How to Write an Essay: 10 Easy Steps

Why is writing an essay so frustrating? Learning how to write an essay can be a maddening, exasperating process, but it doesn't have to be. If you know the steps and understand what to do, writing can be easy and even fun. This site, "How To Write an Essay: 10 Easy Steps," offers a ten-step process that teaches students how to write an essay. Links to the writing steps are found on the left, and additional writing resources are located across the top.

Learning how to write an essay doesn't have to involve so much trial and error.

Brief Overview of the 10 Essay Writing Steps

1. Research: Begin the essay writing process by researching your topic, making yourself an expert. Utilize the internet, the academic databases, and the library. Take notes and immerse yourself in the words of great thinkers.
2. Analysis: Now that you have a good knowledge base, start analyzing the arguments of the essays you're reading. Clearly define the claims, write out the reasons, the evidence. Look for weaknesses of logic, and also strengths. Learning how to write an essay begins by learning how to analyze essays written by others.
3. Brainstorming: Your essay will require insight of your own, genuine essay-writing brilliance. Ask yourself a dozen questions and answer them. Meditate with a pen in your hand. Take walks and think and think until you come up with original insights to write about.
4. Thesis: Pick your best idea and pin it down in a clear assertion that you can write your entire essay around. Your thesis is your main point, summed up in a concise sentence that lets the reader know where you're going, and why. It's practically impossible to write a good essay without a clear thesis.
5. Outline: Sketch out your essay before straightway writing it out. Use one-line sentences to describe paragraphs, and bullet points to describe what each paragraph will contain. Play with the essay's order. Map out the structure of your argument, and make sure each paragraph is unified.
6. Introduction: Now sit down and write the essay. The introduction should grab the reader's attention, set up the issue, and lead in to your thesis. Your intro is merely a buildup of the issue, a stage of bringing your reader into the essay's argument.
(Note: The title and first paragraph are probably the most important elements in your essay. This is an essay-writing point that doesn't always sink in within the context of the classroom. In the first paragraph you either hook the reader's interest or lose it. Of course your teacher, who's getting paid to teach you how to write an essay, will read the essay you've written regardless, but in the real world, readers make up their minds about whether or not to read your essay by glancing at the title alone.)
7. Paragraphs: Each individual paragraph should be focused on a single idea that supports your thesis. Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, support assertions with evidence, and expound your ideas in the clearest, most sensible way you can. Speak to your reader as if he or she were sitting in front of you. In other words, instead of writing the essay, try talking the essay.
8. Conclusion: Gracefully exit your essay by making a quick wrap-up sentence, and then end on some memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an interesting twist of logic, or some call to action. Is there something you want the reader to walk away and do? Let him or her know exactly what.
9. MLA Style: Format your essay according to the correct guidelines for citation. All borrowed ideas and quotations should be correctly cited in the body of your text, followed up with a Works Cited (references) page listing the details of your sources.
10. Language: You're not done writing your essay until you've polished your language by correcting the grammar, making sentences flow, incoporating rhythm, emphasis, adjusting the formality, giving it a level-headed tone, and making other intuitive edits. Proofread until it reads just how you want it to sound. Writing an essay can be tedious, but you don't want to bungle the hours of conceptual work you've put into writing your essay by leaving a few slippy misppallings and pourly wordedd phrazies..
You're done. Great job. Now move over Ernest Hemingway — a new writer is coming of age! (Of course Hemingway was a fiction writer, not an essay writer, but he probably knew how to write an essay just as well.)

My Promise: The Rest of This Site Will Really Teach You How To Write an Essay

For half a dozen years I've read thousands of college essays and taught students how to write essays, do research, analyze arguments, and so on. I wrote this site in the most basic, practical way possible and made the instruction crystal clear for students and instructors to follow. If you carefully follow the ten steps for writing an essay as outlined on this site — honestly and carefully follow them — you'll learn how to write an essay that is more organized, insightful, and appealing. And you'll probably get an A. Now it's time to really begin. C'mon, it will be fun. I promise to walk you through each step of your writing journey.

How To Write A Whole Composition

The following is a general structure to follow for many kinds of writing.  Adapt it to specialized assignments as appropriate.
I.  Introduction
The introduction is intended to draw the reader into the body of material to follow.  It should begin with a general statement or question, sometimes called the "thesis statement" or "thesis question," followed by a quick narrowing down to the main theme to be developed in the body.  Set the stage quickly, give appropriate background, then move right into a transition sentence that will set up the reader for the body.
II. Body (Argument)
The body of a written piece is where you elaborate, defend, and expand the thesis introduced in the introduction.  The body should support your main contention with supporting evidence and possible objections.  A good body presents both sides of a case, pro and con.  As you make your case, save your best argument for last.  When presenting contrary views, be sure to set forth the strongest arguments so you can avoid being charged with erecting a "straw man."  The body includes three components:

Elaboration:
Spell out the details by defining, or by clarifying and adding relevant, pertinent information.
Illustration:
Paint a verbal picture that helps make or clarify your point(s).  Well illustrated pieces are easier to read and follow than abstract ones.
Argumentation:
Give the reasons, justifications, and rationales for the position or view you have taken in the introduction.  Draw inferences for the reader and explain the significance or assertions or claims being made.

When moving from one sub-point or argument to another, use connecting or transitional words and phrases that enable your reader to easily follow the flow of your thinking. The following is a partial list of logical connectors that you can use:
exceptions - but, alas, however, etc.
illustrations - for instance, for example, etc.
conclusions - thus, so, therefore, consequently, etc.
comparisons - similarly, by contrast, etc.
qualifications - yet, still, etc.
additions - moreover, furthermore, etc.
III.  Conclusion
Make your final appeal to the reader, a finishing, all-encompassing statement that wraps up your presentation in a powerful or even dramatic fashion.  Normally a single paragraph, brief and concise, will suffice.  The purpose of the conclusion is to leave the reader with an idea or thought that captures the essence of the body while provoking further reflection and consideration.

You don't have to be a good writer to write well. Writing is a process. By learning to treat writing as a series of small steps instead of a big all-at-once magic trick you have to pull off will make writing a composition much easier and much more fun. You can learn to brainstorm main ideas before you start writing, organize a draft of those main ideas, and revise your composition into a polished essay. See Step 1 for more information.
Read the assignment closely. It's important to get a clear understanding of what your teacher expects from your composition. Each teacher will have a different set of things they'll be looking for, both for the topic and the style. Keep your assignment sheet with you at all times while you're working on your composition and read it closely. Ask your teacher about anything you feel unsure about. Make sure you have a good sense of the following:

• What is the purpose of the composition?
• What is the topic of the composition?
• What are the length requirements?
• What is the appropriate tone or voice for the composition?
• Is research required?
• 2Do a free-write or a journaling exercise to get some ideas on paper. When you're first getting started in trying to figure out the best way to approach a topic you've got to write about, do some free-writing. No one has to see it, so feel free to explore your thoughts and opinions about a given topic and see where it leads.
• Try a timed writing by keeping your pen moving for 10 minutes without stopping. Don't shy away from including your opinions about a particular topic, even if your teacher has warned you from including personal opinions in your paper. This isn't the final draft!

com·po·si·tion  (kmp-zshn)

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composition (ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən) ˌcompoˈsitional adj

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com•po•si•tion (ˌkɒm pəˈzɪʃ ən)

n.

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Composition an aggregate; a mixture; objects or persons of different natures associated together.

Noun	1.	composition - the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole; "harmonious composition is essential in a serious work of art" composing placement, arrangement - the spatial property of the way in which something is placed; "the arrangement of the furniture"; "the placement of the chairs"
	2.	composition - the way in which someone or something is composed physical composition, make-up, makeup, constitution property - a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class; "a study of the physical properties of atomic particles" structure - the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts; "artists must study the structure of the human body"; "the structure of the benzene molecule" phenotype - what an organism looks like as a consequence of the interaction of its genotype and the environment genetic constitution, genotype - the particular alleles at specified loci present in an organism texture, grain - the physical composition of something (especially with respect to the size and shape of the small constituents of a substance); "breadfruit has the same texture as bread"; "sand of a fine grain"; "fish with a delicate flavor and texture"; "a stone of coarse grain" karyotype - the appearance of the chromosomal makeup of a somatic cell in an individual or species (including the number and arrangement and size and structure of the chromosomes)
	3.	composition - a mixture of ingredients mixture - (chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding) paste - any mixture of a soft and malleable consistency ambrosia, beebread - a mixture of nectar and pollen prepared by worker bees and fed to larvae compost - a mixture of decaying vegetation and manure; used as a fertilizer soup - any composition having a consistency suggestive of soup
	4.	composition - a musical work that has been created; "the composition is written in four movements" musical composition, opus, piece of music, piece morceau - a short literary or musical composition sheet music - a musical composition in printed or written form; "she turned the pages of the music as he played" music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner musical arrangement, arrangement - a piece of music that has been adapted for performance by a particular set of voices or instruments realisation, realization - a musical composition that has been completed or enriched by someone other than the composer coda, finale - the closing section of a musical composition intermezzo - a short piece of instrumental music composed for performance between acts of a drama or opera allegro - a musical composition or musical passage to be performed quickly in a brisk lively manner allegretto - a musical composition or musical passage to be performed at a somewhat quicker tempo than andante but not as fast as allegro andante - a musical composition or musical passage to be performed moderately slow introit - a composition of vocal music that is appropriate for opening church services solo - a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment) duette, duo, duet - a musical composition for two performers trio - a musical composition for three performers quartette, quartet - a musical composition for four performers quintet, quintette - a musical composition for five performers sextet, sextette, sestet - a musical composition written for six performers septette, septet - a musical composition written for seven performers octette, octet - a musical composition written for eight performers bagatelle - a light piece of music for piano divertimento, serenade - a musical composition in several movements; has no fixed form canon - a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts etude - a short composition for a solo instrument; intended as an exercise or to demonstrate technical virtuosity idyl, pastoral, pastorale, idyll - a musical composition that evokes rural life toccata - a baroque musical composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) with full chords and rapid elaborate runs in a rhythmically free style fantasia - a musical composition of a free form usually incorporating several familiar themes musical passage, passage - a short section of a musical composition movement - a major self-contained part of a symphony or sonata; "the second movement is slow and melodic" largo - (music) a composition or passage that is to be performed in a slow and dignified manner larghetto - (music) a composition or passage played in a slow tempo slightly faster than largo but slower than adagio suite - a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected symphonic poem, tone poem - an orchestral composition based on literature or folk tales medley, pastiche, potpourri - a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources nocturne, notturno - a pensive lyrical piece of music (especially for the piano) adagio - (music) a composition played in adagio tempo (slowly and gracefully); "they played the adagio too quickly" song, vocal - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs" study - a composition intended to develop one aspect of the performer's technique; "a study in spiccato bowing" capriccio - an instrumental composition that doesn't adhere to rules for any specific musical form and is played with improvisation motet - an unaccompanied choral composition with sacred lyrics; intended to be sung as part of a church service; originated in the 13th century program music, programme music - musical compositions intended to evoke images or remind the listener of events incidental music - music composed to accompany the action of a drama or to fill intervals between scenes
	5.	composition - musical creation composing creating by mental acts - the act of creating something by thinking arranging, transcription, arrangement - the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music realisation, realization - the completion or enrichment of a piece of music left sparsely notated by a composer recapitulation - (music) the repetition of themes introduced earlier (especially when one is composing the final part of a movement)
	6.	composition - the act of creating written works; "writing was a form of therapy for him"; "it was a matter of disputed authorship" authorship, penning, writing verbal creation - creating something by the use of speech and language adoxography - fine writing in praise of trivial or base subjects; "Elizabethan schoolboys were taught adoxography, the art of eruditely praising worthless things"; "adoxography is particularly useful to lawyers" drafting - writing a first version to be filled out and polished later dramatisation, dramatization - conversion into dramatic form; "the play was a dramatization of a short story" fabrication, fictionalisation, fictionalization - writing in a fictional form historiography - the writing of history metrification - writing a metrical composition (or the metrical structure of a composition) novelisation, novelization - converting something into the form of a novel redaction - the act of putting something in writing lexicography - the act of writing dictionaries versification - the art or practice of writing verse indite, pen, write, compose - produce a literary work; "She composed a poem"; "He wrote four novels" write about, write of, write on - write about a particular topic; "Snow wrote about China" profile - write about; "The author of this article profiles a famous painter" paragraph - write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher dash off, fling off, scratch off, toss off, knock off - write quickly; "She dashed off a note to her husband saying she would not be home for supper"; "He scratched off a thank-you note to the hostess" rewrite - rewrite so as to make fit to suit a new or different purpose; "re-write a play for use in schools" write copy - write for commercial publications; "She writes copy for Harper's Bazaar" dramatise, dramatize, adopt - put into dramatic form; "adopt a book for a screenplay" draft, outline - draw up an outline or sketch for something; "draft a speech" author - be the author of; "She authored this play" co-author - be a co-author on (a book, a paper) ghostwrite, ghost - write for someone else; "How many books have you ghostwritten so far?" annotate, footnote - add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments; "The scholar annotated the early edition of a famous novel" reference, cite - refer to; "he referenced his colleagues' work" write out, write up - put into writing; write in complete form; "write out a contract" script - write a script for; "The playwright scripted the movie"
	7.	composition - art and technique of printing with movable type typography printing process, printing - reproduction by applying ink to paper as for publication
	8.	composition - an essay (especially one written as an assignment); "he got an A on his composition" paper, theme, report essay - an analytic or interpretive literary composition term paper - a composition intended to indicate a student's progress during a school term
	9.	composition - something that is created by arranging several things to form a unified whole; "he envied the composition of their faculty" creation - an artifact that has been brought into existence by someone paste-up - a composition of flat objects pasted on a board or other backing; "they showed him a paste-up of the book jacket"