DoMyPaper.com Tutor on How to Write an Essay

An essay might seem like a big piece of work but actually it’s pretty straightforward. Your first essay might not be a masterpiece but with the right approach and a bit of practice it’s not that hard to learn to write with reasonable effort. The process of writing an essay can be broken down into eight steps. You can use these to help you plan your writing and organize your thoughts. When learning how to write an essay, it can be helpful to use services where you can ask professionals to write me a paper for additional guidance. DoMyPaper.com offers expert assistance with writing essays, ensuring that your work is polished and meets academic standards.

First, have some idea of what your teacher wants to see in the essay. Read the assignment. Look for words that give a clue to what sort of essay you are to write – a narrative essay, argumentative, comparative, for example. Find out how long it is to be. When is it due?

If you do not know or are not sure about something, please ask your teacher. It is better to ask than to do the wrong thing and get a bad mark. 

Choosing a Topic

Sometimes, your teacher will tell you what to write about. Sometimes, you will have to choose your own. If you have the choice, then you should try to choose a topic about which you want to know more. It is much easier to write about something you care about.

List what you know, or think you know, beforehand. What other points do you want to make? Jot down thoughts. Stuff you think might be relevant. It sounds crazy, but you’d be amazed when something that sounds silly might turn into something brilliant in an essay.

Doing Research

Armed with a topic, now comes the question of accumulating information. If the essay is on a subject you have covered before in class, begin with your textbook or class notes. Often with the other topics, however, you will have to go into a library or turn to the internet to find what you do not already know.

Say looking something up on the internet, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you’re on a site that you know to be reliable. You’re looking at government sites, well-known newspapers, and educational sites. If you can, it’s good not to take the first piece of information you find as gospel. See if you find the same information on a couple of other sites.

Take notes as you research about the main points and ideas. Mark where you got each quote or fact so you can credit it later.

Creating an Outline

To master the art of writing an essay, it's beneficial to seek assistance from legit essay writing services for expert guidance and support. An outline is like the skeleton of your paper. When creating it, you put together your ideas so you know what to write in your essay. Start with your main idea or argument. This will be your thesis statement – the most important sentence in your essay.

Write your thesis below this line:Now, list five key points you want to make in your essay:These will be your body paragraphs. Below each body paragraph, jot some details or examples you plan to use to support your point:

Your outline doesn’t have to be perfect. You will likely change it as you write. Still, establishing a plan about what you want to say will make the making of it a lot easier. 

Writing the Introduction

The opening is the part that should catch the reader’s attention. Begin with something exciting – an interesting fact, a question or a story. Follow with some background information about the topic.

Conclude your introduction with your thesis statement. This sentence will alert your reader as to the subject of your essay and the specific way in which you will treat the topic.

Writing Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should be about just one point related to your thesis. Start with a topic sentence that says what the paragraph will be about, then provide details, examples or explanations supporting your point.

Sequence your key ideas into paragraphs and connect each one to the next using transitional words such as ‘however’, ‘in addition’ or ‘on the other hand’.

Common transition words and when to use them:

Purpose	Transition Words
To add information	Also, Furthermore, In addition
To give an example	For instance, Specifically, Such as
To compare	Similarly, Likewise, In the same way
To contrast	However, On the other hand, In contrast
To show time	First, Then, Finally
To conclude	Therefore, In conclusion, As a result

Writing the Conclusion

Your conclusion is your last word, so it’s your chance to leave a lasting impression. Start by repeating your thesis in different words. Then summarize your main points from your body paragraphs.

End with something memorable. Perhaps you will end with a final thought about why your topic matters, or what you think should happen next. Be sure not to stray from what you’ve already said in the conclusion – don’t introduce new data or information there.

Revising and Editing

Once you’ve drafted your essay, back away from your laptop. Take some time to rest and then carefully reread your essay with new eyes. Can you improve its clarity or intrigue?

Make sure that every paragraph reinforces your thesis and moves logically toward the next one. Have you fully explained your ideas with clear and convincing examples?

When editing, look for grammatical and spelling mistakes. Check that you are using the correct words and that sentences are clear. Read your essay aloud to find errors that you might miss when reading silently.

Formatting and Citations

Different teachers and schools have different requirements for how the essay should look. Do you know which format to use in your essay – MLA or APA are the most common styles? These rules cover the font size, margins, and writing the header.

If you borrowed something from a source, you mention who you got it from; which is called citing your sources. In the essay itself, you might write a short citation in parentheses – say, (Smith 34) – after a quotation or fact. You would also need a list of everything you drew from; this is called the bibliography or works cited page.

Proofreading

Go through the essay one final time before turning it in to look for a couple of last-minute things, such as spelling/grammatical/formatting mistakes that might have crept in. If possible, ask someone else to look at your essay as well. You might well miss something. 

Just make sure that it is the kind of essay the assignment calls for, that it says what you were supposed to say, and that it is long enough and follows all the teacher’s directions.

Overcoming Writer's Block

If you’re having difficulty starting an essay, consider these ideas. 

• Just start writing, even if it's not perfect. You can always fix it later.

• Talk with a friend or family member about your idea. Saying it out loud helps you organize it.

• Break it down into smaller pieces. Rather than trying to draft the essay in one sitting, aim to complete one paragraph or even just one or two sentences.

• Change your scenery. Sometimes working in a new place can help you think differently.

• Remember, everyone gets stuck sometimes. Don't get discouraged – keep trying and you'll get there.

Practicing and Improving

Like any skill, essay writing improves with practice. And since you are writing essays, you are practicing the skill. The more practice the better. And part of the practice of writing is to make use of the feedback you get from your teachers.

And you can read: good writers teach by example, and reading can instruct you when you want to learn how to write. Be a close reader of good writers, and see what they are doing – how they are establishing the framework of their essays and what principles of explanation they deploy to clarify their ideas. Frequently, seeing is learning. 

Conclusion

Some will be surprised to learn that writing an essay is easy but one of the reasons is that the process is actually divided into steps (understanding the assignment, selecting a topic, researching, making an outline, writing, revising).

Remember, though, that your first draft will probably stink – at least a little; the trick is to get it out. Then you can polish it later (in fact, if you like, you can polish it many times); with practice and patience, essay-writing will become much easier, and even fun. 

Next time someone tells you to write an essay – don’t panic. Try to remember these simple steps. Breathe deep. Then give it your best shot. You have nothing to lose.

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