writing an effective essay

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A (Very) Simple Way to Improve Your Writing

  • Mark Rennella

writing an effective essay

It’s called the “one-idea rule” — and any level of writer can use it.

The “one idea” rule is a simple concept that can help you sharpen your writing, persuade others by presenting your argument in a clear, concise, and engaging way. What exactly does the rule say?

  • Every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea.
  • In persuasive writing, your “one idea” is often the argument or belief you are presenting to the reader. Once you identify what that argument is, the “one-idea rule” can help you develop, revise, and connect the various components of your writing.
  • For instance, let’s say you’re writing an essay. There are three components you will be working with throughout your piece: the title, the paragraphs, and the sentences.
  • Each of these parts should be dedicated to just one idea. The ideas are not identical, of course, but they’re all related. If done correctly, the smaller ideas (in sentences) all build (in paragraphs) to support the main point (suggested in the title).

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Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Most advice about writing looks like a long laundry list of “do’s and don’ts.” These lists can be helpful from time to time, but they’re hard to remember … and, therefore, hard to depend on when you’re having trouble putting your thoughts to paper. During my time in academia, teaching composition at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I saw many people struggle with this.

writing an effective essay

  • MR Mark Rennella is Associate Editor at HBP and has published two books, Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders and The Boston Cosmopolitans .  

Partner Center

  • Tips for Reading an Assignment Prompt
  • Asking Analytical Questions
  • Introductions
  • What Do Introductions Across the Disciplines Have in Common?
  • Anatomy of a Body Paragraph
  • Transitions
  • Tips for Organizing Your Essay
  • Counterargument
  • Conclusions
  • Strategies for Essay Writing: Downloadable PDFs
  • Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines
  • Academic Skills
  • Reading, writing and referencing

Writing a great essay

This resource covers key considerations when writing an essay.

While reading a student’s essay, markers will ask themselves questions such as:

  • Does this essay directly address the set task?
  • Does it present a strong, supported position?
  • Does it use relevant sources appropriately?
  • Is the expression clear, and the style appropriate?
  • Is the essay organised coherently? Is there a clear introduction, body and conclusion?

You can use these questions to reflect on your own writing. Here are six top tips to help you address these criteria.

1. Analyse the question

Student essays are responses to specific questions. As an essay must address the question directly, your first step should be to analyse the question. Make sure you know exactly what is being asked of you.

Generally, essay questions contain three component parts:

  • Content terms: Key concepts that are specific to the task
  • Limiting terms: The scope that the topic focuses on
  • Directive terms: What you need to do in relation to the content, e.g. discuss, analyse, define, compare, evaluate.

Look at the following essay question:

Discuss the importance of light in Gothic architecture.
  • Content terms: Gothic architecture
  • Limiting terms: the importance of light. If you discussed some other feature of Gothic architecture, for example spires or arches, you would be deviating from what is required. This essay question is limited to a discussion of light. Likewise, it asks you to write about the importance of light – not, for example, to discuss how light enters Gothic churches.
  • Directive term: discuss. This term asks you to take a broad approach to the variety of ways in which light may be important for Gothic architecture. You should introduce and consider different ideas and opinions that you have met in academic literature on this topic, citing them appropriately .

For a more complex question, you can highlight the key words and break it down into a series of sub-questions to make sure you answer all parts of the task. Consider the following question (from Arts):

To what extent can the American Revolution be understood as a revolution ‘from below’? Why did working people become involved and with what aims in mind?

The key words here are American Revolution and revolution ‘from below’. This is a view that you would need to respond to in this essay. This response must focus on the aims and motivations of working people in the revolution, as stated in the second question.

2. Define your argument

As you plan and prepare to write the essay, you must consider what your argument is going to be. This means taking an informed position or point of view on the topic presented in the question, then defining and presenting a specific argument.

Consider these two argument statements:

The architectural use of light in Gothic cathedrals physically embodied the significance of light in medieval theology.
In the Gothic cathedral of Cologne, light served to accentuate the authority and ritual centrality of the priest.

Statements like these define an essay’s argument. They give coherence by providing an overarching theme and position towards which the entire essay is directed.

3. Use evidence, reasoning and scholarship

To convince your audience of your argument, you must use evidence and reasoning, which involves referring to and evaluating relevant scholarship.

  • Evidence provides concrete information to support your claim. It typically consists of specific examples, facts, quotations, statistics and illustrations.
  • Reasoning connects the evidence to your argument. Rather than citing evidence like a shopping list, you need to evaluate the evidence and show how it supports your argument.
  • Scholarship is used to show how your argument relates to what has been written on the topic (citing specific works). Scholarship can be used as part of your evidence and reasoning to support your argument.

4. Organise a coherent essay

An essay has three basic components - introduction, body and conclusion.

The purpose of an introduction is to introduce your essay. It typically presents information in the following order:

  • A general statement about the topic that provides context for your argument
  • A thesis statement showing your argument. You can use explicit lead-ins, such as ‘This essay argues that...’
  • A ‘road map’ of the essay, telling the reader how it is going to present and develop your argument.

Example introduction

"To what extent can the American Revolution be understood as a revolution ‘from below’? Why did working people become involved and with what aims in mind?"

Introduction*

Historians generally concentrate on the twenty-year period between 1763 and 1783 as the period which constitutes the American Revolution [This sentence sets the general context of the period] . However, when considering the involvement of working people, or people from below, in the revolution it is important to make a distinction between the pre-revolutionary period 1763-1774 and the revolutionary period 1774-1788, marked by the establishment of the continental Congress(1) [This sentence defines the key term from below and gives more context to the argument that follows] . This paper will argue that the nature and aims of the actions of working people are difficult to assess as it changed according to each phase [This is the thesis statement] . The pre-revolutionary period was characterised by opposition to Britain’s authority. During this period the aims and actions of the working people were more conservative as they responded to grievances related to taxes and scarce land, issues which directly affected them. However, examination of activities such as the organisation of crowd action and town meetings, pamphlet writing, formal communications to Britain of American grievances and physical action in the streets, demonstrates that their aims and actions became more revolutionary after 1775 [These sentences give the ‘road map’ or overview of the content of the essay] .

The body of the essay develops and elaborates your argument. It does this by presenting a reasoned case supported by evidence from relevant scholarship. Its shape corresponds to the overview that you provided in your introduction.

The body of your essay should be written in paragraphs. Each body paragraph should develop one main idea that supports your argument. To learn how to structure a paragraph, look at the page developing clarity and focus in academic writing .

Your conclusion should not offer any new material. Your evidence and argumentation should have been made clear to the reader in the body of the essay.

Use the conclusion to briefly restate the main argumentative position and provide a short summary of the themes discussed. In addition, also consider telling your reader:

  • What the significance of your findings, or the implications of your conclusion, might be
  • Whether there are other factors which need to be looked at, but which were outside the scope of the essay
  • How your topic links to the wider context (‘bigger picture’) in your discipline.

Do not simply repeat yourself in this section. A conclusion which merely summarises is repetitive and reduces the impact of your paper.

Example conclusion

Conclusion*.

Although, to a large extent, the working class were mainly those in the forefront of crowd action and they also led the revolts against wealthy plantation farmers, the American Revolution was not a class struggle [This is a statement of the concluding position of the essay]. Working people participated because the issues directly affected them – the threat posed by powerful landowners and the tyranny Britain represented. Whereas the aims and actions of the working classes were more concerned with resistance to British rule during the pre-revolutionary period, they became more revolutionary in nature after 1775 when the tension with Britain escalated [These sentences restate the key argument]. With this shift, a change in ideas occurred. In terms of considering the Revolution as a whole range of activities such as organising riots, communicating to Britain, attendance at town hall meetings and pamphlet writing, a difficulty emerges in that all classes were involved. Therefore, it is impossible to assess the extent to which a single group such as working people contributed to the American Revolution [These sentences give final thoughts on the topic].

5. Write clearly

An essay that makes good, evidence-supported points will only receive a high grade if it is written clearly. Clarity is produced through careful revision and editing, which can turn a good essay into an excellent one.

When you edit your essay, try to view it with fresh eyes – almost as if someone else had written it.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Overall structure

  • Have you clearly stated your argument in your introduction?
  • Does the actual structure correspond to the ‘road map’ set out in your introduction?
  • Have you clearly indicated how your main points support your argument?
  • Have you clearly signposted the transitions between each of your main points for your reader?
  • Does each paragraph introduce one main idea?
  • Does every sentence in the paragraph support that main idea?
  • Does each paragraph display relevant evidence and reasoning?
  • Does each paragraph logically follow on from the one before it?
  • Is each sentence grammatically complete?
  • Is the spelling correct?
  • Is the link between sentences clear to your readers?
  • Have you avoided redundancy and repetition?

See more about editing on our  editing your writing page.

6. Cite sources and evidence

Finally, check your citations to make sure that they are accurate and complete. Some faculties require you to use a specific citation style (e.g. APA) while others may allow you to choose a preferred one. Whatever style you use, you must follow its guidelines correctly and consistently. You can use Recite, the University of Melbourne style guide, to check your citations.

Further resources

  • Germov, J. (2011). Get great marks for your essays, reports and presentations (3rd ed.). NSW: Allen and Unwin.
  • Using English for Academic Purposes: A guide for students in Higher Education [online]. Retrieved January 2020 from http://www.uefap.com
  • Williams, J.M. & Colomb, G. G. (2010) Style: Lessons in clarity and grace. 10th ed. New York: Longman.

* Example introduction and conclusion adapted from a student paper.

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Education Corner

The Basics of Effective Essay Writing

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As you progress through school, you’ll be required to write essays. And the farther along in school you get, the more complex and demanding the essays will become.

It’s important that you learn early on how to write effective essays that communicate clearly and accomplish specific objectives.

An essay is a written composition where you express a specific idea and then support it with facts, statements, analysis and explanations. The basic format for an essay is known as the five paragraph essay – but an essay may have as many paragraphs as needed.

A five paragraph essay contains five paragraphs. However, the essay itself consists of three sections: an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

Below we’ll explore the basics of writing an essay.

Select a Topic

When you first start writing essays in school, it’s not uncommon to have a topic assigned to you. However, as you progress in grade level, you’ll increasingly be given the opportunity to choose the topic of your essays.

When selecting a topic for your essay, you’ll want to make sure your topic supports the type of paper you’re expected to write. If you’re expected to produce a paper that is a general overview, then a general topic will suffice. However, if you’re expected to write a specific analysis, then your topic should be fairly specific.

For example, let’s assume the objective of your essay is to write an overview. Then the topic “RUSSIA” would be suitable. However, if the objective or your essay is to write a specific analysis, then “RUSSIA” would be far too general a topic. You’ll need to narrow down your topic to something like “Russian Politics: Past, Present and Future” or “Racial Diversity in the Former USSR”.

If you’re expected to choose your own topic, then the first step is to define the purpose of your essay. Is your purpose to persuade? To explain how to accomplish something? Or to education about a person, place, thing or idea? The topic you choose needs to support the purpose of your essay.

The purpose of your essay is defined by the type of paper you’re writing. There are three basic types of essay papers:

  • Analytical – An analytical essay paper breaks down an idea or issue into its key components. It evaluates the issue or idea by presenting analysis of the breakdown and/or components to the reader.
  • Expository – Also known as explanatory essays, expositories provide explanations of something.
  • Argumentative – These types of essays, also known as persuasive essays, make a specific claim about a topic and then provide evidence and arguments to support the claim. The claim set forth in argumentative (persuasive) essays may be an opinion, an evaluation, an interpretation, cause-effect statement or a policy proposal. The purpose of argumentative essays is to convince or persuade the reader that a claim is valid.

Once you have defined the purpose of your essay, it’s time to brainstorm. Don’t choose just one topic right off the bat. Take some time to consider, contrast and weigh your options.

Get out a piece of paper and make a list of all the different topics that fit the purpose of your essay.

Once they’re all down on paper, start by eliminating those topics that are difficult or not as relevant as others topics. Also, get rid of those topics that are too challenging or that you’re just not that interested in. Pretty soon you will have whittled your list down to just a few topics and then you can make a final choice.

Organize Your Ideas Using a Diagram or Outline

Some students get scared to start writing. They want to make sure they have all their thoughts organized in their head before they put anything down on paper.

Creating a diagram or outline allows you to put pen to paper and start organizing your ideas. Don’t worry or agonize over organization at this point, just create a moderately organized format for your information.

Whether you use a diagram or outline doesn’t really matter. Some people prefer and work better with the flowing structure of a diagram. Others like the rigid and logical structure of an outline. Don’t fret, once you get started, you can always change formats if the format you chose isn’t working out for you.

The following are useful steps for developing a diagram to organize ideas for your essay.

  • Get started by drawing a circle in the middle of a paper just big enough to write in.
  • Inside your circle, write your essay topic.
  • Now draw three or four lines out from your circle.
  • At the end of each of lines, draw another circle just slightly smaller than the circle in the middle of the page.
  • In each smaller circle, write a main idea about your topic, or point you want to make. If this is a persuasive (argumentative) essay, then write down your arguments. If the object of the essay is to explain a process (expository), then write down a step in each circle. If your essay is intended to be informative or explain (analytical), write the major categories into which information can be divided.
  • Now draw three more lines out from each circle containing a main idea.
  • At the end of each of these lines, draw another circle.
  • Finally, in each of these circles write down facts or information that help support the main idea.

The following are useful steps for developing an outline to organize ideas for your essay.

  • Take a page of paper and write your topic at the top.
  • Now, down the left side of the page, under the topic, write Roman numerals I, II, and III, sequentially.
  • Next to each Roman numeral, write the main points, or ideas, about your essay topic. If this is a persuasive essay, write your arguments. If this an essay to inform, write the major categories into which information will be divided. If the purpose of your essay is to explain a process, write down each step of the process.
  • Next, under each Roman numeral, write A, B, and C down the left hand side of the page.
  • Finally, next to each letter, under each Roman numeral, write the information and/or facts that support the main point or idea.

Develop a Thesis Statement

Once you have an idea for the basic structure of your essay, and what information you’re going to present in your essay, it’s time to develop your thesis statement. A thesis statement states or outlines what you intend to prove in your essay. A good thesis statement should be clear, concise, specific, and takes a position.

The word “thesis” just sounds intimidating to most students, but a thesis is actually quite simple. A thesis statement (1) tells the reader what the essay is about and (2) what points you’ll be making. If you’ve already selected an essay topic, and developed an outline or diagram, you now can decide what points you want to communicate through your essay.

A thesis statement has two key components. The first component is the topic, and the second is the point(s) of the essay. The following is an example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

The life of a child raised in Pena Blanca is characterized by little playing, a lot of hard work and extreme poverty. An example of an analytical thesis statement:

An analysis of the loan application process for citizens of third world countries reveals one major obstacle: applicants must already have money in order to qualify for a loan.

An example of an argumentative (persuasive) thesis statement:

Instead of sending tax money overseas to buoy struggling governments and economies, U.S. residents should be offered tax incentives for donating to companies that provide micro loans directly to the citizens of third world countries.

Once you’re done developing a thesis statement that supports the type of essay you’re writing and the purpose of the essay, you’re ready to get started on your introduction.

Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph of the essay. It introduces the reader to the idea that the essay will address. It is also intended to capture the reader’s attention and interest. The first sentence of the introduction paragraph should be as captivating and interesting as possible. The sentences that follow should clarify your opening statement. Conclude the introduction paragraph with your thesis statement.

The body of your essay is where you explain, describe or argue the topic you’ve chosen. Each of the main ideas you included in your outline or diagram will become of the body paragraphs. If you wrote down four main ideas in your outline or diagram, then you’ll have four body paragraphs.

Each paragraph will address one main idea that supports the thesis statement. The first paragraph of the body should put forth your strongest argument to support your thesis. Start the paragraph out by stating the supporting idea. Then follow up with additional sentences that contain supporting information, facts, evidence or examples – as shown in your diagram or outline. The concluding sentence should sum up what you’ve discussed in the paragraph.

The second body paragraph will follow the same format as the first body paragraph. This paragraph should put forth your second strongest argument supporting your thesis statement. Likewise, the third and fourth body paragraphs, like the first and second, will contain your third and fourth strongest arguments supporting your thesis statement. Again, the last sentence of both the third and fourth paragraphs should sum up what you’ve discussed in each paragraph and indicate to the reader that the paragraph contains the final supporting argument.

The final paragraph of the essay provides the conclusion. This paragraph should restate your thesis statement using slightly different wording than employed in your introduction. The paragraph should summarize the arguments presented in the body of the essay. The last sentence in the conclusion paragraph should communicate that your essay has come to an end. Your concluding paragraph should communicate to the reader that you’re confident that you’ve proven the idea as set forth in your thesis statement.

Having the ability to write effective essays will become increasingly important as you progress through high school and into college. If you’ll internalize the format presented above, you’ll develop the ability to write clear and compelling essays.

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How To Write An Essay: Beginner Tips And Tricks

How To Write An Essay # Beginner Tips And Tricks

Many students dread writing essays, but essay writing is an important skill to develop in high school, university, and even into your future career. By learning how to write an essay properly, the process can become more enjoyable and you’ll find you’re better able to organize and articulate your thoughts.

When writing an essay, it’s common to follow a specific pattern, no matter what the topic is. Once you’ve used the pattern a few times and you know how to structure an essay, it will become a lot more simple to apply your knowledge to every essay. 

No matter which major you choose, you should know how to craft a good essay. Here, we’ll cover the basics of essay writing, along with some helpful tips to make the writing process go smoothly.

Ink pen on paper before writing an essay

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Types of Essays

Think of an essay as a discussion. There are many types of discussions you can have with someone else. You can be describing a story that happened to you, you might explain to them how to do something, or you might even argue about a certain topic. 

When it comes to different types of essays, it follows a similar pattern. Like a friendly discussion, each type of essay will come with its own set of expectations or goals. 

For example, when arguing with a friend, your goal is to convince them that you’re right. The same goes for an argumentative essay. 

Here are a few of the main essay types you can expect to come across during your time in school:

Narrative Essay

This type of essay is almost like telling a story, not in the traditional sense with dialogue and characters, but as if you’re writing out an event or series of events to relay information to the reader.

Persuasive Essay

Here, your goal is to persuade the reader about your views on a specific topic.

Descriptive Essay

This is the kind of essay where you go into a lot more specific details describing a topic such as a place or an event. 

Argumentative Essay

In this essay, you’re choosing a stance on a topic, usually controversial, and your goal is to present evidence that proves your point is correct.

Expository Essay

Your purpose with this type of essay is to tell the reader how to complete a specific process, often including a step-by-step guide or something similar.

Compare and Contrast Essay

You might have done this in school with two different books or characters, but the ultimate goal is to draw similarities and differences between any two given subjects.

The Main Stages of Essay Writing

When it comes to writing an essay, many students think the only stage is getting all your ideas down on paper and submitting your work. However, that’s not quite the case. 

There are three main stages of writing an essay, each one with its own purpose. Of course, writing the essay itself is the most substantial part, but the other two stages are equally as important.

So, what are these three stages of essay writing? They are:

Preparation

Before you even write one word, it’s important to prepare the content and structure of your essay. If a topic wasn’t assigned to you, then the first thing you should do is settle on a topic. Next, you want to conduct your research on that topic and create a detailed outline based on your research. The preparation stage will make writing your essay that much easier since, with your outline and research, you should already have the skeleton of your essay.

Writing is the most time-consuming stage. In this stage, you will write out all your thoughts and ideas and craft your essay based on your outline. You’ll work on developing your ideas and fleshing them out throughout the introduction, body, and conclusion (more on these soon).

In the final stage, you’ll go over your essay and check for a few things. First, you’ll check if your essay is cohesive, if all the points make sense and are related to your topic, and that your facts are cited and backed up. You can also check for typos, grammar and punctuation mistakes, and formatting errors.  

The Five-Paragraph Essay

We mentioned earlier that essay writing follows a specific structure, and for the most part in academic or college essays , the five-paragraph essay is the generally accepted structure you’ll be expected to use. 

The five-paragraph essay is broken down into one introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. However, that doesn’t always mean that an essay is written strictly in five paragraphs, but rather that this structure can be used loosely and the three body paragraphs might become three sections instead.

Let’s take a closer look at each section and what it entails.

Introduction

As the name implies, the purpose of your introduction paragraph is to introduce your idea. A good introduction begins with a “hook,” something that grabs your reader’s attention and makes them excited to read more. 

Another key tenant of an introduction is a thesis statement, which usually comes towards the end of the introduction itself. Your thesis statement should be a phrase that explains your argument, position, or central idea that you plan on developing throughout the essay. 

You can also include a short outline of what to expect in your introduction, including bringing up brief points that you plan on explaining more later on in the body paragraphs.

Here is where most of your essay happens. The body paragraphs are where you develop your ideas and bring up all the points related to your main topic. 

In general, you’re meant to have three body paragraphs, or sections, and each one should bring up a different point. Think of it as bringing up evidence. Each paragraph is a different piece of evidence, and when the three pieces are taken together, it backs up your main point — your thesis statement — really well.

That being said, you still want each body paragraph to be tied together in some way so that the essay flows. The points should be distinct enough, but they should relate to each other, and definitely to your thesis statement. Each body paragraph works to advance your point, so when crafting your essay, it’s important to keep this in mind so that you avoid going off-track or writing things that are off-topic.

Many students aren’t sure how to write a conclusion for an essay and tend to see their conclusion as an afterthought, but this section is just as important as the rest of your work. 

You shouldn’t be presenting any new ideas in your conclusion, but you should summarize your main points and show how they back up your thesis statement. 

Essentially, the conclusion is similar in structure and content to the introduction, but instead of introducing your essay, it should be wrapping up the main thoughts and presenting them to the reader as a singular closed argument. 

student writing an essay on his laptop

Photo by AMIT RANJAN on Unsplash

Steps to Writing an Essay

Now that you have a better idea of an essay’s structure and all the elements that go into it, you might be wondering what the different steps are to actually write your essay. 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Instead of going in blind, follow these steps on how to write your essay from start to finish.

Understand Your Assignment

When writing an essay for an assignment, the first critical step is to make sure you’ve read through your assignment carefully and understand it thoroughly. You want to check what type of essay is required, that you understand the topic, and that you pay attention to any formatting or structural requirements. You don’t want to lose marks just because you didn’t read the assignment carefully.

Research Your Topic

Once you understand your assignment, it’s time to do some research. In this step, you should start looking at different sources to get ideas for what points you want to bring up throughout your essay. 

Search online or head to the library and get as many resources as possible. You don’t need to use them all, but it’s good to start with a lot and then narrow down your sources as you become more certain of your essay’s direction.

Start Brainstorming

After research comes the brainstorming. There are a lot of different ways to start the brainstorming process . Here are a few you might find helpful:

  • Think about what you found during your research that interested you the most
  • Jot down all your ideas, even if they’re not yet fully formed
  • Create word clouds or maps for similar terms or ideas that come up so you can group them together based on their similarities
  • Try freewriting to get all your ideas out before arranging them

Create a Thesis

This is often the most tricky part of the whole process since you want to create a thesis that’s strong and that you’re about to develop throughout the entire essay. Therefore, you want to choose a thesis statement that’s broad enough that you’ll have enough to say about it, but not so broad that you can’t be precise. 

Write Your Outline

Armed with your research, brainstorming sessions, and your thesis statement, the next step is to write an outline. 

In the outline, you’ll want to put your thesis statement at the beginning and start creating the basic skeleton of how you want your essay to look. 

A good way to tackle an essay is to use topic sentences . A topic sentence is like a mini-thesis statement that is usually the first sentence of a new paragraph. This sentence introduces the main idea that will be detailed throughout the paragraph. 

If you create an outline with the topic sentences for your body paragraphs and then a few points of what you want to discuss, you’ll already have a strong starting point when it comes time to sit down and write. This brings us to our next step… 

Write a First Draft

The first time you write your entire essay doesn’t need to be perfect, but you do need to get everything on the page so that you’re able to then write a second draft or review it afterward. 

Everyone’s writing process is different. Some students like to write their essay in the standard order of intro, body, and conclusion, while others prefer to start with the “meat” of the essay and tackle the body, and then fill in the other sections afterward. 

Make sure your essay follows your outline and that everything relates to your thesis statement and your points are backed up by the research you did. 

Revise, Edit, and Proofread

The revision process is one of the three main stages of writing an essay, yet many people skip this step thinking their work is done after the first draft is complete. 

However, proofreading, reviewing, and making edits on your essay can spell the difference between a B paper and an A.

After writing the first draft, try and set your essay aside for a few hours or even a day or two, and then come back to it with fresh eyes to review it. You might find mistakes or inconsistencies you missed or better ways to formulate your arguments.

Add the Finishing Touches

Finally, you’ll want to make sure everything that’s required is in your essay. Review your assignment again and see if all the requirements are there, such as formatting rules, citations, quotes, etc. 

Go over the order of your paragraphs and make sure everything makes sense, flows well, and uses the same writing style . 

Once everything is checked and all the last touches are added, give your essay a final read through just to ensure it’s as you want it before handing it in. 

A good way to do this is to read your essay out loud since you’ll be able to hear if there are any mistakes or inaccuracies.

Essay Writing Tips

With the steps outlined above, you should be able to craft a great essay. Still, there are some other handy tips we’d recommend just to ensure that the essay writing process goes as smoothly as possible.

  • Start your essay early. This is the first tip for a reason. It’s one of the most important things you can do to write a good essay. If you start it the night before, then you won’t have enough time to research, brainstorm, and outline — and you surely won’t have enough time to review.
  • Don’t try and write it in one sitting. It’s ok if you need to take breaks or write it over a few days. It’s better to write it in multiple sittings so that you have a fresh mind each time and you’re able to focus.
  • Always keep the essay question in mind. If you’re given an assigned question, then you should always keep it handy when writing your essay to make sure you’re always working to answer the question.
  • Use transitions between paragraphs. In order to improve the readability of your essay, try and make clear transitions between paragraphs. This means trying to relate the end of one paragraph to the beginning of the next one so the shift doesn’t seem random.
  • Integrate your research thoughtfully. Add in citations or quotes from your research materials to back up your thesis and main points. This will show that you did the research and that your thesis is backed up by it.

Wrapping Up

Writing an essay doesn’t need to be daunting if you know how to approach it. Using our essay writing steps and tips, you’ll have better knowledge on how to write an essay and you’ll be able to apply it to your next assignment. Once you do this a few times, it will become more natural to you and the essay writing process will become quicker and easier.

If you still need assistance with your essay, check with a student advisor to see if they offer help with writing. At University of the People(UoPeople), we always want our students to succeed, so our student advisors are ready to help with writing skills when necessary. 

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How to Write the Perfect Essay

06 Feb, 2024 | Blog Articles , English Language Articles , Get the Edge , Humanities Articles , Writing Articles

Student sitting at a desk writing in a notebook

You can keep adding to this plan, crossing bits out and linking the different bubbles when you spot connections between them. Even though you won’t have time to make a detailed plan under exam conditions, it can be helpful to draft a brief one, including a few key words, so that you don’t panic and go off topic when writing your essay.

If you don’t like the mind map format, there are plenty of others to choose from: you could make a table, a flowchart, or simply a list of bullet points.

Discover More

Thanks for signing up, step 2: have a clear structure.

Think about this while you’re planning: your essay is like an argument or a speech. It needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question.

Start with the basics! It’s best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs. Three main paragraphs is a good number for an exam essay, since you’ll be under time pressure. 

If you agree with the question overall, it can be helpful to organise your points in the following pattern:

  • YES (agreement with the question)
  • AND (another YES point)
  • BUT (disagreement or complication)

If you disagree with the question overall, try:

  • AND (another BUT point)

For example, you could structure the Of Mice and Men sample question, “To what extent is Curley’s wife portrayed as a victim in Of Mice and Men ?”, as follows:

  • YES (descriptions of her appearance)
  • AND (other people’s attitudes towards her)
  • BUT (her position as the only woman on the ranch gives her power as she uses her femininity to her advantage)

If you wanted to write a longer essay, you could include additional paragraphs under the YES/AND categories, perhaps discussing the ways in which Curley’s wife reveals her vulnerability and insecurities, and shares her dreams with the other characters. Alternatively, you could also lengthen your essay by including another BUT paragraph about her cruel and manipulative streak.

Of course, this is not necessarily the only right way to answer this essay question – as long as you back up your points with evidence from the text, you can take any standpoint that makes sense.

Smiling student typing on laptop

Step 3: Back up your points with well-analysed quotations

You wouldn’t write a scientific report without including evidence to support your findings, so why should it be any different with an essay? Even though you aren’t strictly required to substantiate every single point you make with a quotation, there’s no harm in trying.

A close reading of your quotations can enrich your appreciation of the question and will be sure to impress examiners. When selecting the best quotations to use in your essay, keep an eye out for specific literary techniques. For example, you could highlight Curley’s wife’s use of a rhetorical question when she says, a”n’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs.” This might look like:

The rhetorical question “an’ what am I doin’?” signifies that Curley’s wife is very insecure; she seems to be questioning her own life choices. Moreover, she does not expect anyone to respond to her question, highlighting her loneliness and isolation on the ranch.

Other literary techniques to look out for include:

  • Tricolon – a group of three words or phrases placed close together for emphasis
  • Tautology – using different words that mean the same thing: e.g. “frightening” and “terrifying”
  • Parallelism – ABAB structure, often signifying movement from one concept to another
  • Chiasmus – ABBA structure, drawing attention to a phrase
  • Polysyndeton – many conjunctions in a sentence
  • Asyndeton – lack of conjunctions, which can speed up the pace of a sentence
  • Polyptoton – using the same word in different forms for emphasis: e.g. “done” and “doing”
  • Alliteration – repetition of the same sound, including assonance (similar vowel sounds), plosive alliteration (“b”, “d” and “p” sounds) and sibilance (“s” sounds)
  • Anaphora – repetition of words, often used to emphasise a particular point

Don’t worry if you can’t locate all of these literary devices in the work you’re analysing. You can also discuss more obvious techniques, like metaphor, simile and onomatopoeia. It’s not a problem if you can’t remember all the long names; it’s far more important to be able to confidently explain the effects of each technique and highlight its relevance to the question.

Person reading a book outside

Step 4: Be creative and original throughout

Anyone can write an essay using the tips above, but the thing that really makes it “perfect” is your own unique take on the topic. If you’ve noticed something intriguing or unusual in your reading, point it out – if you find it interesting, chances are the examiner will too!

Creative writing and essay writing are more closely linked than you might imagine. Keep the idea that you’re writing a speech or argument in mind, and you’re guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention.

It’s important to set out your line of argument in your introduction, introducing your main points and the general direction your essay will take, but don’t forget to keep something back for the conclusion, too. Yes, you need to summarise your main points, but if you’re just repeating the things you said in your introduction, the body of the essay is rendered pointless.

Think of your conclusion as the climax of your speech, the bit everything else has been leading up to, rather than the boring plenary at the end of the interesting stuff.

To return to Of Mice and Men once more, here’s an example of the ideal difference between an introduction and a conclusion:

Introduction

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men , Curley’s wife is portrayed as an ambiguous character. She could be viewed either as a cruel, seductive temptress or a lonely woman who is a victim of her society’s attitudes. Though she does seem to wield a form of sexual power, it is clear that Curley’s wife is largely a victim. This interpretation is supported by Steinbeck’s description of her appearance, other people’s attitudes, her dreams, and her evident loneliness and insecurity.
Overall, it is clear that Curley’s wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other people’s judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curley’s wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity – a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences.

Both refer back consistently to the question and summarise the essay’s main points. However, the conclusion adds something new which has been established in the main body of the essay and complicates the simple summary which is found in the introduction.

Hannah

Hannah is an undergraduate English student at Somerville College, University of Oxford, and has a particular interest in postcolonial literature and the Gothic. She thinks literature is a crucial way of developing empathy and learning about the wider world. When she isn’t writing about 17th-century court masques, she enjoys acting, travelling and creative writing. 

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How to Write an Effective Essay

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240 COMMENTS

Thanks a lot. There is a problem with sound in this video. It goes acynchronous after 1:26 min.

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Andrey — the problem with the sound sync has now been fixed. Thanks for letting us know.

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Hey can i have a link to the forum because i cant find it and I have many questions to ask for i need help.

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You can comment here and also on our Facebook page !

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I think James is one of the best teachers ever known to me. I am Nisha . I am from India. My English is good but after listening to James’ lectures I could not resist falling in love with his style of teaching. I think his enthusiasm and his crispy humors while teaching is incredible. Not only English but he has helped me improving my teaching skills also, as I am a teacher by profession.

Dear Nisha,

I am from Pakistan. While reading your comment, I found something strange; You used the word “humor” as a countable noun in your comment. I believe the word humor is an uncountable noun in the above context. However, it can be used as a countable noun only when it means the state of your feelings or mind at a particular time for example to be in the best of humors or when it means one of the four liquids that were thought in the past to be in a person’s body and to influence health and character, the latter meaning is of course not in use anymore. I hope I haven’t offended you. Ali Amiri

I think you are wonderful teacher for me,I am Ozlem.I am from Turkey ,my English is terrible but I am still training.First my grammar so bad:)))) I hope so I will to learn very soon:))))) Thank you very much….

i think Mr Ozlem that “when there i a well there is a way”.So, jut try to convince yourself that you are able to learn ,and that may help u in improving your english.I wih you all the luck

hi engvid i’m studen from indonesia,,..i was happy whn i knew about this video,,.coz i wanna learn english intensivly,.and i hope after i join wih u my english cn increase faster.,.,.!!!!thanx very much

Hi, My name’s Tatiana, I’m from Argentina. My teacher recomened this page to practice listening. I’m learning English, so my english isn’t good.. ja ja.. I liked this page a lot. Kisses.

well, I had some mistakes.. E.g. My teacher recommended me this page…

I am Jeyasugiththan from Sri Lanka. I hope it is good to follow James to improve my English. I have been never seen this type of teaching before. I like this page a lot.

I was looking for along time free English on internet. Finally i discovered best teacher on engvid .God bless on all of you. Keep on good work . Thank you.

Congratulation to James, he is pretty nice teacher, understandable all the time. I am studying from Panama, but living in USA. These english’s videos are very usufull to many people.

Well done. Excellent with high sense of humor, thanks

James an excellent teacher!Many thanks!

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Hi James! I like the way to teach. Its very simple but understandable. I like your style man! :)

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mr james i did nt wtite ur s tecqniques for an effective essay.

i like the way u teach god bless u , u realy help us allot

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Hi James, I loved your video, you should be congratulated… thanks

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[ I’m using engvid to improve my teaching skills as well and James is really helping, I really like your dynamic style and Im sure my students will apreciate it too. Thanks a lot James! ]

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Thanks very much for all teachers.

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I liked a lot your video class. I have one comment to you. I think that it will be better for the student just think in 3 steps on the essay task. Introduction, body (main ideas, support ideas) and conclusion (about main idea) as you explain. Because, when you read about the task you already have a question, so, you do not need to think about another question. And about the thesis, I think is kind of confusing. However, I really enjoy your class. Thank you Bye

I’m Ken , I’m from Malaysia , currently I’m studying in Dalat International school in Penang, for the most part i not doing good cause my grammar is bad , the reason is that my previous school didn’t teach a very good job in grammar since the most i could remember is them teaching vocab.heck maybe i just plain forgot everything, so basicly i don’t even know the basic of basic grammar like noun or pronoun or the rest of the basic . I don’t really want to kick out from that school so is there any advice from me ?

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hiii from new zealand! i’m so happy to find out this great website,i’ve been preparing the EILTS that essay is most considerable to take it.i try to write essay everyday so may i send you those, and then you can check it for me??i wanna to learn my mistakes..in addition, my other problem is that to memorize academic words which are NOT used in daily life therefore i cannot make listening although i live in New zealand.., after to memorize,all of them flyy from my mind rapidly!!do you have any suggestion for it?? thankk you soo muchhh JAMESS

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Hi you all¡, My name is Lorena Valenzuela, I am from Chile, I was looking for english resources and I find this great web site on the internet. I want to improve my writing skills and i think this lesson is very useful, doesn’t it?. Thank you very much James for share your knowlegde with us, I really appreciate your effort and enthusiasm in your classes, it feels that you really love what you do, thank again. In my english class, we are studing QUESTION WORDS AS SUBJECT, and i am not totally clear whit this issue. May you explain the grammar use?, Thank you and Bye, bye.

Hi,i am jai.i am just new to your site ,i felt its brilliant.I am wright IELTS exam in January,i am very week in writing (specially in forming sentence and spelling) please give me some tips to improve my wright,This exam is very important to me,thank you

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thank you very much when i starting see the your lesson I am very encouraged myself. Because I always afraid when I start my writing. Thank you

this very good explain thank you

how to write essays

Teacher are yuo good man tanks

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Hello respected Sir, I saw your videos and Iam really happy that i found a solution for my problems………….. Sir my problem is that Iam not good in english and Iam doing O levels. And Iam facing lots of problems in english class I can’t solve comprehension…. Please kindly help me …

Hi, my name is Khojiakbar. And I’m 17 years old. I’m from Uzbekistan, It’s in Central Asia. I wanna improve my english. I’ve problems in English, especially on grammar, I mean writing and speaking… my vocabulary isn’t good… Can you give advice??? pls…

hi i am abdou from morocco , i’m an elelmantary school teacher, i teach Arabic but i like to learn new languages, really your web site helped me especially these fascinating videos it’s surely a very effective tool to teach English ,i wish you more progress.bye.

Hi James! Congratulation to your video-lesson! I enjoyed it very much. Your explanations are clear and understandable. I will share this video with all my friends who are learning English.¨ I am looking forward to all you new topics. Your fan Inka

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Hey:) My name’s Maria and would say, that your video lessons are really good for improving the language skills! Relying my own experience, I thought it’s perfect to study English, when you’re surrounded by native speakers only…but now I fully realized, that your classes are of much use as well – one gets to know so many new interesting words, expressons and even sentences (!), which you can further use in your own speech. Well, I’m completely satisfied with what you’re doing and how you’re teaching! Thanx a lot for that!

thank’s james

thank you very much

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thnx very much

would be more interesting if having more examples. A very nice a attrative teaching method.

thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks alot for this lesson

Hi James i enjoy your way of teaching

sir james can you send me some essays basing on above rules which you taught for explanation. thanks

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r u from india or pak. “sir” is a post colonial remark

Thanks a lot

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James is very artistic . I love the way he teaches : )

I am Sri Lanken these all lessons are fantastic and attractive i love it so much

hi i m from india . i just love the way you teach

i just love the way to teach…am feeling prpoud to found dis website…lol keep up dis gud work raj from canada

Hi James I wrote an essay about Walt Disney and my thesis is Why Walt Disney is so famous? and I can’t think of any supporting idea, can you suggest one for me please…

hi.. your lessons are very helpful and this website is great ..everytime i have problems with the english language this website is the solution ..thank you .. kamila from albania..

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wonderful i love it :)

funniest teacher .. hahahaha…

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Hello engVid!I am Veronica from Baku,Azerbaijan.I should say this video is very usefull!Thank you for making such effective websites that helps us a lot.James is an incredible teacher!

hi that’s nice video

The podcast is an academic and fundamental one. It’s absolutely stunning. Many thanks.

This videos are very helpful, i love the way how james explains his class. Thank you very much James

The videos are very helpful and James is a great instructor Thanks James

Video was very clear and informative.

This video help me to write .Specially , the first point and second point are helpful to write.

James, What about map mind? I always use it to write paragraph.

thank James again for this video

thank you james . you are a helpful person. i like your way in the explaination.

Hi Alesia. There is currently a problem with the registration. It should be fixed by the end of October 2010. Until then, you can comment without signing up. After that, only members will be able to comment.

I am a 31 year freshman from Ohio.James’s video on how to write an effective essay has helped me immensely, thank you. I will pass this site along to my study group.

This is my first time to visit your website. In my first day, I stayed 5 hours just to exhaust all the basic knowledge I need to learn in speaking. I love to write. But since English is my second language, am not yet expert in using some prepositions appropriately in sentences. I am hoping you can help me on this problem.

FIVE HOURS IN ONE DAY!??! That is great, mar! Please register and tell your friends about the site if you can. Let us know if you think there are things we can improve. We have some preposition classes, but this is a topic that involves a lot of memorization, unfortunately.

Is there a video lesson here? I’m sorry, I’m new here. Could you please tell me how to open the video? Thanks alot!

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Hi Dian. You should see a video right at the top of this page, under the video title and description and above the quiz. If you don’t see it, please make sure you are able to watch YouTube videos on other sites. Try using a modern browser like Chrome if you are having trouble. Some countries (or schools/offices) block YouTube videos, so that may be the problem.

Thank you soo much my techer, I’ll become okay with your vid.

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thanks, a lot

Hi, i am from the freedom country, canada.That is one of the best videos I saw from James. I would like to become one of my teachers. I wish you, James could make a persetation ( i can not spell very well) on speech. My class and I are starting to write speechs. I want to write a speech like OBAMA. THANK YOU!

i realy like the way James teaches.

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i looove the way u teach,James! u r so pleasant!thanx a lot!kiss u

I am from Brasil, and i loved all video, evary teachers this page. I have a poblem when a teacher talk fast i lost a focus. Has here a basic class, not i so basic, but i goint to start step by step again.

I like his teaching style.

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Dear James i was sent u a message .I watch every night ur lessons.really it is great to me because english is my second language.i have big problem with speaking .now i study English .my level is 1.but i have problem with speaking and undrstanding native people.would u please recomend me How improve my speaking.it is kind of u if u send to me email with my [email protected] u for ur help.with my Respects to u

Dear James i realy thank you that You made a video about how to write right! i am from Ukrain and you talk very good. i understand how to write but i have a big problem – How check grammar during speaking. I always make mane mistakes and i need your help. Respects to you

Hello James I m Hafiz from Pakistan i really like your and your team’s lessons. I wana suggest you; plz creat a lesson on Phonetic symbols and about poetry how to explain the verses of long narrative poems I would be thankful to you.

Thanks a lot,James. I come from Thailand. I think my english skill does not well. I wanna improve it. If you have a suggestion for me,I wonder you mind sending it to my e-mail address. Thanks you again.

thank you very much for posting this video this has helped my a lot with writing my essay.

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thanks jaimes

thanks james, its really help to improve my skills. but I need more examples for effective writing skills.

This was my First class that I had with College I am at now. To teach us how to Read, Write, become Critical Thinkers, use the knowledge from your past to help you with your future. And by all means, if this will help me in the long run with my classes I will definatly come back and learn what I need to know.

Tomorrow I’m taking a test and writing an essay, this lesson really helped me a lot. Thanks

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i am in grade8 and i need to write an essay about 1000and more. i learnd how to do it and i hoooooooop i will gat A OR B in thes essay. than MR James for helping me out and my friends in class.

and i hoop you can come and teach us in Dubai, UAE -_- hahahahahaah but i realy liked your way of teaching.

and i told my class about thes vid and they say it is funny and helpfull.

Hello James, thank you so much for engvid. it’s really helpful for me…you are cool person & I really like your dynamic style :) just going on…

dear james, how 2 write a effective essay.then can i ask a ex. of essay!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, James, for sharing this skill in writing a good essay. I will try to remember and apply your tips.

hello, i am wawa from Algeria. i want to thank you for your lessons but I have a big probleme with a writing it is very dificult to me when I write a paragraph.If it is possible to help.please

I LIKE THIS VIDEO BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.

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HELLO I AM FROM PAKISTAN i want to thank you for your lessons but I have a big problem with a writing it is very difficult to me when I write a paragraph.I DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO START AN ESSAY. please help me and give me general idea how to start and write an effective essay .my ielts exam is held at 30 April 2011.

hi James, I want to write an essay for a competition. the topic is “I shudder to think” . Can you please give some tips regarding this essay What example can be taken to explain the essay and would i will be required to ask a question or not in this type of essay..???? plz ANSWER..!!! THNKX

is it possible to make a video about participles? thank you

Hi James, I haven’t been in school for over 20 years! I just decided to go back to school and pursue my dream career. Now, I have no problem being creative, but my problem is when I have an assignment, specially about writing, I panic and don’t know how to start! I searched how to write an essay and I came across your video and it was helpful. However, I’m still stuck and haven’t starting my essay, I’m finding it difficult to start. My essay is regarding an influential hairstylist and I have to detail his work and how he’s changed the industry, etc….then, I must write how his work influenced me. I can work on hair but I can’t write a simple essay! Rachel

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Hi James Big thanks sir I want to ask you… how to make more idea Thx

Hi, Mr. James. Hope You are getting a kick of every moment of your life. The way you teach is really very fantastic. I found your lectures so useful. Frankly speaking you are an incomparable teacher. What if you please send me a video on how to conduct the introduction of the first day of the class. Thanks.

HI THIS CLASS WILL WORK FOR IELTS, BECAUSE A TRIED TO PASS IELTS.

Hi Mr. James I am from Syria thanks a lot about this lesson ,but I have a strange question How can I think in English? Do you have any lesson about this subject? please healp me.

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thanks very much it help heaps

hi james?many thanks for the great leason!but havee one qustion?can you tell me how to write thieses statement in essay?please help me?????

Hi James i have a question i have to write an essay on a literary term and show how

it is related to the two novels i have to do i am having problems with my introduction i just can not find a way to start it off any advice on how i should start off an essay on a literary term Ex. Foreshadowing

Thanks sir James!!! It helps me to make my essay and journal writing… anyway, I miss your partner Mr. E Worm….

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Dear James I did’nt understand what thesis is.Can u please explain it?

Dear james Can u please explain what thesis is?

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someone was asking what thesis is, so can help! THESIS ITS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON…

Thank you Jame! Your skill of teaching is so great. Let’s go on!

Thanks Dear teacher! If you don’t mind please explain and write an essay, show us procedure of writing about ”love better than money”.I mean your arguments.

Hi James , I really would like to thank you for all your support to us and your help to us but I’m still confused about thesis so can you more videos about thesis and give us examples please .

First of all,My English is very poor and I can not speak English as well but today I found your clip at youtube.com then I believe you gonna be my best teacher.

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Hallo James, You are cool teacher! all best to you!

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Thank You Very Much

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thanks james!

Thanks very much!!!!!!!!

Dear Mr James,

I am Hiep, living in Viet Nam. Incidentally, I watched your video about teaching English about how to write an effective essay. It was so exciting to me and the way you taught is very easy to understand for learners. Really, I liked it very much because you helped me to write an essay. Upon to now, I have just writen an essay without layout before writing that is reason why I often get a low point for test. Everything changes for me after watching your video. I think I should spend more time to write as much as possible with layout before starting to write. Thank you again, I always keep in touch with Engvid.com.

yours sincerely, New leaners, Hiepnguyenthanh.

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Hi James, I am Vietnamese and I must take an IELTS exam. thank you so much for giving an interesting lecture.

so good so very cute. Sir. I`m very happy now because I learned from you: How to write an effective essay !!.. thank you very much.. From dinny from ALBANIA, KUMANOVO (Macedonia)

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hey james your teaching is good and i had improved my speaking thank u all

Hello Sir I am Habib from Pakistan, Balochistan… thank u very much for all this.. Can U say how to make a precis?

hello, my name is said, im from morocco,a university studenet of english, concerning your teaching method frankly;is workable and effective,thank you so much mr james.finally,i want you to include a course about the difference between an essay and an article because in the exams we were given to write an article and we follow the esseay plan when writing the article

James,u are just awesome.your tutorials help me a lot on TOEFl,got 106/120.Thank you.Fighting is good !!;-)

Hi James.. you know!! you are amazing

thank you a heap

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hello James thanks alot for that tutorial , ur amazing , and I really love ur way in teaching , am from Egypt , and I really appreciate u for helping English learners and I couldn’t believe my self when I found that site thanks to all the teachers who are helping us , plzz continue and don’t stop , i hope u read my comment :-D but plzz dont get too much conceited ;-)

My brother recommended me to this blog. He was absolutely right. This post really meets my expectations. It’s hard to imagine how much time I spent on that information. Thanks Amelia

Thanks for your help. I’m actually trying to write an essay but it’s harder then I thought. I Wish I would think like U. One idea after another just wow. It’s good that you’re positive and I think that u like what’s u doing and that’s a great advantage in your profession. Once again thank U! :)

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I really enjoy your introduction lesson James. Now where is the body of what you started. I would like to see how it all pans out.

thank for helping me get an A* in my quiz.you are a really good teacher ^_^

[…] How to Write Essay video part 2 Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. How to Write Essay Introduction (engvid) RSS feed […]

I would like you to do compere between formal and informal email and report please

thanks James

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I am from Tunisia and we study those topics at university and I find your lessons sir are very interesting thank you for your efforts

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I really like you way of teaching thanks a lot

HIII JAMES, i wanna improve my writting but i don’t know how to do ??? PLZZZZZZ i need your help

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Hi, James, very good job in this site. Amazing didactics and useful tips.

I took notes and composed an essay in 36 minutes. I know that I will have only 30 minutes to do in a iBT TOEFL Exam. Nevertheless, could you rate it, please? If so, I can send it you by e-mail.

Thank you Best regards from Brazil.

I request that you teach a lesson about advanced grammer and anounciation.

Hi!Very fine and very useful lessons ,but…Please,James, in the future speak a little bit slower,intelligible ,in other words be more”legibly” in expression .Thank you.

Hey I study for hours a day

PLEAS SHOW US HOW TO WRITE THE TRANSITIONS WORD SUCH AS IN CONCLUDING ALL IN ALL, TO SUM UP ,ETS FIRST , SCEND ,……..

Hi James, I am having trouble getting my ideas on paper when i write essays. I see the essay in my mind but i have difficulty putting it on paper. Please help

Hi! Thanks for the video. Some of the lessons are really useful for studying for the SATs. I wish you were my teacher!

Thank’s for the lesson,I agree with Ami,I wish you were my teacher too,that would be awesome :)

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best teacher EVER .Thanks

thank u very much..

Hey, how could you ever teach such a boring skill in such a humorous way? Congrads.

Just wanted to say thanks! After watching this video (several times). I took my college Accuplacer essay test again and scored a 6 (up from a 4) and avoided remedial english. :-) Thanks again!

thank you so much <3

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thank you alot, James!)

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I’m sure it will help me to write an essay!

This is Talal from Saudi Arabia

I really like the way of explanation, as well as the smart body languages that used to pass the ideas, and appreciate your efforts in this regards.

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Thanks you James it’s an effective way to explain an effective essay, that’s really helpful for me, I have to write an essay of “King Speech” movie, it’s a good movie I recommend it. (bad english, im still learning)

Hay, theacher, i just wont to say that i like your lessons very much, but this particular one i dont quite understand. i ll trie to figure out while trying to write an essay.

What is the difference between care and loving?

It is really helpful lesson. The essay structure proposed here is nice and easy to understand. Thank you.

Thankyou for sharing your lecture, it actually taught me how to write thesis statement and what is required for a good essay. You made my job easy. Thanks alot! :)

Hi James, I am preparing to take the IESLT exam in a couple of weeks and I am having a hard time with the writing section, I just watched a video where you explain an easy way to write an essay, it was very fun the way you explained it and found it very helpful. Thanks and I will be watching more of your on line-classes. Octavio from Mexico

wow that’s very helpful thanks :)

thank you … i find this video is very helpful but i don’t think that it works for all kinds of essays , i mean when you write an essay about your your life you cant ask a question a first !!

Thank You so much James sir for this lesson :)

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WHERES MR E. LOL GREAT LESSON N SO MUCH FUN.THANK YOU.

Thanks! ^_^

greatings everyone, I would love if you would put a video on how to write a very good grabber for an intro ..

A massive thank you ..

This video did help but, I have to write a essay on Foreign Policy about if Iran does have very powerful weapons or do they not but, know I have a awesome In the Beginning Paragraph thanks James for your help

Thank you James for tips, they are very useful. I’d like see more lessons of vocabulary and listening.

Thank you James

Hello guys,, please I have exam Thursday and I need paragraph about employee done good contract for his company and he sent email for his manger request for an promotion they need 100 to 150 words from me so please can any one help me…

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My brother recommended I would possibly like this website. He was once entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not believe simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

i Just wanted to say thank you for this video but i still have problem to do the conclusion can you do another conclusion please? thanks and advance.

It’s really very useful for people who wants to learn English. Thank you very much..

I am an ESL teacher and I wanted to show my students on of these videos. Due to blocking of many websites, is there any way we are allowed to download them?

hi james! thanks for uploading the introductory part of the essay but i want to get more tips of body part and conclusion can u please upload this vidoes because im going to give ielts test

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hello, I`m from Argentina and i love this page so i wrote my essay about which is better love or money, i wish if you could answer me if this essay is good or not.

NOWADAYS WE LIVE IN A VERY CONSUMERIST WORLD WHICH MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR LIVES IS THE MONEY FOR THE HAPPINES AND NOT THE LOVE.

IN THE FIRST PLACE, LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSED MONEY WITH HAPPINESS BUT THE REAL THING IS THAT THEY DONT SEE LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE. THEREFORE IT’S POSSIBLE THAT YOU HAVE THE MONEY OF THE ENTIRE WORLD BUT YOU FEEL SO LONELY AND POOR IN LOVE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SAID THAT IS WORTH TO BE POOR BUT WITH LOT OF LOVE THAN BE RICH AND DO NOT HAVE ANYONE FOR LOVE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SOULD LEARN ABOUT LOVE AND MONEY.

I AGREE THAT IF WE DONT HAVE MONEY IS MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE AND BE HAPPY IN THE SAME TIME. BUT, IN CONCLUSION I THINK THAT WE DONT HAVE TO CARE SO MUCH FOR HAVE MONEY OTHERWISE WE MUST TO CHOOSE HAVE MORE PEOPLE FOR LOVE.

is this correct?

okay, so I think I got the general idea of how I’m supposed to write an essay. But, I’m still kind of confused on how to start it…on the video I learned it will be a good idea to start with a question, for example: (this is the topic given to me) Should students do part time jobs?) how would you turn that into a different question for my essay ? and what should I do next….this is what I came up with……………. would a regular student be capable to hande the responsibilities and pressures a part-time job offer?.

Very useful, i liked Rebecca’s explanation.

I am dara from kurdistan ,,thanks fa u James really u r the best English teacher that I have seen during my life ,,bcz u have so interisting lectures and u r so enthusiasm ,,,I wish best of luck fa u ,,,

Help….can’t find the How to write an effective essay, Ultimate Body video.

Help….can’t find the How to write an effective essay, Ultimate Body video.–>me, too.

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I am completely enamored with James. Thanks for helping me write my essay:)

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Hi, i really know the different between the essay and the paragraph but how can i write a well organized paragraph on the following topic: you were traveling by train when an unexpected event happened ,tell us about it . plz help me plz

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hi Hi, i really know the different between the essay and the paragraph but how can i write a well organized paragraph on the following topic: you were traveling by train when an unexpected event happened ,tell us about it . plz help me plz

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Well… have you ever had anything surprising happen on the train? That’s the first step :)

hello James, hope you are fine by the Grace of God. im sarah from Pakistan. i have planed to appear for public commission exam in November. as time is limited can you please help me to get prepare for it. regards Sarah

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Long live for all Teachers

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Hi! My name is Danielle and I am a nineth grader and I have to take a writing accuplacer and I have to study for it so I just wanted to say that this video helped me with learn how to write an essay. Thank you very much!

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Hi! my name is Janet I go to college and I wanted to know if you can do a overall point in paragraph?

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Hi,James.. Your videos are very nice and your style of teaching is very effective.Could u please prepare a video on self introduction or how to introduce ourselves in an interview or IELTS exam. thanking you, Anu Mary. :)

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you are amazing teacher

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Thank you for your lesson. If possible can you give information abut personal statement?

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Thanks you help me a lot.

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Hi James. thanks a lot for your video. I think EngVid is the best website for learning English I have ever seen. It helps me very much take care

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I,m always in trouble with essay. However from now on it has become clear due this amazing class. Thank you so much James.

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Thanks so much James!

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Great video, but why didn’t you include that caterpillar guy, you said he would appear in every video

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hi Sir i am from pakistan i want to learn all the effective methods to improve my writing skills. please help me in it

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Where are the video lessons can any body guide me i want to listen them i have half the video just of intro upto TOPIC where Sir James talk about three main ideas after that my video do not play, this is the reason i searched this site and want to listen all the video lessons regarding English Essay, please help me.

The intro for an effective essay is indeed a grabber!

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thanks a lot Mr.James but why there is no quiz ? anyway its amazing and you are really amazing teacher

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Great. That is useful.

I thing I need practice more and more, With yours website.

Thank James.

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Thank you Mr.James

How can I Know or write direct and indirect in the introduction ?

I hope from you answer my qeuestion soon

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thank you for all lessens Mr.James

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Thanks sir you are the best teacher in the world That was very useful

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Sometimes is very hard to write an essay for me I know I have to practice more this subject and I will use your tips in my next essays.

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thanks alot but i need more

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GREAT TEACHER

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This lesson help me to write in spanish too. Thanks!

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Dear James, I really enjoyed the lesson and I have acquired some of the skill of writing an effective thesis. Similarly, this lesson help me in improving my writing. Thank you

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Thanks for the lesson James it really help me a lot now I know how to write one

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Hi James! I love the way you explain :). Thank you for the videos.

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Thanks for such a useful lesson

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thank you so much it is very useful

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Thanks for your lesson, teacher Jame. You’re the best teacher ever :)

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oops, James not Jame :D

Hi. My name is Andi Marlina. I’m from Indonesia. Thanks for the lesson from Engvid, it’s really help me to learn more. I like using Engvid ’cause it’s got all about the lesson that you may need. thank you.

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Very helpful and easy to follow

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Well, reviewing all the concepts about how to write an effective essay, I can remember the rule of 5 steps: First, the question; second, the thesis statements; third, the introduction; fourth, to prove the thesis with main reason and supporting ideas; and the last fifth step, the conclusion. Thanks a lot teacher James from EngVid, a very interesting lesson.

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Hi! I’m brazilian and i’m studying english. i hope that you help me. tanks all.

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Great lesson! Thanks James!

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If you want to speak english with me my instagram account is zeynepmiri thanks

These are a good Ideas but I wanted more detials

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Thank a lot for great ideas, looking for more.

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Thank you very much! This is attractive lecture and I will keep following it! i have one question. that is:-whenever we write either descriptive essay or argumentative essay and others, are these principles that you have told us before common or changeable?

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Congratulations for share this information to us, indeed it will have a great contribution on my learning specially writing. By the way there is no homework to support this lesson?

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Thanks James.

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Thank you for these tips

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tahnk you jams

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Thank you Sir, I got many ideas from this video but I have a question that how to start an attention grabber introduction either with quotation or an other idea is there because I have no quotes about each and every essay…

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really really nice class james!!! thank you so much! you are the man brow!

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Dear James Your video about essay structure make it seem easy but I always have problems with sequence and organisation. In particular when writing academic essays I can never pick out main headings for body proofs-for either side of the argument. where am I going wrong??

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The introduction and how to write an effective essay were excellent but where do i find how to write a body paragraph mentioned in the how to write an introduction video?

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James,thank you a lot.your leason is so interesting!I hope to watch more!

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A very good teacher!!!so funny and so clear!! bravo

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Thank you, James. This is helpful and ready to have more from you.

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I watched the video once on June 22, 2021.

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no quiz. thank you James for the lesson

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Thank you James, I learned!

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Learn English for free with 2032 video lessons by experienced teachers. Classes cover English grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, IELTS, TOEFL, and more. Join millions of English learners worldwide who are improving every day with engVid.

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Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

student in library on laptop

How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

Related Articles

Master Student

How to Write an Effective Essay: The Ultimate Guide

  • Post author: Master Student
  • Post last modified: June 5, 2022
  • Post category: Study Tips

Writing an essay can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be! Like playing the piano, cleaning a patient’s teeth, or managing a restaurant, writing is a skill that must be practiced and mastered. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of writing an effective essay. We will discuss the components of an essay, how to develop a thesis statement, and write body paragraphs. We will also talk about how to succinctly introduce your topic and conclude your essay effectively. By following these steps, you can write a high-quality essay that will impress your professor!

Table of Contents

Why Is Essay Writing Important?

Essay writing is an important skill for success in high school, college, and beyond. Writing essays helps prepare students for careers by providing the skills necessary to write corporate reports, evaluations, summaries, research papers, letters, memos, and job applications. Although different jobs call for different kinds of written texts with somewhat different structures, the essay is the basic form at the heart of them all.

The Components of an Essay

The most common question that students have is “How many paragraphs are there in an essay”. Although it can vary, an essay usually has five or more paragraphs. Each paragraph contains a group of related sentences that develop a single idea or theme. Each paragraph will take the form of an introduction, body paragraph, or conclusion.

Introduction:

The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of the essay and will introduce the reader to the topic of your essay. It is important to grab the reader’s attention with your introduction. You can do this by using a hook, which is a sentence or group of sentences that “hooks” the reader into wanting to read more. An introduction must contain a thesis statement, which is a sentence or group of sentences that state the main idea of your essay.

Body Paragraphs:

The body paragraphs, also known as support paragraphs, are where you will develop your ideas and support your thesis statement. Each body paragraph should contain a topic sentence, which is a sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph and supporting details. The details can be in the form of examples, evidence, or explanations. In general, an essay has at least three well-developed support paragraphs. These body paragraphs must also flow logically from one to the next.

Conclusion:

The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay and should leave the reader with a strong impression of your writing. The conclusion should restate or paraphrase the thesis statement and summarize the main points in the essay. It should be crafted so that a reader feels that the essay has come to a satisfying conclusion and that all that needs to be said has been said. To make your conclusion more interesting and original, you could close with a prediction, question, or quotation.

How to Develop an Effective Essay

Now that we have gone over the components of an essay, let’s talk about how to develop your essay. Contrary to what many people may think, writing an effective essay is a science, not an art. By mastering these steps, one can create a persuasive essay with ease.

Write Your Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement is the most important part of your essay. It is the main idea that you will be writing about and supporting with evidence.

A thesis statement has three important characteristics:

  • It summarizes the essay’s main topic
  • There’s a controlling idea in it
  • It’s a complete phrase that almost always appears in the essay’s opening paragraph

The best thesis statements are clear, concise, and controversial. A good thesis statement should be arguable; there should be room for debate surrounding it. However, the thesis statement should not be so broad that it is impossible to discuss in a paper.

For example, writing a paper on whether or not war is always morally wrong would be nearly impossible, as there are so many gray areas. A better thesis statement might be “While some argue that war is always morally wrong, others believe that it can be justified in certain situations.” This thesis statement is not only clear and concise, but it is also controversial. It takes a position on the issue at hand and provides support for that position.

Brainstorm Your Evidence:

Now that you have a thesis statement, it’s time to brainstorm your evidence. This is the part of the writing process where you will gather all of the information you need to support your thesis statement. To do this, you may want to consult with reliable sources, such as books, scholarly articles, and websites. If you do not use reliable sources of information you may unknowingly spread misinformation and disinformation through your writing.

One way to ensure that your evidence is reliable is to make sure that it comes from a source that is an expert on the topic at hand. For example, if you are writing about the history of the American Revolution, you will want to consult sources that are written by historians.

Another way to ensure that your evidence is reliable is to make sure that it is up-to-date. This is especially important when writing about topics that are constantly changing, such as current events or technology.

Organize Your Information:

Once you have gathered your evidence, you will need to determine how you will organize it. The way in which you organize your evidence can be just as important as the evidence itself.

Organize Your Information: Essay Writing

Before you start writing your first draft, consider creating an essay plan or an outline to help you organize your thesis statement and supporting ideas. To create an essay plan, follow these steps:

  • Take a look at your list of evidence and choose the ones with the most logical supporting ideas
  • Write topic phrases that convey the main supporting ideas
  • Under each topic sentence, add more information to back it up

writing an effective essay

By organizing your evidence in this way, you will be able to effectively argue your position and provide support for your thesis statement.

Start Writing Your Introduction:

Now that you have your thesis statement and supporting evidence, it’s time to start writing your first draft. Remember, the first draft is just that: a first draft. It is not meant to be perfect; it is meant to give you a starting point from which to work.

An introduction paragraph should do a few things:

  • Draw your reader in through a captivating sentence or lead-in (e.g. a rhetorical question, quotation, or surprising statement)
  • Introduce the reader to your topic in an interesting way
  • Concisely present your thesis statement
  • Provide an overview of the evidence you will be used to support your thesis statement

You may create the opening in a variety of ways. Some common introduction styles include:

  • Giving background information on your thesis. This is especially helpful if your topic is complex or controversial. For example, if you are writing about the history of the American Revolution, you might want to provide some background information on the Causes of the American Revolution.
  • Telling an interesting anecdote. This is a great way to engage your reader and get them interested in your paper. For example, you might tell the story of a soldier who was affected by war.
  • Creating a vivid description of a scene. This is a great way to set the tone for your paper and give your reader a sense of what you will be discussing. For example, you might describe the scene on a battlefield.
  • Opening your introduction with an opposing position. This is a great way to create controversy and get your reader engaged. For example, you might start by writing “While some argue that war is necessary, others contend that it is nothing more than violence.”
  • Giving a definition. This is a great way to provide clarity on a topic that may be confusing. For example, you might start by writing “The definition of war according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is ‘a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations.'”

Here is an example, of an introduction that argues that war is justified in certain scenarios.

“War has been a part of human history for thousands of years and it is one of the most debated topics. There are a variety of reasons why people go to war, but the most common reason is to protect one’s way of life. While some argue that war is nothing more than violence, others contend that it is necessary in order to protect one’s way of life. This essay will argue that war can be a necessary evil if used for these three reasons: to protect one’s freedoms, to defend human rights, and to end genocide.”

Writing Your Body Paragraphs:

Now that you have written your introduction and thesis statement, it’s time to start writing your body paragraphs. A body paragraph, in a nutshell, is a type of mini-essay. Like an essay, each body paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concluding sentence.

When writing your body paragraphs, it is important to:

  • Start with a strong argument in your first sentence
  • Present your evidence after each argument in a logical order
  • Conclude each paragraph with a sentence that summarizes your argument and provides a transition to the next paragraph

Here is an example of a body paragraph that argues that war can be justified in certain scenarios.

“The first reason war can be a necessary evil is to protect one’s freedoms. This is especially relevant in today’s world where countries such as Taiwan and Ukraine face threats to their independence from foreign nations. Facing a similar situation that we see today, the French went to war with Germany in World War II to protect its way of life from the Nazi regime. At the time Germany was a threat to the freedom of France and other countries by trying to impose its antisemitic views on their population. In this case, war was necessary in order to protect the freedom of the French people. They did it not because they wished harm upon others, but because they wanted to protect their own way of life.”

Concluding Your Essays:

Once you have written your body paragraphs, it’s time to write your conclusion. A conclusion is a paragraph that restates your thesis, summarizes your main arguments, and provides a final thought on your topic.

When writing your conclusion, it is important to:

  • Restate your thesis statement
  • Summarize your main arguments
  • End with a strong statement, suggestion, quotation, or call to action

Here is an example of a conclusion that argues that war can be justified in certain scenarios.

“In conclusion, war can be a necessary evil if used to protect one’s freedoms, defend human rights, or end genocide. While it is certainly not a desirable option, there are times when it is the only way to achieve the desired outcome. The key is to use war as a last resort and to make sure that the goals of the war are clear. Only then can war be a justified means to an end.”

Revise Your Essay:

Once you have written your essay, it’s important to revise it for clarity, grammar, and style. By revising your essay you can make your arguments and flow stronger and more convincing. A good way to do this is to read your essay out loud to yourself. This will help you catch any errors that you may have missed when writing.

It is also important to get feedback from others. Ask a friend or family member to read your essay and give you their thoughts. They may be able to catch errors that you missed or suggest ways to improve your argument.

It is okay to revise your essays multiple times. In fact, it is often necessary in order to make sure that your essay is as strong as it can be. So don’t be afraid to revise and edit your work until you are happy with the results.

Create your Essay Title Last:

You may be wondering why you should create your essay title last. The reason is that oftentimes, the title of your essay can be more difficult to come up with than the actual essay itself.

By writing your body paragraphs and conclusion first, you can get a better idea of what your essay is about and what direction it should take. Once you have a better understanding of your argument, you can then create a title that accurately reflects your essay.

Creating a catchy and effective title can be the difference between an essay that is read and one that is forgotten. So take your time and choose a title that you are proud of. The most successful titles are short, explain the subject and aim of the essay, and attract the reader’s interest.

Types of Essays:

Now that you know how to write an effective essay, it’s time to learn about the different types of essays that you may be asked to write.

  • Illustration Essays: An illustration essay is used to explain and illustrate a point. This type of essay uses examples, charts, diagrams, and statistics to explain a concept.
  • Narration Essay: A narration essay tells a story. This type of essay is often used in creative writing and can be written from the first-person point of view.
  • Description Essay: A descriptive essay provides a clear image of the subject matter. This type of essay uses sensory details that appeal to the reader’s senses.
  • Process Essay: A process essay explains how to do something.
  • Definition Essay: A definition essay defines a word, concept, or idea and provides relevant examples.
  • Classification Essay: A classification essay organizes and sorts information or objects into categories.
  • Comparison Essay: A comparison essay compares two things and discusses their similarities and differences.
  • Cause and effect Essay: A cause and effect essay explains the causes of something and the effects that result.
  • Argumentative Essay: An argumentative essay makes a claim about a topic and then provides evidence to support the claim.

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Tips for Writing an Effective Essay

9

Essays provide information on a certain subject which, in most cases include the opinion of the writer. That being said, essay writing can be considered to be one of the most effective ways of disseminating both information and human opinion.

There are many ways of writing an essay, and many styles each writer can adapt. Each writer have his/her own writing style which he/she has developed over time. Good essay writers or essayists are considered good communicators. This is because while they continued to develop their writing skills , other communication skills also developed along with it. This goes without saying. After all, human communication skills are interconnected.

How to Outline an Essay

In writing an essay outline , a writer’s thoughts can sometimes be all over the place, and the resulting composition would be just a clutter of ideas waiting to be organized. This is why writers need to organize their thoughts first before writing the actual composition.

An outline is an effective tool for such dilemma. An outline is somewhat a plan of the points you want to include in your essay. Here are some effective ways in creating an outline.

  • Know the topic.  The first thing one needs to do is to know the focus of the essay—the topic.
  • Identify the purpose of writing the essay.  Why are you writing the essay?
  • Begin by determining the format and structure of your outline. The most common structures are the alphanumeric structure, and the decimal outline structure.
  • Create sections. Sections will contain the most important points in your composition. A typical essay outline will contain three sections: one for each essay parts (i.e. introduction, body, and conclusion).
  • Develop subsections. Subsections will be under the sections. These will be the supporting points for each of your sections. This points will include the most specific points for discussion.

Guidelines for Writing an Effective Essay

An effective essay not only catches the attention of the readers, but also retains it making the reader want to finish reading the composition. A reader can immediately lose interest even after reading the first sentence if an essay is not well-written or persuasive writing . So here are some guidelines one needs to remember in order to write an effective essay.

  • Remember the purpose for writing the essay. This will give your essay a focus.
  • Refer to the outline you’ve made. You’ve made an outline, use it.
  • Let your writing speak for you. Write as if you’re talking to your readers. Immerse yourself in a conversation between you and your composition.
  • Keep it simple and clear. Don’t brag about your extensive vocabulary, no one wants it. Aside from confusing your readers, you’ll probably end up confusing yourself, too. So use a language that’s both simple and clear.
  • Avoid quoting too much. Some writers have this habit of using too many quotations, which is not really a good practice. It is best to trust your own ideas, so your readers will also learn to trust you.
  • Enjoy. Your writers will not be able to enjoy reading a composition if the writer himself/herself did not enjoy the process of writing it.
  • Proofread. Good essays have undergone countless revisions before it’s considered “good.”

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Starting an essay writing journey may look scary at first, but don’t worry! When approached correctly and following a clear map, anyone can come up with a strong essay. This guide will help you to understand how to write an essay by breaking down the steps for writing an essay, and thus you will have a complete comprehension of the whole process. No matter if you are working on argumentative, persuasive, informative, or narrative essays, these steps on writing an essay will act as a good set of instructions to show you the way through the world of essay writing.

First 5 steps of writing an essay

1. Understanding the essay type: To begin the writing process, first, you will have to identify the type of an essay you are working on. What is its type? There are specific features and demands for each type. For instance, an argumentative essay needs a clear standpoint on a particular issue, while narrative essay comprises story telling. Spend some time musing over the core of your essay so that you will have an easier time writing.

2. Brainstorming and research: Once you have determined the essay type you are expected to write, make sure you do proper brainstorming and get all the necessary data. Put down the main arguments and explanations you wish to include in your essay. Do thorough research to guarantee the information is based on reliable sources. If you struggle to research information, ask for help at EssayHave. It’s an essay writing service which can help you with research.

3. Creating an outline: A good essay should be supported by a proper outline. Break down your essay into three main parts: The introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction lists the main points, the body paragraphs are subtitled with the main arguments and the conclusion summarizes the main arguments and leaves a lasting impression. An outline makes your essay coherent and arranged in a certain chain of sequence.

4. Crafting a strong introduction: The introductory paragraph of your essay is its voice and it is what attracts the reader. First of all include a hook – interesting fact, challenging question, or good quote. Ensure that your thesis is clearly defined in your essay; it should lay down the central idea. Briefly introduce what readers will get and see to it that your intro is not long but still creative.

5. Developing the body: The body of your essay is the major component where you put forth and support your key issues in English studies. Every paragraph must have a main idea and certain. Lay out your arguments in simple and plain language, the connecting between paragraphs is also needed to be smooth. If you are writing an argumentative essay, one thing to think about is the counterarguments to build your position.

Tips on how to make an outstanding essay

Now that we’ve covered the initial steps to writing an essay, let’s explore some tips to elevate your essay writing skills:

  • Be clear and concise: Eliminate extraneous complexity from your writing. Your ideas, thus, argue eloquently. Make every word matter, and cut out any extraneous details that don’t support your essay’s main point.
  • Tailor your writing style to the essay type: Different kinds of essays demand different writing approaches. The tone of an argumentative essay must be strong and assertive whereas a narrative essay is more open and personal. Your writing style should conform to the objective of your essay.
  • Create a captivating thesis statement: Your thesis should capture your essay’s main idea in no more than one sentence. This is your reader’s compass as it points them to the central argument of your paper. Formalize a thesis statement which is precise, not too long, and impressive.
  • Revise and edit: Revise and edit your essay when you are done with the first draft. Check for grammatical errors, clarity of expression, and overall coherence. Think of asking fellow students or professors for their useful suggestions in the refinement process.

Refining your writing with style and clarity

An ideal essay is not just a matter of following the steps asked but is about having your own voice in the piece of writing and making it appeal to your reader with ease. Here’s how you can refine your essay to make it truly stand out:It is predicted.

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Final essay writing steps

6. Writing an engaging conclusion: Here the conclusion is the final chance to make a deep impact in the minds of the readers. In conclusion, and synthesis of the central idea of discussion, the thesis should be restated in a new light. Do not introduce some new information in the conclusion and let your readers think about it.

7. Proofreading: Before you hand in your essay, make a complete proofreading. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes, make your writing style consistent, and make sure that you have followed your teacher’s instructions. A well-reflected essay is a sign of your commitment to quality research.

8. Seeking feedback: In the essay writing steps, try to ask for feedback in the form of your peers, friends, and teachers. New angles can provide a different viewpoint and identify areas of deficiency. Criticism is supposed to help a writer grow and develop, and that is an integral aspect of the writing process.

Summing up!

Having mastered the segments of writing a great essay is an invaluable ability that sets the course open for competent communication and self-expression. No matter what type of essay you have to write, whether argumentative, persuasive, informative, or narrative, if you follow these steps of writing an essay and apply the tips provided, you will get a good essay. Practice makes perfect, so you should not be afraid of trying different types of essays and developing your techniques with time. Happy writing!

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  • How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

  • Start with a question
  • Write your initial answer
  • Develop your answer
  • Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

  • Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
  • Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
  • Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

  • Why you hold this position
  • What they’ll learn from your essay
  • The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

  • In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
  • In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

  • Ask a question about your topic .
  • Write your initial answer.
  • Develop your answer by including reasons.
  • Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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Guest Essay

The Most Important Writing Exercise I’ve Ever Assigned

An illustration of several houses. One person walks away from a house with a second person isolated in a window.

By Rachel Kadish

Ms. Kadish is the author of the novel “The Weight of Ink.”

“Write down a phrase you find abhorrent — something you yourself would never say.”

My students looked startled, but they cooperated. They knew I wouldn’t collect this exercise; what they wrote would be private unless they chose to share it. All that was required of them was participation.

In silence they jotted down a few words. So far, so good. We hadn’t yet reached the hard request: Spend 10 minutes writing a monologue in the first person that’s spoken by a fictitious character who makes the upsetting statement. This portion typically elicits nervous glances. When that happens, I remind students that their statement doesn’t represent them and that speaking as if they’re someone else is a basic skill of fiction writers. The troubling statement, I explain, must appear in the monologue, and it shouldn’t be minimized, nor should students feel the need to forgive or account for it. What’s required is simply that somewhere in the monologue there be an instant — even a fleeting phrase — in which we can feel empathy for the speaker. Perhaps she’s sick with worry over an ill grandchild. Perhaps he’s haunted by a love he let slip away. Perhaps she’s sleepless over how to keep her business afloat and her employees paid. Done right, the exercise delivers a one-two punch: repugnance for a behavior or worldview coupled with recognition of shared humanity.

For more than two decades, I’ve taught versions of this fiction-writing exercise. I’ve used it in universities, middle schools and private workshops, with 7-year-olds and 70-year-olds. But in recent years openness to this exercise and to the imaginative leap it’s designed to teach has shrunk to a pinprick. As our country’s public conversation has gotten angrier, I’ve noticed that students’ approach to the exercise has become more brittle, regardless of whether students lean right or left.

Each semester, I wonder whether the aperture through which we allow empathy has so drastically narrowed as to foreclose a full view of our fellow human beings. Maybe there are times so contentious or so painful that people simply withdraw to their own silos. I’ve certainly felt that inward pull myself. There are times when a leap into someone else’s perspective feels impossible.

But leaping is the job of the writer, and there’s no point it doing it halfway. Good fiction pulls off a magic trick of absurd power: It makes us care. Responding to the travails of invented characters — Ahab or Amaranta, Sethe or Stevens, Zooey or Zorba — we might tear up or laugh, or our hearts might pound. As readers, we become invested in these people, which is very different from agreeing with or even liking them. In the best literature, characters are so vivid, complicated, contradictory and even maddening that we’ll follow them far from our preconceptions; sometimes we don’t return.

Unflinching empathy, which is the muscle the lesson is designed to exercise, is a prerequisite for literature strong enough to wrestle with the real world. On the page it allows us to spot signs of humanity; off the page it can teach us to start a conversation with the strangest of strangers, to thrive alongside difference. It can even affect those life-or-death choices we make instinctively in a crisis. This kind of empathy has nothing to do with being nice, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

Even within the safety of the page, it’s tempting to dodge empathy’s challenge, instead demonizing villains and idealizing heroes, but that’s when the needle on art’s moral compass goes inert. Then we’re navigating blind: confident that we know what the bad people look like and that they’re not us — and therefore we’re at no risk of error.

Our best writers, in contrast, portray humans in their full complexity. This is what Gish Jen is doing in the short story “Who’s Irish?” and Rohinton Mistry in the novel “A Fine Balance.” Line by line, these writers illuminate the inner worlds of characters who cause harm — which is not the same as forgiving them. No one would ever say that Toni Morrison forgives the character Cholly Breedlove, who rapes his daughter in “The Bluest Eye.” What Ms. Morrison accomplishes instead is the boldest act of moral and emotional understanding I’ve ever seen on the page.

In the classroom exercise, the upsetting phrases my students scribble might be personal (“You’ll never be a writer,” “You’re ugly”) or religious or political. Once a student wrote a phrase condemning abortion as another student across the table wrote a phrase defending it. Sometimes there are stereotypes, slurs — whatever the students choose to grapple with. Of course, it’s disturbing to step into the shoes of someone whose words or deeds repel us. Writing these monologues, my graduate students, who know what “first person” means, will dodge and write in third, with the distanced “he said” instead of “I said.”

But if they can withstand the challenges of first person, sometimes something happens. They emerge shaken and eager to expand on what they’ve written. I look up from tidying my notes to discover students lingering after dismissal with that alert expression that says the exercise made them feel something they needed to feel.

Over the years, as my students’ statements became more political and as jargon (“deplorables,” “snowflakes”) supplanted the language of personal experience, I adapted the exercise. Worrying that I’d been too sanguine about possible pitfalls, I made it entirely silent, so no student would have to hear another’s troubling statement or fear being judged for their own. Any students who wanted to share their monologues with me could stay after class rather than read to the group. Later, I added another caveat: If your troubling statement is so offensive, you can’t imagine the person who says it as a full human being, choose something less troubling. Next, I narrowed the parameters: No politics. The pandemic’s virtual classes made risk taking harder; I moved the exercise deeper into the semester so students would feel more at ease.

After one session, a student stayed behind in the virtual meeting room. She’d failed to include empathy in her monologue about a character whose politics she abhorred. Her omission bothered her. I was impressed by her honesty. She’d constructed a caricature and recognized it. Most of us don’t.

For years, I’ve quietly completed the exercise alongside my students. Some days nothing sparks. When it goes well, though, the experience is disquieting. The hard part, it turns out, isn’t the empathy itself but what follows: the annihilating notion that people whose fears or joys or humor I appreciate may themselves be indifferent to all my cherished conceptions of the world.

Then the 10-minute timer sounds, and I haul myself back to the business of the classroom — shaken by the vastness of the world but more curious about the people in it. I put my trust in that curiosity. What better choice does any of us have? And in the sanctuary of my classroom I keep trying, handing along what literature handed me: the small, sturdy magic trick any of us can work, as long as we’re willing to risk it.

Rachel Kadish is the author of the novel “The Weight of Ink.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and Threads .

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    Next, outline the essay. Map out its contours. Once you have a skeleton, the writing part becomes easier. 2. Writing. Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash. The essay usually has a 3 part structure ...

  25. The Writing Process webinar series

    Join Cara Violini of the Write Site for this four-part series to learn how to break down the components of the writing process to produce effective essays. You'll walk away with concrete strategies for planning, drafting, revising and proofreading. The Writing Process #1: Intro to the writing process (Tuesday, March 5, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Mountain))

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    Placement of the thesis statement. Step 1: Start with a question. Step 2: Write your initial answer. Step 3: Develop your answer. Step 4: Refine your thesis statement. Types of thesis statements. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

  27. Opinion

    "Write down a phrase you find abhorrent — something you yourself would never say." My students looked startled, but they cooperated. They knew I wouldn't collect this exercise; what they ...