This article includes general guidelines for writing essays and academic themes suitable for all subjects.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Understanding the Essay Topic
Step 1. Understand the question being asked
This is a crucial step: you have to read the question over and over until you fully grasp what it requires you to cover in the answer. If you don't understand a certain word, look in a dictionary or online; or use contextual clues.
If you feel stuck, consult your teacher and ask him what he wants you to answer. However, on matters in which you have to express your opinion, the teacher most likely cannot provide you with an answer
Step 2. Examine the topic of your essay
This step is easier if you are assigned a specific topic. If it's an essay you like, choose a topic you know well and with a lot of information available for your research.
Method 2 of 4: Prepare the Essay Writing
Step 1. Research the topic
You can do this in the library or on the internet - or using both. Find important information that will boost the content of your essay.
It can help to write the information on spacious cards - the material will be more orderly
Step 2. Write a track
A track is an organized list of points that you want to investigate in your theme, in the same order in which they will be written and explained. Before starting to write the essay it is very important to organize your thoughts; with an outline and guidelines to follow, the complete text will be much easier and quicker to write.
Don't skip this step. Even if it seems to you to be a bit over the top, if you don't write a track you will have a lot more work in the rest of the essay, due to disorganized information. Use cards and find similar information. Match this information together in the same paragraph. Do not write track information. Number the cards so you can find the information you need when writing your essay
Step 3. Read the question carefully to understand how many points the essay should contain, or the number of pages it should have
You can also ask your teacher again.
Method 3 of 4: Write the Essay
Step 1. Write your thesis
Usually the thesis of an essay is presented at the end of the introduction. That would be the assertion you intend to prove with the rest of the theme. For example, you can describe a certain action of a literary character to explain and confirm the thesis that that particular person is or was insane.
Step 2. Write the first draft of the essay
This will not be the final version and you shouldn't consider it as such. Following the points on the track, write what comes to mind; if you can't reach the required length, it doesn't matter for now.
Try to use good punctuation already, capitalize at the beginning of paragraphs and proper names, and follow the path you have prepared
Step 3. Divide your thoughts into paragraphs
Each point on your track should have its own specific paragraph which should contain a minimum of 3 sentences.
Step 4. Try following a pattern of "Affirmations" followed by "Evidence" and "Impacts"
- A claim is a statement supported by testimonials, such as references or citations from certain contexts.
- Impact, on the other hand, is a statement of how or why your statement is important in the context of your theme. The "impact" then becomes the affirmation of the next paragraph and so on.
Step 5. Write the second draft
Enhance paragraphs that don't provide enough information or topics. For this step it is advisable to do more in-depth research than the previous ones.
Step 6. Use transition phrases
A transition sentence makes it easier for the reader to move from one paragraph to another. If your track was written well, these sentences should link the contents of two paragraphs.
Step 7. Edit the draft
After the second draft, you have to edit it. Start with general things: get rid of typos, check spelling etc. A good knowledge of Italian grammar does not hurt.
Eliminate rhetorical sentences and those with verbs in the passive form (if you can, turn them to the active form)
Method 4 of 4: Finish the Essay
Step 1. Write your final draft
Make sure it's in the correct format (see the Tips section). Use your computer's spell checkers and reread the content of your essay. Before printing and submitting your work, if you are unsure regarding grammar and spelling, ask a friend or relative to read what you have written.
Advice
- If you find yourself repeating the same words over and over, use a thesaurus! If you don't have a printed version, there are many on the internet. Almost certainly the program you use to write with your computer has one built in. Just make sure you know how to properly use the synonym you have chosen before inserting it in the text.
- Don't mess with writing types and / or text margins to make your work seem longer. Most teachers and professors will take away points if you try to make your essay seem longer. Use the default settings - it may seem strange but text written in small fonts looks more interesting than text written in larger fonts.
- Use correct and appropriate language. For example, 2 is not a word, but a symbol that denotes the quantity two. Never use colloquial terms and languages: you are not writing an e-mail or a text message to your friends, but an academic document.
- Manage your time. If you're not good at writing fast and stressful topics, make sure you have plenty of time to complete your assignment.
- Make sure you use the correct format for citing your research results and for the structure of your essay. Most teachers will ask you to use the MLA format.
- Take a break! While checking out what's in the fridge or taking your dog for a walk, some brilliant ideas may come to mind!
Warnings
- Do not copy. Readers expect your work to be written by you, with your words and ideas. If you use the words or ideas of others and do not indicate where the material you used came from, you will confuse your readers. It is a dishonest act as well as a form of cheating and is usually easy to detect.
- There are various search engines and applications that allow teachers and professors to enter your essay to check where you got the information from. The result could be failure or even suspension or expulsion from school. If you are unsure about the source of something you wrote, cite it from your research materials. Quotes will save you.
