesis
- Reverse hook strategy
- Use of concluding transitions
- Restating the thesis statement and supporting examples
- Close with a call to action and a global statement.
We have also compiled guidelines on how to structure a dissertation and how to structure a proposal!
Step:6 Referencing your Essay
The reference section is vital in academic work. You have to compile and show the sources of information you have used to ensure that you are not plagiarising others’ work. It also shows the breadth of research materials you have used. There is no universal style for writing the reference section. There are several styles, such as Harvard, APA, CMOS, and Oxford. You should use the style designated for your course. If you’re unsure, have a look at our referencing guide.
More Tips to Make your Essay Stand Out
- Plan your essay carefully
- Brainstorm before starting essay
- Use extensive vocabulary
- Keep It Relevant
- Draw an outline
- Make sure to proofread, edit and improve before submitting your essay.
Essay checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
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