The Process of Writing an Essay Explained

What makes a good essay? For some, a good essay is determined by the adherence to provided rules, for others, by the coherence of the argument, and yet for some, by the originality of arguments in a paper. 

For us, a good essay is the marriage of proper topic selection, proper articulation of your arguments, and flawless editing. This article is meant to guide you on the process of writing an essay and to highlight easy writing tips that could come in handy. 

Process of writing an essay

Taking to research and penning down any idea you encounter is barely the ideal approach for an A-level paper. When writing an essay, there are multiple considerations you should make. We recommend the following steps for an essay that will wow your tutor.

  1. Select a topic

Topic selection is perhaps the most crucial step for your essay. When selecting an essay topic, put your interests, originality, and research question in mind. An original interesting idea will motivate you to research various arguments deeply, ensuring a paper that further expands on an idea in your topic. 

After getting your essay prompt, brainstorm various ideas on the topic. Next, peruse the current issues in your field to establish the ideas that are yet to be exhausted. This will allow you to see the idea you are interested in and assure you a new line of arguments without falling victim to plagiarism. 

  1. Perform extensive research

After selecting your topic, conduct research to gauge the materials that are available for your research. Preferably, settle for a topic with adequate primary and secondary materials to back your arguments. 

You could always start off with a Wikipedia search and check the references on their page for guidance on some relevant resources. 

  1. Develop an outline

It is imperative that you develop an outline for writing an essay if you are after a great score. Outlining your essay allows you to gauge the quality of your arguments and the completeness of your research. 

Your outline also serves as a map for your writing, helping reduce the likelihood of veering off topic. You can always consult your tutor with the outline to get insight into the viability of your claims and recommendations on areas you might have overlooked.

The outline thus helps you nip various errors before you advance to the more taxing stages of essay writing. 

  1. Draft your paper

After outlining your topic, prepare a draft of your paper. The draft should connect various ideas in your outline with arguments and relevant support from your sources. Also, use transition words when shifting from one idea to the other, making it easy for your reader to follow your line of thought. 

  1. Edit your work

The first draft of your paper is bound to be riddled with flaws that could limit your final score. After drafting an essay, take time off the paper and start checking the quality of your work.

When editing, check for the flow of your paper and various gaps that could attract criticism. After addressing the structure of your arguments, perform a grammar check and finally check to ensure that all in-text citations are covered with the bibliography in the work cited section. 

Rules for essay writing

  • Duly recognize all the sources used to prepare your arguments, to avoid issues of plagiarism. 
  • Avoid slang in your paper as the essay is an academic paper and should thus adhere to the rules of formal writing.
  • Always ensure that your word count does not fall above/below your prescribed word count by more than 5%.
  • Avoid sources that are biased as your paper should be based on factual data. Ideally, settle for published academic journals or sites with a. Edu, or a .gov extension.
  • Ensure that your introduction covers the thesis and background of your essay to show your reader the basis of your arguments.
  • Make sure that your essay is divided into an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

Best ways to start an essay

The introduction to your essay may either make or break your entire paper. A good introduction will hook your reader, pushing them to read through your entire paper. Conversely, a poor intro will evoke a poor attitude towards your paper, losing your reader’s attention to your work. 

Some of the best ways to start your essay include:

  • Sharing a surprising statistic about your topic.
  • Highlight a popular notion on the topic and highlight how your essay disproves the false ideology
  • Offer jaw-dropping statistics relating to the topic
  • Ask rhetorical questions that lead toward your hypothesis
  • Paint a scene of a problem and highlight your approach to solving the issue

Final take

Writing a great essay calls for organization and research. This article should come in handy to help you plan for your essay. Feel free to consult our experts for guidance on your essay, ensuring a quality paper free of various errors.