10 Important Essay Writing Skills You Need to Know
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Practice makes perfect.” And you know that this applies to almost anything you do in life: sports, music, debate, public speaking, dungeon master, whatever. Essay writing skills are just the same. You must practice to get better.
But practice only takes you so far. You’ll also need the right tools.
Batman wouldn’t be nearly as prepared to fight Joker without all of his fancy gadgets, and you won’t become a great essayist without rocking some serious writing skills in your utility belt.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 10 important writing skills you’ll need to know to write an awesome paper.
1. Essay Writing Skills: The Fundamentals
This is the most important part of the writing process. LeBron James can dunk like crazy, but without having some of the basics down, he would never have become such a great player. So let’s start small.
Read, read, read
Reading is one of the best ways to start working out those writing muscles. It becomes a skill when you’ve read a lot of different things that give you new perspectives or challenge your thoughts.
The more you read, the more you know, and knowing more will help you craft better essays.
You should also read plenty of sample essays in the category of your essay assignment. Seeing how a successful essay is put together can be super useful.
Know your interests
And dive into them. A lot of college English handbooks offer essay prompts to help students see what types of topics can work well for the assignment.
But don’t just take the easy way out: you’’ll have a much easier time if you focus on topics that interest you—things you care about.
2. Organizing Your Thoughts
Starting an essay without getting your ideas in order is like putting together a puzzle without the picture…and half the pieces are missing. It’s just not going to work, so brush up on these techniques before getting started.
In a nutshell, brainstorming is when you think about different ideas and make notes to just get the creative juices flowing. A simple way to do this is to answer these questions:
- “What might I write about?”
- “Why am I writing about this? Why is it important?”
- “Who’s going to care about this other than me? Why?”
There are plenty of useful brainstorming methods out there. If possible, try to conduct a group brainstorming session before writing an essay, so you can openly discuss your topic(s) with others and get feedback and ideas.
While brainstorming helps you generate ideas, outlining gives them a structure. Outlining your essay ahead of time will save you from writing yourself into a corner, not knowing what to talk about next.
When you structure the points of your essay from beginning to end, you set tangible goals for yourself, which is much easier than just winging it.
3. Research
You might be a digital native, but how good are you at combing academic databases for resources? Have you ever performed a Boolean search before?
If this is uncharted territory, then it’s time to get acquainted with proper research techniques that will support your ideas, particularly if you’re writing an argumentative paper .
Using databases
If you’re a college student, then it’s very likely that you have access to a number of great academic databases through your school library’s online portal.
This is important.
Popular sources, such as news and magazine articles and blogs, are usually not going to cut it when it comes to supporting an argument. Your professor probably wants to see something more official, such as a peer-reviewed source published by a credible academic institution.
This is where databases come in. To use these, make sure you can access them through your school or university library website. Get help from your professor or librarian if need be.
Boolean search
Some students have a hard time finding things in databases because they’re not searching with specific parameters.
If you were writing a paper on graphic novels and all you type in is “graphic novels,” you would get so many results that it would be impossible to find what you were looking for. Instead, try using built-in Boolean parameters , such as AND, OR, and NOT.
4. Tone and Voice
When writing your essay, always think about the tone . Whether you’re trying to explain something, make an argument, etc., focus on the language you’re using. Are you trying to be forceful or accommodating? Pragmatic or creative?
Whatever the case, knowing how to reach out to those in your audience and win them over is a great skill to have.
Also focus on academic writing. When you write an essay, you’re creating something that’s a far cry from how most of our daily communications occur.
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An essay is not a Tweet nor a text, and your word choices matter .
Here’s a useful guide on writing in academic voice.
5. Starting an Essay
When you write an essay introduction , you have a few tasks to manage. You’re introducing the topic and summarizing the essay and its goals. You’re also usually writing a thesis, and you should always have a hook.
You write a summary to tell the reader what you’ll tell them . In a nutshell, your intro paragraph introduces the topic or issue you’re writing about and tells the reader how and why you’re writing about it.
While you can’t cover everything in a single intro paragraph (because you have to actually write the paper too), your summary should discuss the main points or major supporting ideas in your essay from beginning to end.
A thesis is your main argument wrapped up into one or two sentences, usually near the end of your intro paragraph. It should be specific in telling the reader exactly what your stance is and what main pieces of evidence or logic reinforce it.
There are different ways of writing a thesis for the various types of essays out there, so make sure yours fits!
Having a good hook prevents readers from seeing nothing but “boring blah, blah, blah” when they start reading your essay. A hook isn’t a cheesy clickbait headline. Its job is to intrigue readers so that they’ll want more.
Read How to Write Good Hook Sentences to get started with hooks.
6. Making an Argument
You can argue about almost any topic out there, but some are easier than others.
That said, your professor has probably read a million “Legalize Weed” papers, so being a little more creative or finding a more specific part of a big issue to argue will likely win you big points in the long run.
To start, do some initial research on a topic that interests you, and then look for an argument or “conversation” that’s happening within that topic.
Now, think of writing that argument essay like it’s a family conversation at Thanksgiving dinner. Every person at that table has an opinion about your topic, and you do too.
Writing your argument happens when you join the conversation and give your own ideas and opinions about the topic. You draw on others’ comments that support your ideas and debate those whose opinions are different from yours.
When you argue a topic, make sure you’re being smart and focused. Being overly simplistic won’t get you very far.
For example, let’s say you want to write an argument against GMOs. You wouldn’t just say that “GMOs are bad.”
Instead, you would want to refine your argument to say what—specifically—about GMOs are bad and why this is a problem. A smart and focused argument would look more like this:
GMOs pose a major threat to non-GMO crops due to their modified resistances. These modified crops can weaken and destroy neighboring non-GMO crops, thus financially burdening many farmers and decreasing biodiversity within the food chain.
7. Supporting an Argument
Just like Grandma’s roast, a good argument needs all the right ingredients to keep people coming back for more.
Ethos, logos, and pathos
Ethos is your credibility in your argument. If the reader doesn’t see you as an expert on your topic, then you need to show that your ideas are reinforced by credible voices—experts in the field of your topic.
Logos is your logical support. Make sure that any arguments you make to support your thesis don’t contain any logical fallacies. It’s a lot harder for readers to poke holes in your argument if the logic is rock-solid.
Pathos is your emotional support. Know your intended audience , and appeal to their interests and emotions. A good example of pathos is in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter From Birmingham Jail .
In the letter, King appeals to his audience by citing their common connection and goals as clergymen. Pathos brings humanity to the words you write, so make sure you have it in your paper.
Your argument needs a healthy balance of both logos and pathos . Have only facts, and your paper will seem boring and robotic. Have only an emotional appeal, and you won’t appear credible to the reader.
A good argument is never one-sided.
While you’ll be backing up your ideas with reputable sources from scholarly articles and the like, you also want to acknowledge the validity of another viewpoint.
Discuss another side of the argument, and show some examples from research that make sound points that go against your ideas. Just be sure to offer a strong rebuttal to continue supporting your side of the argument.
8. Concluding an Essay
This is where you tell them what you told them . Think about how you use summary in your introduction. You’ll do something similar when you end your essay in the conclusion .
The approach can be a bit different depending on the essay type, but for many of your essays, you’ll follow this formula for the conclusion:
- Topic sentence that evokes a “falling action” (e.g., “With the evidence against GMO use in sustainable modern farming, it is clear that another direction is required”).
- Review your strongest points of evidence or supporting logic, and briefly summarize them in several sentences.
- Restate your thesis. Not word for word—the language here should naturally flow from one sentence to the next. Don’t just copy and paste your thesis.
For essays that aren’t argumentative or persuasive, focus on leaving readers with a strong final impression—whatever message you want them to take away from your words.
9. Self-Edit
Never EVER blow through a single draft of an essay and turn it in to your professor. One of the best essay writing skills you can develop is the ability to review and edit your essay for mistakes in grammar, typos, and logic.
Here are some ways to go about the editing process.
Error check
You’ve already spent a lot of time with the words you’ve written, so it can seem like a daunting task to have to read them all over again.
So if you need to take a break, even a day or two, before you’re able to sit down and review your work, that’s okay. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to do so.
Read through each sentence carefully to catch any spelling errors that Word may have missed. Check for punctuation issues, especially commas and end punctuation. Do you have any incomplete thoughts, awkward phrases, or run-on sentences? Correct them as you go.
Sometimes it helps to read your paper aloud—it’s way easier to catch awkward sentences this way. If you find yourself stumbling midway through a sentence, then you probably need to rewrite it to make it clearer and more coherent.
Peer review
Have a good friend—one who likes to help—review your paper too. After all, two heads are better than one, and your friend may catch things that you missed.
Also ask your friend to be an objective voice and offer advice. If any parts of your essay seem weak or confusing, your friend can probably point this out to you so that you can fix these items before turning in your paper.
Develop a good relationship with your professors. You’ll have an easier time asking them questions about your work, and they’ll be more willing and able to help you if they have a better understanding of your needs up front.
Your campus probably also has a writing center or some sort of tutoring program that can help get you on the right track.
Check to see if there are any free services for students. Usually, these tutors won’t edit your paper for you, but they can help point out mistakes and guide you toward success.
Kibin can do all of the above, of course! If you need your paper edited or if you need some advice on how to make it stronger overall, Kibin editors have got your back .
10. Learn to Accept (and Improve From) Failure
Some of the most heart-sinking moments in a college student’s life come from seeing that giant “D” or “F” scribbled in red pen at the top of an essay that took a lot of time and hard work to finish.
And while it’s important to try your best, don’t let a failed essay get you down. Instead, carefully review your professor’s comments and marks. They’re meant to help you improve.
No student is perfect—we all start somewhere.
And while improving your writing may seem like an uphill climb, every small step toward improvement is a step in the right direction. If anything is unclear, keep your cool, and ask to meet with your professor during office hours to go over your work.
You’ll be really glad you did.
Few students are “bad at English.” Instead, you may have some trouble with commas or tone or research, but these are all fixable things. Keep practicing your essay writing skills, and you will get better.
Get help from friends or professionals when you’re stuck, and enjoy small accomplishments along the way. Failure is, after all, just the first step toward your success.
Want some more inspiration for overcoming failure? Check out this blog post .
The Takeaway
Writing at the college level can be a tricky process even for the smartest, most confident of us. But now you know all about these 10 really important essay writing skills, so you’ll be in much better shape the next time you sit down at the keyboard.
Be sure to check out other blogs and resources linked in this post—they’ll help you prepare for the various types of writing you’ll be doing throughout your college career.
And don’t forget that Kibin is here to help make those essays shine .
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .
About the Author
Ryan G. has an MFA in Fiction Writing from a literature-based program. He teaches English composition courses, tutors a diverse student body in a writing center, and designs online learning modules for comp and business writing. He is also a Kibin editor .
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Essay and report writing skills
Course description
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Writing reports and assignments can be a daunting prospect. Learn how to interpret questions and how to plan, structure and write your assignment or report. This free course, Essay and report writing skills, is designed to help you develop the skills you need to write effectively for academic purposes.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand what writing an assignment involves
- identify strengths and weaknesses
- understand the functions of essays and reports
- demonstrate writing skills.
First Published: 10/08/2012
Updated: 26/04/2019
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How to Improve Essay Writing Skills
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If you've been told time and time again that you express great ideas in your essay writing but your writing needs polishing, you aren't alone. The following tips will help improve your writing skills and turn you into a great writer.
Avoid repetition: It's an essay killer
Though it may seem difficult when writing a five-page term paper on a single idea or character, avoiding repetition is essential to improving your writing skills. When you use the same words ad nauseam, your reader views it as a sign of laziness. Here are three tactics that will help eliminate wordiness and eradicate repetitive words and phrases:
- The simplest approach to improving your writing skills is to eliminate the repetitive word or phrase from your essay.
- If you feel you need to keep the idea, replace the word or phrase with something similar. This may mean substituting a pronoun for a proper name, such as he instead of George; or it may mean searching for an alternative. Use a thesaurus only to remind you of words you already know but have temporarily forgotten. Don't select unfamiliar words that merely sound good; this risky path often leads to the use of words with different underlying meanings, which ultimately can hurt you more than the original repetition.
- The last of our techniques for improving your writing skills is more difficult, but usually the most effective. Begin by crossing out the offending repetition. Next, circle key words in the sentence (skip words such as a, of, while, it, etc.). Now craft a new sentence that retains the circled words but discards the repeat ones. This may require you to add more ideas to round out the thought, but our term paper editors have found that expanding on your new sentence in this manner will improve your paper.
Active voice: Breathe life into your essay writing
In order to improve writing skills, we encourage students to write in the active voice . For those of you who have misplaced your grade school grammar book, this means that the subject of the sentence performs the action; it does not receive the action. Compare the following examples:
- Tom tossed the ball (active)
- The ball was tossed by Tom (passive)
To find the dreaded passive voice, look for a "to be" verb (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been) followed by a past participle (often a verb ending with -ed). Ask yourself who is performing the action (the verb). Move that person or subject in front of the verb and make the necessary grammatical changes.
Trite phrases: Banish the banal
In order to improve your writing skills, force yourself to delete all idioms and clichés. Your reader wants original thoughts, not processed or canned sentiments. Yes, this means you must replace those mundane words with something clever of your own. Reduce—perhaps to zero—the number of similes and metaphors, particularly if they are common ones.
There may be instances in which you have devised the perfect comparison, one that highlights the essence of your argument, but chances are that an experienced reader won't be as impressed with your creativity as you are. While certain types of writing (advertising, speeches, etc.) may call for this, such phrases are anathema in formal writing. Eliminate these to improve your writing skills.
Literary present: Just do it
When writing about literature, you must write in the literary present. Your natural inclination will be to write:
The river symbolized freedom and enlightenment for Huckleberry Finn.
But the literary present demands that you write:
The river symbolizes freedom and enlightenment for Huckleberry Finn.
A key tip to improving your writing skills is that everything should be in the present tense. It doesn't matter that you read the book last week, or that the author wrote it a century ago. Write about the characters and events as though they exist in the here and now. This is one of those conventions that is just easier to accept than to question.
Mechanics: Sweating the small stuff is important when improving your writing skills
Always run a spell check. It only takes a moment, and it will save you the embarrassment of turning in an analysis of Julius Caesar in which you consistently misspell Caesar. Pay attention to the suggested replacements when editing your essay, however, as these canned wizards do not always understand your meaning. Even Bill Gates can't turn "it" into "in" or "you're" into "your" for you, so you also need to comb through the paper carefully with your own eyes to find every error before handing it in. Brilliant essays receive lower grades if simple mistakes are left unchanged.
Ask for a second opinion
If you're thinking that this seems like a lot to remember, you're right. But focusing on one or two areas at a time will help you steadily improve your writing skills.
Image source: condesign/Pixabay.com
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"The Complete Beginner's Guide to Academic Writing"
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7 Essay Writing Skills All Writers Need To Master
Whether for college or an examination, knowing how to write an essay is important. Read our guide to learn our top seven essay writing skills.
Essay writing is an important skill to have when going to college. This common writing assignment allows you to sort ideas and information into logical conclusions rather than simply memorizing and spitting out facts. Writing essays is also essential for many standardized tests, including college entrance exams and immigration testing. Therefore, knowing what makes a good essay and how to write one well is vital to your academic success. Essays have three main parts. These are:
- Introductory paragraph
- Body of the essay
- Concluding paragraph
Knowing this structure is just the first part of writing effective essays. As you learn to write this paper, consider building additional essay writing skills to help. Here are seven that will come in handy as you build your writing abilities for college and beyond.
1. Develop Your Brainstorming Abilities
2. try out new researching skills, 3. practice proper organization, 4. use key analytic skills, 5. show good mechanics, 6. expand your vocabulary knowledge, 7. enhance your proofreading and editing skills, faq about essay writing skills.
Writing a great essay starts long before you put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. It starts the minute you start thinking about your essay question. The question or topic you write on may come from your professor, or you may have the freedom to choose for yourself. If you have the freedom to choose, write down a list of topics that interest the subject area you need to write on. This is your first brainstorming step. Next, you need to brainstorm the answer to the question or argument of your essay. You can try many different brainstorming techniques for this part of the process. Some popular ones include:
- Mind Mapping – A mind map starts with your main essay topic or idea in the middle. From that point, you draw lines and boxes or bubbles that contain your thoughts on the topic. Then, you add additional branches if a new thought connects to one of those.
- Rapid Ideation – You set a time limit for this brainstorming technique and write down as many ideas as possible on your topic. After the time is up, you can look at your ideas and see which ones will work to make a winning essay.
- Bullet Lists – This technique is quite simple. Spend a few moments writing bullet lists of words, phrases, or ideas that go with your main topic. From those, pull out ideas to build your outline and essay.
- Journalistic Questions – Like a journalist, ask who, what, when, where, why, and how, and jot down your ideas and answers. Use this as the basis of your essay.
The more you learn to brainstorm, the better your final draft of your essay will be because you will have the opportunity to dig into your ideas before committing them to paper. Use the information from your brainstorming session to create a tentative outline, which you will fill in as you do your research.
Research is the key to writing a good essay. You have to find information to write your essay, no matter what type of essay you have to write. Research skills should involve both digital and non-digital content. If you have a lot of skills in researching online, that’s great, but you’ll also need to be able to use databases and libraries to find additional research materials.
As you learn to research, you will need to distinguish between a sound source and a poor one, especially if you are focusing on academic writing. Many websites, like Wikipedia, are user-generated, unreliable content. Therefore, you must be able to decipher what should be used as a source for your academic essay and what should not. Finding sources is the first part, but you will need to learn how to organize those sources so you can draw from them to verify your thesis statement. When you find a source, read through it to pick the important parts supporting your essay topic. Then, write the author’s ideas down with clear guidance to the original reference.
Keeping organized research will help you draft your essay and build your references list. Many writers will use notecards that they can use to organize their ideas and keep those ideas accessible during the writing part.
Another skill set you need to write a good essay is organizational skills. You need to know how to organize an essay to make sense to the reader and organize your reference list so readers can find the sources you used. Organization starts with following the proper essay structure.
In English, essays start with an introductory paragraph. The introduction puts forth the problem or argument you will discuss in your essay. You may use facts and statistics to show why you are writing your argument or performing your research. This grabs the audience’s attention. This first paragraph ends with a thesis statement, your basic premise, or your argument. Next comes the body paragraphs. Each body paragraph will cover one main point from your outline or one main support for your argument. It should start with a topic sentence and have additional sentences that support that main point. Traditionally, an essay will have three supportive points and three body paragraphs.
Finally, an essay ends with a conclusion paragraph. The concluding paragraph will restate the essay’s main points and paraphrase the main argument or thesis. It draws all of the body paragraphs together into one concluding thought. That said, a well-written conclusion will not simply restate everything you have already said. Instead, it will bring a new, concluding thought to the passage.
For example, if your essay is research-based and uses original research or experiments you performed, then use your conclusion to show the implications of that research. If the essay is an argumentative essay, use the conclusion to draw the reader to your point of view by reiterating your points. Finally, show how the essay topic connects to the big picture of the niche you are writing about if you can.
To write a high school or college essay well, you not only have to be able to research, but you also have to be able to analyze the information you discover in your research. If you are not pulling your thoughts and ideas from your research, you could be guilty of plagiarism, which is a severe offense. Remember, simply paraphrasing is not enough to avoid this blunder. You have to use your own words, properly reference your sources, and make conclusions from your references.
To develop your analytic skills, practice reading someone’s work, then drawing your conclusion from it. Then, think beyond what the writer says and consider what they might mean. Practice analyzing everything you read. Then, put your analytic skills to work in your writing to draw solid conclusions and ideas.
Proper grammar is important in an essay, but mechanics go beyond grammar rules alone. Mechanics also covers tone and writing style. You need to ensure that your style and mechanics fit your audience. While there are many parts of mechanics when it comes to writing, some things you should focus on include:
- Active voice : Write in the active voice, not the passive voice. Active voice occurs when the sentence’s subject does the sentence’s action. In a sentence that uses the passive voice, the item doing the action is not the subject and may.
- Sentence structure: Learn how to write effective sentences with a subject, verb, and object. Learn how and when to use modifiers to emphasize the topics in the sentences without overdoing them.
- Subject/Verb Agreement: Make sure all subjects and verbs agree in number. Plural subjects require plural verb conjugations, and singular subjects require singular verb conjugations.
- Transitions: Transitions are words used between sentences and paragraphs to help the essay flow. For example, words like “therefore” and “in light of that” can guide the reader to your next point. Learn to use these well as you write.
- Writing style: Use the proper writing style and voice for your audience. Some essays require a more formal tone for academic settings, while others can take a more casual approach for informal settings. Being able to vary your tone to fit the situation indicates that you have good, solid writing skills.
A great essay writer will have the vocabulary necessary to convey ideas in an easy-to-read but easy-to-understand format. The best way to build your vocabulary is not by sitting down with a list of words to memorize but rather through reading. Reading works especially works from the world of higher education, will help you grow your vocabulary. Also, studying other essay writers’ work in your niche can help you build your vocabulary.
You can also use your thesaurus to increase the vocabulary you use in your essay. For example, if you’re over-using any particular word, look it up in the thesaurus to find a synonym that would make sense as a replacement.
Before you submit an essay to your teacher or publisher, you must proofread it. No writer should ever submit their first draft of any work, even something that seems simple, like an essay. Proofreading involves rereading and changing the essay so that it reads more clearly and perfectly explains your stance on the topic. Try to read it as if you are someone who knows nothing about the topic unless your audience is made up of people who know the topic area well. As you proofread, check for:
- Grammar and spelling errors
- Syntax errors
- Confusing or wordy sentences
- Poor essay structure
- Missing punctuation
Your final draft should be free from these common errors. It should also clearly convey your ideas and points so the reader can quickly grasp them. Then, edit and rewrite it several times until you reach this goal.
How can I improve my essay writing skills for IELTS?
Essay writing is an important part of the IELTS. If you are taking the International English Language Testing System exam, consider these essay writing tips: 1. Stay within the word count. 2. Know what the task asks you to write by carefully reading the instructions. 3. Logically organize ideas with an introduction, body, and conclusion. 4. Use a style appropriate to the type of writing you are asked to do on the exam. 5. Build strong grammar fundamentals before taking the exam.
Why do students need to improve their essay writing skills?
Essay writing is an important part of the modern education world. It not only shows up in high school but also in college. A well-written essay shows the reader that you know how to take your ideas and break them down into a logical format. In addition, it gives you a platform to build arguments and encourage others to understand your point of view.
How can I improve my essay writing skills for GRE?
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aims to show if someone has the analytical writing, mathematics, and vocabulary skills to succeed in graduate or professional school. To improve your essay writing, if you need to take the GRE, consider these writing tips: 1. Practice your essay writing before the exam. 2. Choose a solid stance. 3. Build your essay around relevant but real-world examples. 4. Use declarative sentences to make your point strong. 5. Avoid referencing yourself as the writer. 6. Use your conclusion to refute your opposition.
For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .
If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .
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How to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills: Tips for Beginners
Writing essays can be a challenging task, especially for beginners. However, it is an essential skill that can help you succeed academically and professionally.
Whether you’re a student or a professional, these tips can help you improve your essay writing skills and produce high-quality essays.
1. Understand the prompt
One of the most important aspects of essay on sale is understanding the prompt. Make sure you read the prompt carefully and highlight key words and phrases. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your essay addresses the prompt. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the prompt, ask your instructor or professor for clarification.
2. Develop a thesis statement
Once you understand the prompt, develop a clear and concise thesis statement. This is the main point or argument of your essay and should be stated in the introduction. A strong thesis statement helps guide the rest of your essay and gives it direction.
3. Create an outline
Before you start writing your essay, create an outline. This can help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay is well-structured. The outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that supports your thesis statement.
4. Use clear and concise language
One of the most important aspects of essay writing is using clear and concise language. Avoid using complex words or phrases that may confuse the reader. Use short, simple sentences and paragraphs to make your writing easier to understand. Remember, the goal is to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively.
5. Support your argument with evidence
To make your essay more persuasive, support your argument with evidence. This could include facts, statistics, examples, or quotations from experts. Make sure the evidence you use is relevant and supports your thesis statement.
6. Edit and revise
After you’ve finished writing your essay, take the time to edit and revise it. Look for spelling and grammar errors, as well as areas where you could clarify your ideas or make your writing more concise. Ask someone else to read your essay as well and provide feedback. This can help you catch mistakes and improve the quality of your writing.
7. Read and practice
One of the best ways to improve your essay writing skills is to read and practice. Read articles, essays, and books on a variety of topics to expand your knowledge and vocabulary. Practice writing essays on different topics to hone your skills and develop your own writing style.
8. Seek feedback
Don’t be afraid to seek feedback on your writing. This can help you identify areas where you need to improve and get constructive criticism on your writing. Ask your instructor, professor, or a writing tutor to review your essay and provide feedback.
9. Use online resources
There are many online resources available to help you improve your essay writing skills. These could include grammar checkers, writing guides, and online writing communities. Take advantage of these resources to get tips and advice on how to improve your writing.
It’s important to note that buying essays on sale is not an ethical or effective way to improve your essay writing skills. Writing essays yourself is the best way to practice and develop your skills. Additionally, buying essays can result in serious consequences, including plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
In conclusion, improving your essay writing skills takes time, effort, and practice. By following these tips, you can improve the quality of your writing and produce high-quality essays. Remember to understand the prompt, develop a clear thesis statement, use clear and concise language, support your argument with evidence, edit and revise your essay, read and practice, seek feedback, and use online resources. By incorporating these strategies into your writing routine, you can become a more confident and skilled essay writer.
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What is Essay Writing Skills?
Essay writing skills is a skill-set that assists in creating a valuable piece of a written work. This skill-set consists of such skills as brainstorming new ideas, finding and researching information, structuring the essay, writing effective introduction, and conclusion paragraphs. Let’s pay attention to the main elements of this skill-set and how to develop them.
1. Understanding the task
The very first step in writing a good academic essay is making sure that you understand the task in the correct way. Carefully read the instruction and till everything is clear. If there are some vague moments, take your time to check everything up with your professor. If writing essays is your hobby, pay some attention to whether the concept of your future essay is interesting and worth other people’s attention.
2. Brainstorming new ideas
The second step on your way to writing an awe-thrilling essay is to be able to brainstorm new ideas. It is not so difficult to do:
– focus on quantity and avoid criticism
In the matter of brainstorming, the main task is to generate more and more ideas even if they seem to be unreal or even crazy;
– combine and improve ideas
once you have generated a list of different ideas, make sure to consider changing them by improving, combining, and transforming.
3. Do some research for your essay
Once you have generated enough ideas, focus on finding more information on some particular aspects that require further research. To get only credible and trustworthy information, use such educational platforms and online library databases like Google Scholar, Airtable.com, JSTOR Home, PubMed, Science Directory, etc. Pay attention to the creation of in-text citation, reference list, or bibliography. If you do not do it or take information from the original source without changing it, you may be accused of plagiarism.
Check the requirements and guidelines of the following formats:
1. The American Psychological Association (APA) – use the surname of the author, the year– (Brown, 2009).
2. Modern Language Association (MLA) – use the surname of the author and the page number (Brown, p. 23).
3. Chicago Manual Style (CMS) – the in-text citation is presented in the form of notes: John Brown, New York Times ( New York: Penguin Press, 2016).
The most common pitfall of citing is that information that is not cited or adequately cited can come across as plagiarism. Therefore, if you have taken some information from external sources, make sure to indicate where the evidence comes from. Another downfall is falling short of the mark to adequately reference the author’s text. If you do not want to spend your precious time on learning all these academic style particularities, you may hire professional paper writers for your further academic success.
4. Organizing your thoughts
When you have already planned the essay, took time to understand the essay question, gathered the required information, check the guidelines on the required academic styles, it is high time to organize your thoughts for further development of your ideas.
– Make everything fit into the existing framework of introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
– in your introduction, it is required to start an essay with a persuasive thesis statement that you can later support with adequate and fact-driven arguments. Start an essay with an interesting fact or quote. In Aristotle’s rhetorical approach, this is called logos or the argument from reason.
– in your body paragraph, pay attention to the way you are presenting information to the reader mention importing findings, add your analysis and creative ideas.
– in the conclusion, sum all the information you mentioned in the body paragraph and make sure that it correlates with the thesis statement mentioned in the introduction.
5. Important sources that may come in handy in your work
1. Grammarly is a source that helps you to check your writing according to the basic grammar and nonfunctional rules, stylistic, plagiarism, etc.
2. Owler is a website that gives instruction about writing accordingly to the existing formats.
3. Citethisforme – is a platform that is incredibly useful for generating the reference list and creating in-text citations.
4. Evernote – is a platform that gives you an opportunity to gather all the important ideas and collect them in the smartest way to later use in new essays.
5. Storybird – is a tool that gives you the ability to get readers’ feedback on your essays and enroll in some online writing courses.
As we can see, writing an essay is not so difficult when you have an understanding of what is expected and what should be done to make the process start. Remember that writing a good essay means the presence of such essential elements as the ability to generate ideas and concepts and present strong arguments, research skills, and critical thinking.
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How to enhance your essay writing skills.
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Wha comma checker t is writing an essay? It is, in fact, among the most crucial aspects of the academic writing process. An essay is a formal written piece that outlines the author’s arguments. However, the definition can be quite vague and could include a letter, essay, newspaper, short article or even a book. Essays have been traditionally been classified as informal or academic. Informal topics are usually shorter in length. The primary purpose of an essay is to examine the subject in depth. There is little space to express personal opinions.
Writing essays on academic topics is a different issue. The essays they write are often extremely long and complex and are often motivated by other factors. The essay’s focus is to critically examine and interpret the literature to come to a conclusion. The thesis statement is among the most well-known kinds of essays in this context. Because it is the main point of an essay, the thesis statement is crucial. It should be clear and clear.
If you’re familiar with the basics of writing, it is easy to follow the steps of essay writing. The ability to write well-organized essays is key to writing effective essays. This requires good grammar spelling, sentence formatting, spelling and punctuation errors that are correct. It takes some effort and perseverance to become an expert in essay writing, but with the right instruction and practice, you too can become an expert in essay writing. Let’s take a look at these steps.
First, you need to understand the meaning of essay writing. Essay writing normally involves writing on a particular topic with a view to obtaining feedback. Therefore, the presentation of the information to the readers is essential. A clear understanding of the nature of writing essays and the purpose of it is essential to write efficient, well-formatted, and concise essays that will be a great success as they are read by the people involved.
The second thing to do is use innovative ideas and the correct language to support your arguments. Many people who intend to write essays need to make time to investigate and research the subject they will write about. The best way to do this is to simply master the various styles of writing, and all the rules that go along with every style and the various structures used in various types of writing. Although this may seem daunting, if you are determined, it is possible to succeed.
You also need to plan the writing assignments. This means you need to determine the part of writing you’re most comfortable with and have the most importance. It free spell checker is essential to create a rough draft before you begin writing anything. You should not be afraid to jot down your thoughts on a napkin or a piece of paper whenever you encounter them. A clear outline to refer to during your writing process is among the most crucial aspects of being successful at writing essays.
After you’ve completed a rough draft, and are confident that your information is correct, you are able to begin writing the main sections. Each section should be written in a specific manner to ensure that your argument can be supported by solid writing and proper grammar. To improve your writing skills it is recommended to practice writing simple assignments until you have the basics mastered.
A lack of a strong argument or a compelling argument is among the main reasons people fail to write essays. In order to write convincing essays, it is crucial to decide beforehand what type of argument you would like to present. After that, you need to support it with facts and figures. This will help you gain a thorough knowledge of the matter. When writing a persuasive essay, you shouldn’t be afraid to make use of statistics, anecdotal evidence, personal experience, and even your own words if you think they will help support your argument. By developing an understanding of the types of evidence you need to use, you will increase your capacity to become a better essayist.
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We've all been there: the task is to write an engaging and knowledgeable essay, but the page is staring back, dauntingly empty. Being aware of the different skills that go into writing a good essay can make tackling this first step much easier and help you improve your writing once you get going. So, if you're not sure where to start, don't worry! We will explore tips and tricks to help you develop the skills you need to write an essay that is clear, informative, and will impress your reader.
Essay writing skills: examples
When writing an essay, there are different elements and skills to consider. For example:
The essay format - this refers to the physical appearance of your essay. How will it be arranged on the page?
The essay content - this refers to what you will write. What will your essay be about and what points will you make?
Essay writing skills - this refers to the ability to turn your ideas into words. How will you convey your thoughts and argument to the reader in a clear, concise way?
Now, let's explore these in more detail!
Essay writing skills: format example
It is important to understand the basic format of an essay. This way, you will be able to plan your content around the basic format of an essay: the introduction , main body , and conclusion .
The introduction is the opening paragraph of your essay. It tells the reader about the topic you are writing about and briefly states the main points you will expand on throughout the main body of your essay. An introduction usually contains:
- A hook: a memorable sentence to draw your reader in and give them something to think about.
- Background information: contextual information that gives your reader a better understanding of the topic you are exploring in your essay.
- Essay brief and outline of main points: this tells the reader what your essay is about and the things you will be writing about throughout the main body of the essay.
Other words for 'essay brief' that you may be familiar with include 'thesis' or 'main argument'.
The main body is split into different paragraphs. This is where you expand on your ideas or your argument to show the reader that you are able to analyse and interpret information effectively while also forming your own opinion on the topic. A good structure to follow when writing the main body paragraph is PEE. This stands for: point, evidence, explain:
- Point: a statement relating to your essay brief.
- Evidence: back up your point with examples (this is where your research comes in handy!). This can be in the form of a quote or paraphrase, both of which must be properly cited.
- Explain: analyse your evidence; go into detail about what it shows and how it relates to your topic.
The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay. It summarises the main points made throughout your essay and gives the reader something to think about when bringing the essay to a close. A conclusion usually does these three things:
- Reviews the main point of your essay brief.
- Summarises the main points of your argument.
- Offers a recommendation/improvement/question.
Critical Thinking Skills in Essay Writing
In the main body of your essay, it's your chance to show off your critical thinking skills and let the reader know how knowledgeable you are about your essay topic !
But, what is critical thinking ? Let's begin by looking at the meaning:
- Critical thinking refers to the process of analysing and evaluating information in a skilful way.
Critical thinking helps to strengthen your point of view and enhance the way you express your ideas. It also helps you to reflect on your own opinion and also to question the views of others. In short, critical thinking involves not just taking things at face value.
Critical thinking also enables you to read between the lines, i.e., by considering meanings that may not be initially obvious. When thinking critically, you should consider the following:
- What does the evidence suggest or imply?
- Are there any positive or negative connotations?
- Do I agree or disagree with other points of view?
- What is my own opinion on the topic?
- Who wrote the evidence; are they biased?
- Is there anything the researcher/writer missed or didn't acknowledge?
- Is the research credible and reliable?
Improve your English Essay Writing Skills
We will now look at a few things you can do to help improve your English essay writing skills. It is important to note that these are simply suggestions; everyone writes in different ways and will find different things helpful!
Steps to writing an essay
There are different steps you can take before, during, and after writing an essay to ensure that your thoughts are well organised and your work is clear.
Before writing an essay, it can be very helpful to write down your initial ideas to help you plan out what you want to focus on in your writing.
Planning for an essay can be done in various ways. You could organise your thoughts by creating a mind map like the one shown above, for example, or you could write a list.
Whichever way is best for you, you should begin by focusing on your essay brief or question. It is important to have a good understanding of the main purpose of your essay or the question you will be answering. This will make it easier to plan out the rest of the writing. It may be useful to highlight any keywords in the brief/question so that you know what to focus on when writing.
You could highlight instruction verbs as these can help you to understand exactly what the question is asking you to do. Examples include:
When planning your essay, you should also ask yourself the following questions:
What is the brief/question telling me to do?
Do I understand the purpose of my essay?
Do I have to argue for or against something?
Can I develop this in the main body of my essay?
You could separate your plan into different sections to help determine the main points you will make in each paragraph:
Essay brief/question: Explore the ways slang can either have a positive or negative impact on teenagers.
- Body paragraph 1 : helps to build a sense of community and belonging
- Body paragraph 2 : encourages independence away from older generations
- Body paragraph 3 : (counter argument) teens could be perceived as lazy and too informal
Now you've finished your plan, it's time to look at each section of your essay in more detail and start writing.
When stating the brief in your introduction , consider the following questions:
What is my essay about?
What is the purpose of this essay?
When outlining the main points and/or argument you will make in your introduction, consider the following questions:
Am I arguing for or against something?
What am I trying to prove to the reader?
What key points will I further expand on in the body of my essay?
Am I going to be discussing/analysing any theories?
During the writing of the main body of your essay, you should ensure that your ideas are clear and flow well. A good way to do this is to link your writing back to the brief . Linking back to the brief is important to show that you understand it fully and your argument clearly relates to it.
If you are answering the question:
'Do you agree or disagree that the internet has positively impacted communication?'
You could link your paragraph back to the question by writing:
'This shows that the internet has/has not (depending on your argument) positively impacted communication because…'
Linking can also be done between paragraphs – think of your paragraphs like a chain!
You could link the final idea of one paragraph to the next idea of the following paragraph. This will help to create a coherent flow and will ensure that all of your ideas relate to one another.
Another way to make sure your ideas are clear is to make sure your vocabulary is not too complicated. Although you may think that advanced vocabulary is more impressive, it is often unnecessary! Complicated language may cause confusion between you and the reader, as they may not understand the meaning of the words and could get distracted from the main purpose of your essay.
Because of this, it is better to stick to vocabulary that you are familiar with, as this will ensure your writing is concise and your main points are easier to understand for the reader.
When writing your conclusion , you could consider the following questions:
What is the main message of my essay?
What ideas did I raise in the main body of my essay?
What is my overall opinion of the topic?
How did I contribute to the study of my topic?
After you have finished writing, you should allow yourself time to proofread your work to ensure that you have not made any obvious mistakes such as spelling or grammar errors.
Put your proofreading abilities to the test! Can you spot the errors in the following essay writing example?
It could be argued that the internet has had a positive impact on communication one reeson for this is ability to contact people quickly. Social media platforms such as facebook and instagram have enabled people to to engage in instant messaging, which lets people eficiently send and receive messages at a fast speed.
Below is the correct version of the text. The parts that have been corrected are highlighted:
It could be argued that the internet has had a positive impact on communication . One reason for this is the ability to contact people quickly. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have enabled people to engage in instant messaging, which lets people efficiently send and receive messages at a fast speed.
Essay Writing Skills - Key Takeaways
- An essay usually follows the following format: introduction , main body, and conclusion .
- Before writing an essay, it is useful to create a plan, e.g., with a mind map or list.
- To make your essay flow well, make sure to link back to the question and provide connections between paragraphs.
- To ensure your ideas are clear, don't use vocabulary that is too complex.
- After writing, proofread your work to check for mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Essay Writing Skills
--> how to write an essay.
To write an essay, you should first be aware of the essay format: introduction, main body, and conclusion. The introduction tells the reader about your essay brief and the main points you will make. The main body expands on your main points. It allows you to analyse information, develop an argument, and form your own opinion. The conclusion summarises your essay brief and the main points of your argument.
--> What is an essay?
An essay is a piece of writing that explores a topic by evaluating ideas, analysing evidence, and building an argument.
--> How to improve essay writing skills?
There are different steps you could take to improve your essay writing skills. For example:
- Plan out your argument before writing your essay.
- Link your writing back to your essay brief (this ensures your writing will flow well and your ideas will be clear to follow).
- Don't use vocabulary that is too complex (stick to what you know!).
- Proofread your work and change spelling/grammar errors.
--> What are the 5 writing skills?
5 good skills to have when writing an essay are as follows:
- Planning out and researching your topic well
- Having a strong argument and purpose
- Linking your writing back to the brief
- Using critical thinking
- Editing spelling and grammar mistakes
--> What are the 5 parts of an essay?
Typically, the 5 parts of an essay are as follows:
- Main body paragraph 1
- Main body paragraph 2
- Main body paragraph 3
(This may differ depending on the type of essay or the word count).
Final Essay Writing Skills Quiz
What does PEE stand for?
Show answer
Point, evidence, explain.
Show question
What is a point?
A statement relating to the question you are answering.
What is evidence?
Examples used to back up your point.
What does 'explain' refer to?
Going into detail about how your quote backs up your point and considering what it suggests/implies.
Fill in the blank:
You should ____ your explanation back to the question.
A quote should be long.
True or false?
Try to keep quotes short and succinct!
What is a conclusion?
An ending paragraph that brings an essay to a close.
What comes before a conclusion?
The main body of the essay.
What is an essay brief?
The main idea of the essay.
You should directly repeat ideas from the rest of your essay in your conclusion.
You shouldn't introduce new ideas in a conclusion.
Directly repeating ideas can be _____ for the reader.
Directly repeating ideas takes away from the main _____ of your essay.
A conclusion should be around __% of your total word count.
A conclusion ______ your argument.
A. develops
B. disproves C. summarises
C. summarises
A conclusion _____ your essay brief.
C. disproves
What is an introduction?
An opening paragraph that states the purpose and outlines the main objectives of your work.
What is an introduction followed by?
Main body and conclusion
What is a hook?
A memorable opening line that draws the reader in and intrigues them.
A hook can be written in a variety of ways. What are they?
Statement, question, quotation, fact/statistic
What does background information do?
Provide the reader with context.
Fill in the blanks:
Background information allows the reader to gain more of an ________ of the _____ you are exploring.
understanding
What does an essay brief refer to?
The main idea of your essay.
Outlining the main goal of your argument lets the reader know what?
What to expect in the body of the essay.
Your introduction should be long.
Your introduction should be brief and concise, not too long.
An introduction should be around __% of your overall word count.
What is a transcription?
A transcription is a written or printed version of something.
What needs doing before you can transcribe spoken data?
You first need an either audio or audio-visual recording of speech before you can transcribe it.
What needs to be considered before recording speech to use as data?
Ethics and observer's paradox.
How do ethics affect data collection for transcription?
You need to have the speakers' permission before you record their speech.
Why is observer's paradox a problem when collecting spoken data?
When you're recording people speaking, you're usually wanting natural speech. This is very difficult to get when the speakers know they're being recorded or listened to.
How can you overcome observer's paradox when collecting spoken data for transcription?
You can ask permission to record someone's speech in advance and then record when they aren't aware, then ask permission again after to check you can use that recording as data.
You could also start the recording and let the speakers chat for a period of time before selecting a section of recording to use as data, so they're more likely to have relaxed and be speaking more naturally.
What should be at the beginning of a transcript?
At the beginning of a transcript, there should be a couple of sentences giving some contextual information regarding the interaction. This should include who the speakers are, what their relation to each other, what they're doing, and any social factors such as age, gender or class that might be relevant to your research.
What should each line of a transcript have?
Each line of a transcript should be numbered. In some cases of longer transcripts, it could be that every fifth or tenth line is numbered. This is so you can clearly reference a specific line of the transcript in your analysis.
What features of speech can be shown in a transcript?
- False starts
- Micro-pauses
- Interruptions
- Simultaneous Speech
What's the difference between a micro-pause and a pause?
- A micro-pause is a tenth of a second long and signified by (.)
- A pause is any pause in speech longer than a tenth of a second and is represented by a number (of seconds) such as (0.6) or (4)
What can you use to show specific speech sounds in transcriptions?
You can use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols to show specific speech sounds.
How do you discuss a short quote from a transcript?
The first time you introduce a the transcript, give the year and a bit of context. Then use quote marks around your quote and give the line number.
How do you give a long quote from a transcript?
You introduce the extract and then quote the extract as a separate paragraph after. Then discuss the quote in another separate paragraph below.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is when you take someone else's work and try to pass it off as your own.
In what order are reference lists typically in?
Alphabetical order.
When do you not need to reference?
You don't need to reference when
You are drawing your own conclusions.
You are sharing your own original thoughts, ideas, or personal experiences.
You writing up the results of your research.
When do you need to reference?
Anytime you are using someone else's ideas, findings, work etc.
What punctuation is needed for direct quotes?
Quotation marks.
If you are using a direct quote, what information do you need to provide in-text?
The author's surname, the publication date, and the page number(s).
True or false, you should use quotation marks when paraphrasing?
What does the Latin term 'et al.' mean?
And others.
In the reference list, which part of the reference should be italicised?
The title of the place where the work was published i.e. the title of the book or the title of the journal article.
What is a DOI?
DOI stands for Digital Object Identifiers. They work as direct links to online journal articles.
PEE paragraphs can sometimes be referred to as PEEL paragraphs. What does the 'L' stand for?
- Global English
- Language Acquisition
- Sociolinguistics
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Essay and dissertation writing skills
Planning your essay
Writing your introduction
Structuring your essay
- Writing essays in science subjects
- Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
- Writing extended essays and dissertations
- Planning your dissertation writing time
Structuring your dissertation
- Top tips for writing longer pieces of work
Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations
University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).
A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions.
You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:
Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.
However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:
Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principle tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’
Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:
The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.
- Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
- References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline.
Essay writing in science subjects
If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:
A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.
Short videos to support your essay writing skills
There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:
- Approaching different types of essay questions
- Structuring your essay
- Writing an introduction
- Making use of evidence in your essay writing
- Writing your conclusion
Extended essays and dissertations
Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.
Planning your time effectively
Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.
Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.
The structure of extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:
- The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
- Explanation of the focus of your work.
- Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
- List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.
The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.
The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources.
Tips on writing longer pieces of work
Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.
For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work .
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Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
Essay Writing
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.
This resource begins with a general description of essay writing and moves to a discussion of common essay genres students may encounter across the curriculum. The four genres of essays (description, narration, exposition, and argumentation) are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres, also known as the modes of discourse, have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these genres and students’ need to understand and produce these types of essays. We hope these resources will help.
The essay is a commonly assigned form of writing that every student will encounter while in academia. Therefore, it is wise for the student to become capable and comfortable with this type of writing early on in her training.
Essays can be a rewarding and challenging type of writing and are often assigned either to be done in class, which requires previous planning and practice (and a bit of creativity) on the part of the student, or as homework, which likewise demands a certain amount of preparation. Many poorly crafted essays have been produced on account of a lack of preparation and confidence. However, students can avoid the discomfort often associated with essay writing by understanding some common genres.
Before delving into its various genres, let’s begin with a basic definition of the essay.
What is an essay?
Though the word essay has come to be understood as a type of writing in Modern English, its origins provide us with some useful insights. The word comes into the English language through the French influence on Middle English; tracing it back further, we find that the French form of the word comes from the Latin verb exigere , which means "to examine, test, or (literally) to drive out." Through the excavation of this ancient word, we are able to unearth the essence of the academic essay: to encourage students to test or examine their ideas concerning a particular topic.
Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require the student to hone a number of skills such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As is evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by the student who strives to succeed at essay writing.
The purpose of an essay is to encourage students to develop ideas and concepts in their writing with the direction of little more than their own thoughts (it may be helpful to view the essay as the converse of a research paper). Therefore, essays are (by nature) concise and require clarity in purpose and direction. This means that there is no room for the student’s thoughts to wander or stray from his or her purpose; the writing must be deliberate and interesting.
This handout should help students become familiar and comfortable with the process of essay composition through the introduction of some common essay genres.
This handout includes a brief introduction to the following genres of essay writing:
- Expository essays
- Descriptive essays
- Narrative essays
- Argumentative (Persuasive) essays
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How to Improve Essay Writing
Last Updated: November 20, 2022 References
This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 32,145 times.
Do your teachers always mark up your essays with red ink? Are you eager to learn how to express yourself clearly and effectively? If so, there are plenty of steps you can take to improve your essay writing skills. Improve your grammar, refine your style, and learn how to structure a well-organized essay. Since academic essays are especially tricky, learn the ins and outs of formal, scholarly writing. Be sure to read as much as possible; seeing how other authors use language can improve your own writing.
Improving Your Grammar and Style
- For example, while writing, you might not know whether to use “who” or “whom,” so you check the rule online. You’d use “who” for a person doing an action (called a subject), and “whom” for someone who gets something done to them (called an object). “Who called you,” and “Whom did you call” are grammatically correct.
- Find a general guide on grammar at https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/index.html .
- If you’re a student, see if your school has a writing lab. If so, they’ll have useful resources on grammar and tutors who can help you improve basic writing skills. [1] X Research source
- That said, some exceptions apply. If you’re discussing a scientific study, “The subjects were divided into control and experimental groups,” is better than “Researchers divided the subjects into control and experimental groups.” This is because passive voice emphasizes the object of the action rather than the subject. In scientific writing, the object is more important than the subject.
- For example, “The author of the selection establishes the foundation of the work’s controlling metaphor in the initial stanza,” is packed with unnecessary words. A cleaner version of this example could be, “The author introduces the poem’s controlling metaphor in the first stanza.”
- Instead of “The animal sleeps during the day and is active at nighttime,” write “The animal is nocturnal.”
- Rather than "The fox ran very fast," write "The fox sprinted."
- In the sentence, “The argument is compelling and convincing,” compelling and convincing are close enough in meaning. Using one would get the point across, but using both is repetitive.
- Keep in mind the clause that follows a semicolon needs to be a complete sentence. It should also continue the idea conveyed in the clause before the semicolon. Proper use would be, “The platter dates to 1790; examples of British transfer-ware from this period are rare.”
- Use punctuation strategically. A complicated sentence, like this one, with too much, or confusing, or misplaced, punctuation is hard, for most readers, to follow. Aim instead for clear, easy-to-read writing.
- For example, “The platter dates to 1790. It is in pristine condition. There are no nicks or cracks,” are choppy and repetitive.
- Better phrasing would be, “An impressed back-stamp indicates that the platter was made in 1790. With no nicks, cracks, or discoloration, its condition is pristine; few pieces of this age and quality exist.”
- Keep in mind repetitive sentences aren’t necessarily choppy. For instance, “Since the platter has a maker’s mark, accurately determining its age is possible. Since it has no nicks or marks, it is in excellent condition,” are repetitive sentences, even if they’re not short and choppy.
Using Academic Language
- For example, instead of, “I think it’s pretty crazy how the artist made the painting so detailed,” write, “The artist achieves an impressive level of detail.”
- Note that you can use the first person and contractions in less formal essays, such as an autobiographical sketch or college application essay . However, your writing still shouldn’t be too casual. “I found myself questioning my assumptions” is fine but, in most cases, “I was like wow I didn’t know what I was talking about” is too casual.
- Say you’re writing an essay about school uniforms. “Uniforms are good because they make it easier to get ready in the morning,” might be a fair point, but it's not the strongest argument you could make. Backing up your point with objective evidence would be more convincing.
- On the other hand, “According to a 2017 study, schools reported an average of 44% fewer disciplinary referrals the year after implementing mandatory uniforms,” cites a specific, concrete fact.
- Additionally, use specific quantities whenever possible. In this example, “an average of 44% fewer disciplinary referrals,” is more effective than “a significant decrease.” [7] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
- Learning how to properly use subject-specific terminology can help you express yourself clearly and effectively. Academic writing is a dialogue, and learning the language of a scholarly dialogue is essential.
- For instance, if you’re writing a literary analysis, you might discuss how an author makes a comparison. While technically correct, the word “comparison” isn’t as precise as literary terms such as “metaphor” or “simile.”
- Using convoluted jargon or big words just for the sake of it will make your writing clunky. Furthermore, you’ll lose credibility if you misuse a complex word or technical term.
- For instance, “By utilizing efficacious examples, the author elucidates an irrefutable argument” is verbose. Simpler phrasing would be, “The author presents a convincing argument by using effective examples.”
Mastering the Writing Process
- Note that an essay prompt’s keywords have distinct meanings. Analyze, for example, doesn’t mean to describe; it means to pull apart and examine something’s structure.
- Suppose you have to analyze an argument. Your essay needs identify the argument's rhetorical elements, such as pathos (appeals to emotion), logos (employing reason or logic), or ethos (relying on authority or credibility). After breaking down the argument's structure, you'll then need to explain how the author uses these devices to make their case.
- Remember to check your sources’ credibility. If you’re writing about a former president, find the biography scholars consider most authoritative. Check the authoritative biography’s footnotes and references, which will help you track down more reputable sources.
- You won't conduct thorough research if you’re writing an essay for a test. Instead, read the sources provided with the exam. For example, if a literature essay test requires you to analyze an excerpt, read the passage carefully.
- For instance, “Schools should implement mandatory uniforms because they reduce disciplinary issues, help students focus on learning, and promote school spirit,” is clear and specific.
- The thesis, “Mandatory uniforms are beneficial, so schools should implement them,” makes a claim, but “beneficial” is vague. It doesn’t convey why uniforms are good, so it’s not a strong thesis.
- For the next Roman numerals, write the subtopics, citations, and other details that you’ll cover in each body paragraph.
- In the following example, Roman number II. would be an essay section, and letters A. through D. are body paragraphs that each focus on a sub-topic: II. Uniforms reduce disciplinary issues A. 44% decrease in detentions after introducing uniforms (Smith, 2017) B. Suspension decreased by 60% (Smith, 2017) C. Absenteeism and tardiness decreased (Pew, 2013) D. 66% of students report less bullying (Ohio Board of Education, 2016)
- Topic sentence: School uniforms may reduce the number of serious behavioral problems.
- Explain: Evidence suggests dressing alike lowers peer pressure, promotes discipline, and prevents the display of controversial or offensive imagery.
- Evidence: For example, according to the Ohio Board of Education, schools that introduced uniforms reported 44% fewer disciplinary referrals, such as detentions and suspensions. Furthermore, 66% of surveyed students said they witnessed fewer bullying incidents after they started wearing uniforms.
- Link: These findings suggest that implementing uniforms is an effective way to foster a disciplined school environment.
- A counterargument could be, “Opponents claim that mandatory uniforms stifle self-expression and lower self-esteem. Although uniforms do prevent personal expressions of style, studies show they actually improve confidence and encourage the expression of ideas. Rather than harm self-image, research suggests that uniforms positively impact mental health. In a 10-year Oxford University study, a majority of students reported that wearing uniforms boosts their self-esteem. With a level playing field, they worry less about choosing clothes that fit the norm.”
- First, revise your essay’s content. Check for unclear language, unorganized spots, awkward sentences, and weak word choices. Next, proofread your work and fix any spelling or grammatical errors.
- For important essays, like a term paper or an admissions essay, have someone read your work and offer feedback.
- In general, try to leave a day for edits at the bare minimum. For a big research paper, scheduling a week or more is ideal.
- For a quick, paragraph-long assignment that’s due the next day, you might only need 15 or 20 minutes for revisions. If you're taking a timed essay test, set aside the last 5 to 10 minutes to check your work.
Expert Q&A
- To improve your writing, read as much as you can. Reading a mix of fiction, newspaper articles, and scholarly works will help you learn new ways to structure sentences, refine your grammar skills, and improve your vocabulary. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
- You might not have to conduct thorough research or develop a scholarly thesis if you’re writing an informal essay. However, basic elements such as strong word choices, varied sentence structures, and concise language still apply. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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- ↑ https://www.extension.harvard.edu/inside-extension/cut-clutter-17-phrases-omit-your-writing-today
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/passive-voice/
- ↑ https://slc.berkeley.edu/nine-basic-ways-improve-your-style-academic-writing
- ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/sites/default/files/academic_style.pdf
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/sciences/
- ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/sites/default/files/vocabulary.pdf
- ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/sites/default/files/Essay_writing_process_accessible_2015.pdf
- ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/sites/default/files/super%20essay.pdf
- ↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis
- ↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/essay-structure
- ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/paragraph-structure
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The ability to write well is a foundational skill for communication in both personal and professional settings. Writing allows you to express thoughts, opinions, ideas, and emotions. It facilitates connections between people and allows them to engage in the type of discourse that can lead to discovery and progress.
Clear and concise writing that conveys information both accurately and precisely can help guide people’s decision making and actions. The style of writing can express the importance and sense of urgency behind a message. The flow of writing can change the emotions that people feel when reading those words.
Whether you are writing a script for a podcast, crafting an email to your colleagues, or penning a message to a family member, strong writing skills can significantly improve how the communication is delivered and how it is received.
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With online writing courses, any learner can master the skills needed to become a strong writer. Start with the fundamentals in an online grammar course, where you can learn about the different parts of speech, punctuation, conjugation, and sentence structure. Or more advanced writers can practice their storytelling and persuasive writing skills with an essay writing course. Develop your own style by reading and analyzing the works of other writers, and explore how to write in different formats and tones in creative writing courses.
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Clear writing and communication skills are assets in nearly every industry. Regardless of whether you work as a lawyer or a mathematician, you will likely need to be capable of crafting a well-written message.
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Journalist: Writes news or feature articles for video, online, or print publications.
Novelist or author: Focuses on storytelling by writing longform fiction and nonfiction.
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Writing also requires expertise. While you can be a general writer, somebody who wants to pursue a technical writing career, for example, will need background knowledge of that field in order to be able to understand what they are reporting on or writing about. A strong understanding of how to research, interview, and source can also be beneficial for aspiring professionals in this space.
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Effective writing is clear and accurate and provides enough context to engage readers and help them understand the message you are trying to deliver. For example, journalists provide context by focusing on the “who, what, when, where, and why” of a situation.
There are many different types of writing including, but not limited to: persuasive writing, creative writing, poetry, script writing, journalism, nonfiction, academic writing, speech writing, and song writing.
Learners develop writing skills at their own pace. Developing mastery takes practice and time.
Sometimes grammatical rules are not universally applicable, which can make them difficult to remember. Everyone has different learning styles and speeds. Memorization can help, but practice is key.
There are online courses that can help you learn how to organize your ideas and develop your voice for a business setting. You can practice writing effective emails, reports, and presentations.
Aspiring creative writers can develop their skills by taking classes that not only teach them about the essential elements of storytelling, but also give them opportunities to practice writing and critiquing both their own work and the work of other writers.
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Essay Structure
Writing an academic essay means fashioning a coherent set of ideas into an argument. Because essays are essentially linear—they offer one idea at a time—they must present their ideas in the order that makes most sense to a reader. Successfully structuring an essay means attending to a reader's logic.
The focus of such an essay predicts its structure. It dictates the information readers need to know and the order in which they need to receive it. Thus your essay's structure is necessarily unique to the main claim you're making. Although there are guidelines for constructing certain classic essay types (e.g., comparative analysis), there are no set formula.
Answering Questions: The Parts of an Essay
A typical essay contains many different kinds of information, often located in specialized parts or sections. Even short essays perform several different operations: introducing the argument, analyzing data, raising counterarguments, concluding. Introductions and conclusions have fixed places, but other parts don't. Counterargument, for example, may appear within a paragraph, as a free-standing section, as part of the beginning, or before the ending. Background material (historical context or biographical information, a summary of relevant theory or criticism, the definition of a key term) often appears at the beginning of the essay, between the introduction and the first analytical section, but might also appear near the beginning of the specific section to which it's relevant.
It's helpful to think of the different essay sections as answering a series of questions your reader might ask when encountering your thesis. (Readers should have questions. If they don't, your thesis is most likely simply an observation of fact, not an arguable claim.)
"What?" The first question to anticipate from a reader is "what": What evidence shows that the phenomenon described by your thesis is true? To answer the question you must examine your evidence, thus demonstrating the truth of your claim. This "what" or "demonstration" section comes early in the essay, often directly after the introduction. Since you're essentially reporting what you've observed, this is the part you might have most to say about when you first start writing. But be forewarned: it shouldn't take up much more than a third (often much less) of your finished essay. If it does, the essay will lack balance and may read as mere summary or description.
"How?" A reader will also want to know whether the claims of the thesis are true in all cases. The corresponding question is "how": How does the thesis stand up to the challenge of a counterargument? How does the introduction of new material—a new way of looking at the evidence, another set of sources—affect the claims you're making? Typically, an essay will include at least one "how" section. (Call it "complication" since you're responding to a reader's complicating questions.) This section usually comes after the "what," but keep in mind that an essay may complicate its argument several times depending on its length, and that counterargument alone may appear just about anywhere in an essay.
"Why?" Your reader will also want to know what's at stake in your claim: Why does your interpretation of a phenomenon matter to anyone beside you? This question addresses the larger implications of your thesis. It allows your readers to understand your essay within a larger context. In answering "why", your essay explains its own significance. Although you might gesture at this question in your introduction, the fullest answer to it properly belongs at your essay's end. If you leave it out, your readers will experience your essay as unfinished—or, worse, as pointless or insular.
Mapping an Essay
Structuring your essay according to a reader's logic means examining your thesis and anticipating what a reader needs to know, and in what sequence, in order to grasp and be convinced by your argument as it unfolds. The easiest way to do this is to map the essay's ideas via a written narrative. Such an account will give you a preliminary record of your ideas, and will allow you to remind yourself at every turn of the reader's needs in understanding your idea.
Essay maps ask you to predict where your reader will expect background information, counterargument, close analysis of a primary source, or a turn to secondary source material. Essay maps are not concerned with paragraphs so much as with sections of an essay. They anticipate the major argumentative moves you expect your essay to make. Try making your map like this:
- State your thesis in a sentence or two, then write another sentence saying why it's important to make that claim. Indicate, in other words, what a reader might learn by exploring the claim with you. Here you're anticipating your answer to the "why" question that you'll eventually flesh out in your conclusion.
- Begin your next sentence like this: "To be convinced by my claim, the first thing a reader needs to know is . . ." Then say why that's the first thing a reader needs to know, and name one or two items of evidence you think will make the case. This will start you off on answering the "what" question. (Alternately, you may find that the first thing your reader needs to know is some background information.)
- Begin each of the following sentences like this: "The next thing my reader needs to know is . . ." Once again, say why, and name some evidence. Continue until you've mapped out your essay.
Your map should naturally take you through some preliminary answers to the basic questions of what, how, and why. It is not a contract, though—the order in which the ideas appear is not a rigid one. Essay maps are flexible; they evolve with your ideas.
Signs of Trouble
A common structural flaw in college essays is the "walk-through" (also labeled "summary" or "description"). Walk-through essays follow the structure of their sources rather than establishing their own. Such essays generally have a descriptive thesis rather than an argumentative one. Be wary of paragraph openers that lead off with "time" words ("first," "next," "after," "then") or "listing" words ("also," "another," "in addition"). Although they don't always signal trouble, these paragraph openers often indicate that an essay's thesis and structure need work: they suggest that the essay simply reproduces the chronology of the source text (in the case of time words: first this happens, then that, and afterwards another thing . . . ) or simply lists example after example ("In addition, the use of color indicates another way that the painting differentiates between good and evil").
Copyright 2000, Elizabeth Abrams, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
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The Only Guide to Essay Writing You’ll Ever Need
Feel passionately about something and want to share it? Write an essay! Disagree with a popular opinion and wish to convince others to join you? Write an essay! Need to write something because the college you dream of attending is making you? Write an essay!
“Essay” is a loose term for writing that asserts the author’s opinion on a topic, whether academic, editorial, or even humorous. There are a thousand different approaches to essay writing and a million different topics to choose from, but what we’ve found is that good essay writing tends to follow the same framework.
Give your essays extra polish Grammarly helps you write with confidence Write with Grammarly
Below we discuss that framework and how you can apply it to your essays, whatever types they may be. But first, let’s start with the nucleus of any good essay: the topic.
Your essay needs a thesis statement
There are three things to consider before writing your essay: thesis, type, and audience. Of these, the most important by far is your thesis, or the crux of what your essay is about.
Your thesis, encapsulated in your thesis statement , is the central point you’re trying to make. The thesis of Bertrand Russell’s essay “ In Praise of Idleness ,” for example, is that people focus too much on work and don’t value time spent idly. Essays can occasionally stray and go into related tangents, but they always come back to that one core idea in the thesis.
You should always pinpoint your thesis before writing. If you’re having trouble nailing it down, ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I want my reader to remember when they’re done reading my essay?”
The best practice is to include your thesis as soon as possible, even in your topic sentence if it’s appropriate. You’ll want to reiterate it throughout the essay as well, especially when wrapping up everything in the conclusion.
The rest of your essay, then, supports your thesis. You can include empirical evidence, testimonials, logical deductions, or even persuasive rhetoric —whatever gets the job done. The point is that you’re building upon your initial thesis, not switching to completely different topics.
Types of essays
Like any form of writing, essays come in many different types. Sometimes the assignment dictates the type, as with admissions essays, and other times the thesis will determine it. Regardless, it helps to know what your options are, so here are some of the most common essay types:
Argumentative essay
Argumentative essays assert or defend a position. This is the most common type of school paper, so keep that in mind when writing your first college essay .
Admissions essay
Most colleges request an admissions essay in applications, which typically revolve around why you’re interested in their school.
Persuasive essay
A persuasive essay is just as it sounds: an essay to persuade or convince the reader of a certain point. It’s similar to an argumentative essay— they both strongly favor a particular point of view, but the difference is the end goal: Argumentative essays just have to present their case, while persuasive essays have to present their case and win over the reader.
Compare-and-contrast essay
When you want to devote equal attention to two opposing things, a compare-and-contrast essay works better than argumentative or persuasive essays, which lean to one side over the other.
Personal essay
Personal essays are often anecdotal or real-life stories of the authors, like the works of David Sedaris . Because they tend to follow narrative structures, the thesis can be flexible or interpretive.
Expository essay
An expository essay thoroughly explains a certain topic to expand the reader’s knowledge. It is similar to an argumentative and persuasive essay in format, but with one key difference: expository essays don’t have a bias.
Know your essay’s audience
Your final consideration is who will read your essay—a teacher, an admissions counselor, your peers, the internet at large, etc.
No matter what you’re writing, your audience should influence your language. For one thing, your readers determine whether the essay is formal or casual , which has an enormous impact on language, word choice, and style . Take emojis for example: In a casual essay they might be welcome, but for formal writing they’re not the most appropriate choice. 😓
Your audience also affects the essay’s tone, or how you sound on an emotional level (enthusiastic, cautious, confident, etc.). If you’d like to know more, you can read about the 10 common types of tone here .
The essay writing process
If you’re writing an essay, research paper , term paper, novel, short story, poem , screenplay, blog article about essay writing—when writing just about anything , really—it’s crucial to follow an efficient writing process. Even if you prefer the stream of consciousness style for writing your rough draft, you still need to have an orderly system that allows you to revise and hone.
For essay writing, we recommend the standard five-step writing process :
1 Brainstorming
It always helps to collect your thoughts before you begin writing by brainstorming . Based on your prompt or thesis, try to generate as many ideas as possible to include in your essay. Think of as many as time allows, knowing that you’ll be able to set aside the ideas that don’t work later.
2 Preparing
The preparation phase consists of both outlining your essay and collecting resources for evidence. Take a look at the results of your brainstorming session. First, isolate the ideas that are essential to support your thesis and then organize them in a logical and progressive order. In this stage you’ll incorporate your essay structure, which we explain below.
If you want empirical evidence or complementary citations, track them down now. The way you write citations depends on the style guide you’re using. The three most common style guides for academics are MLA , APA , and Chicago , and each has its own particular rules and requirements for citing just about any kind of source, including newspaper articles , websites , speeches , and YouTube videos .
This is the main stage of essay writing where you roll up your sleeves and actually write your first draft . Remember that everything doesn’t have to be perfect; this is your first draft, not your final draft, so give yourself the freedom to make errors. If you’re focusing on getting every single word right, you’ll miss the big picture.
The revisions stage involves your second draft, your third draft, or even your twelfth draft if necessary. Address all the nuances and subtleties you glossed over in the first draft.
Pay attention to both word choice and clarity , as well as sophisticated writing techniques like avoiding the passive voice . If you’re not confident in your writing skills yet, the Grammarly Editor ensures your writing is readable, clear, and concise by offering sentence structure and word choice suggestions, plus clarity revisions as you write. Grammarly helps catch common mistakes with sentence structure—like run-on sentences, sentence fragments, passive voice, and more.
5 Proofreading
When all the heavy-duty revisions are finished, it’s time for the final polish. Go through your essay and correct misspellings , formatting issues, or grammatical errors. This is also where you can turn to Grammarly’s AI-powered writing assistant, which helps catch these common mistakes for you. Or copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.
Essay structure
Essay structure almost always follows a simple beginning-middle-end format, or in this case, an introduction-body-conclusion format. However, it’s what’s contained within those sections that makes all the difference.
Introduction
Essays follow the same guidelines for introductions as any other piece of writing, with an extra emphasis on presenting the thesis prominently, ideally in the topic sentence. By the end of your introduction paragraph, your reader should know without a doubt what your essay is about. From there, follow the conventional best practices on how to write an introduction .
Body paragraphs
The majority of your essay is body paragraphs , all of which support your thesis and present evidence.
Pay close attention to how you organize your body paragraphs. Some arguments benefit from a logical progression, where one point leads to a second, and that second point leads to a third. Remember that the reader doesn’t understand the topic like you do (that’s why you’re writing the essay), so structure your paragraphs in the way that’s best for their comprehension.
What if you’re writing an argumentative essay where you compare and contrast two or more points of view? Do you present your argument first and then share opposing points of view, or do you open with your opposition’s argument and then refute it?
Serious writers can get pretty technical about how to organize an argumentative essay. There are three approaches in particular used often: Aristotlian (classical), Rogerian , and Toulmin . However, these can get exceedingly complicated, so for a simple essay, a basic structure will do just fine:
- Counterpoint
- Evidence supporting your point and/or disproving counterpoint
Essay conclusions wrap up or summarize your thesis in a way that’s easy for the reader to digest. If you get the chance, you can add a new perspective or context for understanding your thesis, but in general the conclusion should not present any new evidence or supporting data. Rather, it’s more of a recap. For more specific tips, read about how to write a conclusion for an essay here .
Five-paragraph essay
For quick and simple essays, you don’t need to get too technical with your essay structure. The five-paragraph essay structure works well in a pinch. This contains:
- One introduction paragraph
- Three body paragraphs
- One conclusion paragraph
While this essay structure might not be flexible enough for more advanced topics, it comes in handy when speed is a factor, like during timed tests.
Essay writing tips
Master the five fundamentals.
Especially for school essays, your reader will scrutinize how well you handle the fundamentals. Knowing about essay structure and the writing process is one thing, but can you demonstrate an understanding of language style? Can you develop your thesis logically and coherently? Are your references and citations trustworthy?
When you’re ready for the next step of essay writing, take a look at the five concepts you must master to write better essays . The tips there pick up where this guide leaves off.
Seek out another pair of eyes
This tip is not just for essays; it’s always advisable to have someone else read over your writing before finalizing it. All too often we miss the forest for the trees, and thinking long and hard on the same topic can give you tunnel vision. The solution is to get a fresh take from someone who’s seeing it for the first time.
Typically you can swap with a friend and edit each others’ works. If that’s not an option, however, you can also use a writing center or join a writing group online. At the very least, you should sleep on it and take another look when you’re refreshed.
Remember: Grammar and form are essential
It’s not always about what you say, but how you say it. You could have the most obvious, objectively agreeable thesis in the world, but if your writing is incoherent, confusing, and full of mistakes, it’s tough to engage with your reader.
For when your writing needs to make the right impact, Grammarly Premium offers full-sentence rewrites for confusing sentences—from splitting long sentences, cutting extra words, or rearranging key phrases—in addition to catching common grammar mistakes. It also gives you readability-focused formatting suggestions, so you know your writing is clear. It also helps those who are looking to improve their writing skill level in English, with suggestions for commonly misused words and phrases.
Honing your writing with these elements in mind is key to relaying your point to your reader—and asserting your thesis as effectively as possible.
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This page continues from our page: Planning an Essay , the essential first step to successful essay writing.
This page assumes that you have already planned your essay, you have taken time to understand the essay question, gathered information that you intend to use, and have produced a skeleton plan of you essay – taking into account your word limit.
This page is concerned with the actual writing of your essay, it provides some guidelines for good practice as well as some common mistakes you'll want to avoid.
Structuring Your Essay
An essay should be written in a flowing manner with each sentence following on logically from the previous one and with appropriate signposts to guide the reader.
An essay usually takes the following structured format:
- The introduction
- The main body: a development of the issues
- A conclusion
- A list of references of the sources of information you have used
The Introduction
The function of the introduction is simply to introduce the subject, to explain how you understand the question, and describe briefly how you intend to deal with it.
You could begin by defining essential terms, providing a brief historical or personal context if appropriate, and/or by explaining why you think the subject is significant or interesting.
Some people are far too ambitious in writing their introductions. Writing a lengthy introduction limits the number of words available for the main body of the assignment.
Keep the introduction short, preferably to one or two paragraphs and keep it, succinct, to the point.
Some students find it best to write a provisional introduction, when starting to write an essay, and then to rewrite this when they have finished the first draft of their essay. To write a provisional introduction, ask yourself what the reader needs to know in order to follow your subsequent discussion.
Other students write the introduction after they have written the main body of the essay – do whatever feels right for you and the piece of work you are writing.
The Main Body: A Development of the Issues
Essays are generally a blend of researched evidence (e.g. from additional reading) and comment.
Some students' essays amount to catalogues of factual material or summaries of other people's thoughts, attitudes, philosophies or viewpoints.
At the opposite extreme, other students express only personal opinions with little or no researched evidence or examples taken from other writers to support their views. What is needed is a balance.
The balance between other researchers’ and writers’ analysis of the subject and your own comment will vary with the subject and the nature of the question. Generally, it is important to back up the points you wish to make from your experience with the findings of other published researchers and writers.
You will have likely been given a reading list or some core text books to read. Use these as your research base but try to expand on what is said and read around the subject as fully as you can. Always keep a note of your sources as you go along.
You will be encouraged and expected to cite other authors or to quote or paraphrase from books that you have read. The most important requirement is that the material you cite or use should illustrate, or provide evidence of, the point you are making. How much evidence you use depends on the type of essay you are writing.
If you want a weight of evidence on some factual point, bring in two or three examples but no more.
Quotations should not be used as a substitute for your own words. A quote should always have an explanation in your own words to show its significance to your argument.
When you are citing another author's text you should always indicate exactly where the evidence comes from with a reference, i.e. give the author's name, date of publication and the page number in your work. A full reference should also be provided in the reference list at the end.
See our page: Academic Referencing for more information.
A Conclusion
At the end of an essay you should include a short conclusion, the purpose of which is to sum up or draw a conclusion from your argument or comparison of viewpoints.
In other words, indicate what has been learned or accomplished. The conclusion is also a good place to mention questions that are left open or further issues which you recognise, but which do not come within the scope of your essay.
Neither the conclusion, nor the introduction, should totally summarise your whole argument: if you try this, you are in danger of writing another assignment that simply repeats the whole case over again.
You must include a reference list or bibliography at the end of your work.
One common downfall is to not reference adequately and be accused of plagiarism. If you have directly quoted any other author's text you should always indicate exactly where the evidence comes from in a reference. If you have read other documents in order to contrast your argument then these should also be referenced.
See our page: Academic Referencing for a more comprehensive look at the importance of referencing and how to reference properly.
Signposting or Guiding your Reader
When writing an essay it is good practice to consider your reader.
To guide the reader through your work you will need to inform them where you are starting from (in the introduction), where you are going (as the essay progresses), and where you have been (in the conclusion).
It is helpful to keep the reader informed as to the development of the argument. You can do this by using simple statements or questions that serve to introduce, summarise or link the different aspects of your subject.
Here are a few examples:
There are two reasons for this: first,... second,...
Moreover, it should not be forgotten that...
With regard to the question of...
Another important factor to be considered is...
How can these facts be interpreted? The first point...
There are several views on this question. The first is...
Finally, it is important to consider...
Constructing Paragraphs
One important way of guiding the reader through your essay is by using paragraphs.
Paragraphs show when you have come to the end of one main point and the beginning of the next. A paragraph is a group of sentences related to aspects of the same point. Within each individual paragraph an idea is introduced and developed through the subsequent sentences within that paragraph.
Everyone finds it easier to read a text that is broken into short paragraphs.
Without paragraphs, and the spaces between them, the page will appear like an indigestible mass of words.
You should construct your essay as a sequence of distinct points set out in a rational order.
Each sentence and paragraph should follow logically from the one before and it is important that you do not force your reader to make the connections. Always make these connections clear signposting where the argument or discussion is going next.
Although the points you are making may seem obvious to you, can they be more clearly and simply stated?
It is also worth bearing in mind that the marker of your work may have a lot of other, similar pieces of work to mark and assess. Try to make yours easy to read and follow – make it stand out, for the right reasons!
Essay Style
There are two general misconceptions about essay style:
- One is that a good essay should be written in a formal, impersonal way with a good scattering of long words and long, complicated sentences.
- The other misconception is to write as we talk. Such a style is fine for personal letters or notes, but not in an essay. You can be personal, but a certain degree of formality and objectivity is expected in an academic essay.
The important requirement of style is clarity and precision of expression.
Where appropriate use simple and logical language and write in full or complete sentences. You should avoid jargon, especially jargon that is not directly connected to your subject area. You can be personal by offering your own viewpoint on an issue, or by using that view to interpret other authors' work and conclusions.
Drafts and Rewriting
Most essays can be improved by a thorough edit.
You can cross out one word and substitute another, change the shape or emphasis of a sentence, remove inconsistencies of thought or terminology, remove repetitions and ensure there is adequate referencing.
In short, you are your first reader, edit and criticise your own work to make it better. Sometimes it is useful to read your essay out loud.
Another useful exercise is to ask someone else to read the essay through. A person proofreading the essay for the first time will have a different perspective from your own and will therefore be better placed to point out any incoherence, lack of structure, grammatical errors, etc.
Ideally find somebody to proofread who has a good grasp of spelling and grammar and at least a casual interest in your subject area.
One or two edits should be sufficient. It is best not to become involved in an unproductive multiplicity of drafts. The remedy is to analyse the question again and write another, simple, plan based on how to organise the material you are not happy with in the draft of your essay. Rewrite the essay according to that revised plan and resist the tendency to panic in the middle, tear it up and start all over again. It is important to get to the end and then revise again. Otherwise you will have a perfect opening couple of paragraphs and potentially the rest of the essay in disarray.
You will learn and improve much more through criticising and correcting your work than by simply starting again.
Don't Panic!
A few students can get so anxious about an assignment that they find themselves unable to write anything at all.
There are several reasons why this can happen. The primary reason is usually that such students set themselves too high a standard and then panic because they cannot attain it. This may also be due to factors such as the fear of the expectations of others or placing too high an expectation on themselves.
Whatever the reason, if you cannot write an assignment, you have to find a way out of your panic. If you find yourself in this position, do not allow the situation to drift; try to act swiftly. Discussing your worries with your tutor and/or peers, or simply writing them down, will help you clarify why you might feel stuck.
Another trick is to dash off what you consider to be a 'bad' essay, hand it in and see what happens, or decide to write the assignment in two hours without notes or references and see how that goes. You can always come back to enter the references later.
Students often say that their hurried and most casual essay got a higher mark than one which they struggled with for weeks; in fact this happened because they got down to essentials and made their points quickly. The experiment might be worth a try.
If, despite study and good intentions, you cannot seem to get your essay written, or even started, you should let your tutor know as soon as possible.
Your tutor will have encountered such problems many times, and it is part of his/her job to help you sort them out.
Continue to: Assignment Finishing Touches Academic Referencing
See also: The Do’s and Don’ts of Essay Writing Effective Reading Note-Taking for Reading
How I'm using ChatGPT to improve my essay writing skills (PTE, IELTS, etc)
Hey there folks, today I want to share with you how I'm using ChatGPT to improve my essay writing skills, particularly for tests like PTE (Person Test of English) and IELTS.
Now, let me just say upfront that I'm not a huge fan of writing essays. But I know that practice makes perfect, so I force myself to write them every day in the hopes that they'll eventually become easier. However, one of the biggest challenges I face is that I don't always get immediate feedback on my writing. I have a weekly call with my English teacher, which is great, but it means that I have to wait to get feedback on my mistakes. And in the meantime, I keep making the same errors over and over again, which can be frustrating and slow down my progress.
That's where ChatGPT comes in. After some experimentation with prompt engineering, I discovered an incredible feature that allows me to get instant feedback on my writing. The AI checks things like structure, complexity, vocabulary, and so on, which is amazing! I never thought a machine could be capable of such things. Here is an example. My original test essay (I made it a little bit simple for presentation purposes):
Technology is very important in our lives. It makes things easier and more fun. I think this is the best time to be alive because of technology. Technology helps us do more things and makes our lives better. Technology is good for many reasons. We can talk to people easily, even if they are far away. We can use the internet to find information quickly. We can also use technology to learn things even if we are far away. That's amazing! Technology also helps us do things more easily. We can buy things online without leaving our homes. We can also watch movies and listen to music online. This is great because we can enjoy many things without going out.
The personalized feedback from ChatGPT:
This essay is a good start, but there are still ways to improve it. First, the essay could be better organized. It should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should provide background information about the topic and introduce the main points of the essay. The body paragraphs should each discuss one point and provide evidence to support it. The conclusion should restate the main points and provide a summary of the essay. Second, the essay could use more sentence variety. Right now, it consists mostly of simple sentences. To improve the essay, the author should add some compound and complex sentences. For example, instead of writing "We can also use technology to learn things even if we are far away," the author could write, "Thanks to technology, we can learn things even if we are far away, making the world feel like a much smaller place." Third, the essay could benefit from more details. Right now, it is too short and lacks specifics. To make the essay more interesting and convincing, the author should provide more examples and evidence. For example, instead of just saying, "We can buy things online without leaving our homes," the author could write, "We can buy groceries, clothes, and even furniture online without leaving our homes, making shopping easier and more convenient than ever before." Finally, the essay could use stronger vocabulary. The author should avoid using the same words over and over again. Instead, they should look for more precise words to make their writing more interesting and persuasive. For example, instead of using the word "good," the author could use words like "beneficial," "advantageous," or "helpful." By making these improvements, the essay will be more organized, varied, detailed, and engaging.
But that's not all. I also realized that ChatGPT could help me take my writing skills to the next level. One day, I was curious to know how a native English speaker would express my thoughts. How close was I to perfect English writing? So I fed my essay into ChatGPT, explained how the perfect essay should be written, asked it to rewrite it as a native speaker would, and saved the meaning at the same time. And let me tell you, I was blown away by the level of English that ChatGPT produced. Check it out. Once again original essay:
Rewritten essay by ChatGPT:
Technology plays an increasingly important role in our lives, making it easier and more interesting than ever before. Many believe this is the best of times to be alive, and the concept of technology being a cause of that is undeniable. With that in mind, I agree that modern technology allows us to have a more useful and interesting life than in the past. It goes without saying that technology has brought great benefits to our everyday lives. The huge advancements made in communication technology in recent decades have enabled us to contact people with the click of a button, regardless of our physical location. We can now access the internet, providing an incredible source of information within mere seconds. Technology has also made remote and distant education far more accessible, creating more learning opportunities than ever before. Furthermore, technology makes life much more convenient and interactive. For instance, online shopping is now a reality and provides an infinite range of opportunities to explore and try out. Technology has also revolutionized the entertainment industry. We now have access to a huge selection of films, music, and applications that can be easily accessed from home through the internet. In conclusion, there is no denying that technology has drastically improved our lives compared to the past. It has allowed us to communicate, learn, shop, and entertain ourselves in a way that was not possible before, making life much more useful and enjoyable.
So I thought, why not share this amazing tool with others? I created a website where you can submit your essay and receive feedback and a rewritten version from ChatGPT for free - https://ptewithai.com/ . I'm always open to feedback, ideas, and even harsh criticism, so feel free to reach out to me on the site or via email.
Thanks for listening, and happy writing!
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The Basics of Essay Writing
What does a good essay need.
An academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence .
- An academic essay should answer a question or task .
- It should have a thesis statement (answer to the question) and an argument .
- It should try to present or discuss something: develop a thesis via a set of closely related points by reasoning and evidence.
- An academic essay should include relevant examples , supporting evidence and information from academic texts or credible sources.
Basic steps in writing an essay
Although there are some basic steps to writing an assignment, essay writing is not a linear process. You might work through the different stages a number of times in the course of writing an essay. For example, you may go back to the reading and notetaking stage if you find another useful text, or perhaps to reread to locate specific information.
Possible steps (In no strict order)
see next: getting started, essay and assignment writing guide.
- Getting started
- Research the topic
- Organise your ideas
- Write your essay
- Reference your essay
- Edit your essay
- Hand in your essay
- Essay and assignment planning
- Answering assignment questions
- Editing checklist
- Writing a critical review
- Annotated bibliography
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