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- What is an essay?
What makes a good essay?
Typical essay structure, 7 steps to writing a good essay, a step-by-step guide to writing a good essay.
Whether you are gearing up for your GCSE coursework submissions or looking to brush up on your A-level writing skills, we have the perfect essay-writing guide for you. đŻ
Staring at a blank page before writing an essay can feel a little daunting . Where do you start? What should your introduction say? And how should you structure your arguments? They are all fair questions and we have the answers! Take the stress out of essay writing with this step-by-step guide â youâll be typing away in no time. đ©âđ»
What is an essay?
Generally speaking, an essay designates a literary work in which the author defends a point of view or a personal conviction, using logical arguments and literary devices in order to inform and convince the reader.
So â although essays can be broadly split into four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive â an essay can simply be described as a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. đ€
The purpose of an essay is to present a coherent argument in response to a stimulus or question and to persuade the reader that your position is credible, believable and reasonable. đ
So, a âgoodâ essay relies on a confident writing style â itâs clear, well-substantiated, focussed, explanatory and descriptive . The structure follows a logical progression and above all, the body of the essay clearly correlates to the tile â answering the question where one has been posed.
But, how do you go about making sure that you tick all these boxes and keep within a specified word count? Read on for the answer as well as an example essay structure to follow and a handy step-by-step guide to writing the perfect essay â hooray. đ
Sometimes, it is helpful to think about your essay like it is a well-balanced argument or a speech â it needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question in a coherent manner. âïž
Of course, essays can vary significantly in length but besides that, they all follow a fairly strict pattern or structure made up of three sections. Lean into this predictability because it will keep you on track and help you make your point clearly. Letâs take a look at the typical essay structure:
#1 Introduction
Start your introduction with the central claim of your essay. Let the reader know exactly what you intend to say with this essay. Communicate what youâre going to argue, and in what order. The final part of your introduction should also say what conclusions youâre going to draw â it sounds counter-intuitive but itâs not â more on that below. 1ïžâŁ
Make your point, evidence it and explain it. This part of the essay â generally made up of three or more paragraphs depending on the length of your essay â is where you present your argument. The first sentence of each paragraph â much like an introduction to an essay â should summarise what your paragraph intends to explain in more detail. 2ïžâŁ
#3 Conclusion
This is where you affirm your argument â remind the reader what you just proved in your essay and how you did it. This section will sound quite similar to your introduction but â having written the essay â youâll be summarising rather than setting out your stall. 3ïžâŁ
No essay is the same but your approach to writing them can be. As well as some best practice tips, we have gathered our favourite advice from expert essay-writers and compiled the following 7-step guide to writing a good essay every time. đ
#1 Make sure you understand the question
#2 complete background reading.
#3 Make a detailed plan
#4 Write your opening sentences
#5 flesh out your essay in a rough draft, #6 evidence your opinion, #7 final proofread and edit.
Now that you have familiarised yourself with the 7 steps standing between you and the perfect essay, letâs take a closer look at each of those stages so that you can get on with crafting your written arguments with confidence .
This is the most crucial stage in essay writing â r ead the essay prompt carefully and understand the question. Highlight the keywords â like âcompare,â âcontrastâ âdiscuss,â âexplainâ or âevaluateâ â and let it sink in before your mind starts racing . There is nothing worse than writing 500 words before realising you have entirely missed the brief . đ§
Unless you are writing under exam conditions , you will most likely have been working towards this essay for some time, by doing thorough background reading. Re-read relevant chapters and sections, highlight pertinent material and maybe even stray outside the designated reading list, this shows genuine interest and extended knowledge. đ
#3 Make a detailed plan
Following the handy structure we shared with you above, now is the time to create the âskeleton structureâ or essay plan. Working from your essay title, plot out what you want your paragraphs to cover and how that information is going to flow. You donât need to start writing any full sentences yet but it might be useful to think about the various quotes you plan to use to substantiate each section. đ
Having mapped out the overall trajectory of your essay, you can start to drill down into the detail. First, write the opening sentence for each of the paragraphs in the body section of your essay. Remember â each paragraph is like a mini-essay â the opening sentence should summarise what the paragraph will then go on to explain in more detail. đïž
Next, it's time to write the bulk of your words and flesh out your arguments. Follow the âpoint, evidence, explainâ method. The opening sentences â already written â should introduce your âpointsâ, so now you need to âevidenceâ them with corroborating research and âexplainâ how the evidence youâve presented proves the point youâre trying to make. âïž
With a rough draft in front of you, you can take a moment to read what you have written so far. Are there any sections that require further substantiation? Have you managed to include the most relevant material you originally highlighted in your background reading? Now is the time to make sure you have evidenced all your opinions and claims with the strongest quotes, citations and material. đ
This is your final chance to re-read your essay and go over it with a fine-toothed comb before pressing âsubmitâ. We highly recommend leaving a day or two between finishing your essay and the final proofread if possible â youâll be amazed at the difference this makes, allowing you to return with a fresh pair of eyes and a more discerning judgment. đ€
If you are looking for advice and support with your own essay-writing adventures, why not t ry a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at boosting academic success and having fun along the way. Get in touch and see how it can work for you today. đ
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The Five Steps of Writing an Essay
Mastering these steps will make your words more compelling
- Tips For Adult Students
- Getting Your Ged
- B.A., English, St. Olaf College
Knowing how to write an essay is a skill that you can use throughout your life. The ability to organize ideas that you use in constructing an essay will help you write business letters, company memos, and marketing materials for your clubs and organizations.
Anything you write will benefit from learning these simple parts of an essay:
- Purpose and Thesis
Introduction
Body of information.
Here are five steps to make it happen:
Purpose/Main Idea
Echo / Cultura / Getty Images
Before you can start writing, you must have an idea to write about. If you haven't been assigned a topic, it's easier than you might think to come up with one of your own.
Your best essays will be about things that light your fire. What do you feel passionate about? What topics do you find yourself arguing for or against? Choose the side of the topic you are "for" rather than "against" and your essay will be stronger.
Do you love gardening? Sports? Photography? Volunteering? Are you an advocate for children? Domestic peace? The hungry or homeless? These are clues to your best essays.
Put your idea into a single sentence. This is your thesis statement , your main idea.
STOCK4B-RF / Getty Images
Choose a title for your essay that expresses your primary idea. The strongest titles will include a verb. Take a look at any newspaper and you'll see that every title has a verb.
Your title should make someone want to read what you have to say. Make it provocative.
Here are a few ideas:
- America Needs Better Health Care Now
- The Use of the Mentor Archetype in _____
- Who Is the She-Conomy?
- Why DJ Is the Queen of Pedicures
- Melanoma: Is It or Isn't It?
- How to Achieve Natural Balance in Your Garden
- Expect to Be Changed by Reading _____
Some people will tell you to wait until you have finished writing to choose a title. Other people find that writing a title helps them stay focused. You can always review your title when you've finished the essay to ensure that it's as effective as it can be.
Hero-Images / Getty Images
Your introduction is one short paragraph, just a sentence or two, that states your thesis (your main idea) and introduces your reader to your topic. After your title, this is your next best chance to hook your reader. Here are some examples:
- Women are the chief buyers in 80 percent of America's households. If you're not marketing to them, you should be.
- Take another look at that spot on your arm. Is the shape irregular? Is it multicolored? You could have melanoma. Know the signs.
- Those tiny wasps flying around the blossoms in your garden can't sting you. Their stingers have evolved into egg-laying devices. The wasps, busying finding a place to lay their eggs, are participating in the balance of nature.
Vincent Hazat / PhotoAlto Agency RF Collections / Getty Images
The body of your essay is where you develop your story or argument. Once you have finished your research and produced several pages of notes, go through them with a highlighter and mark the most important ideas, the key points.
Choose the top three ideas and write each one at the top of a clean page. Now go through your notes again and pull out supporting ideas for each key point. You don't need a lot, just two or three for each one.
Write a paragraph about each of these key points, using the information you've pulled from your notes. If you don't have enough for one, you might need a stronger key point. Do more research to support your point of view. It's always better to have too many sources than too few.
 Anna Bryukhanova/E Plus / Getty Images
You've almost finished. The last paragraph of your essay is your conclusion. It, too, can be short, and it must tie back to your introduction.
In your introduction, you stated the reason for your paper. In your conclusion, you should summarize how your key points support your thesis. Here's an example:
- By observing the balance of nature in her gardens, listening to lectures, and reading everything she can get her hands on about insects and native plants, Lucinda has grown passionate about natural balance. "It's easy to get passionate if you just take time to look," she says.
If you're still worried about your essay after trying on your own, consider hiring an essay editing service. Reputable services will edit your work, not rewrite it. Choose carefully. One service to consider is Essay Edge .
Good luck! The next essay will be easier.
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Essay Writing for Beginners: 6-Step Guide with Examples
If you need to write an essay, whether for a college course or to pass a writing test, this guide will take you through the process step-by-step.
Even if you have never written an essay before, this guide will make the process simple and easy to follow.
It is divided into two parts.Â
First, Iâll show you the steps of writing an essay from scratch using a simple example.Â
And in the second part, weâll go through the process together and write a complete sample essay.
Letâs dive right in.Â
Writing an essay is a 6-step process. Â
Step 1. Decide on your main point and write it down
You could be in one of the following situations:
- Your teacher or professor gave you a prompt, and you have to follow it
- You are allowed to make up your own essay topic
- You must pass a writing test and are practicing
Whatever the case, letâs assume that you have some kind of a topic or an idea for an essay. Many essay prompts ask you to decide for or against an idea. You must agree or disagree.
And in your first step, you need to simply make that decision â whether you agree or disagree â and just write it down as a simple sentence.Â
This is a very simple example, but it shows you what a thesis essentially looks like. It is also your main point.
Try not to make your thesis sentence too complicated. Keep it simple so that the point is perfectly clear to both you and the reader.Â
In this case, our example thesis is:
And weâre ready for the next step.
Step 2. Come up with three supporting ideas
Whether you need to write 300 or 3,000 words, as a beginner you only need three supporting points to prove your main point.
This is why I teach the Power of Three.Â
So, why three? You see, you need to divide your topic into subtopics. If you donât, the whole essay writing process will be harder than it has to be.
If you divide it into only two parts, thatâs okay. But it doesnât give you enough meat when youâll be writing the body of the essay.
If you divide it into more than three, that is also a recipe for frustration. Itâs just too many.Â
Three is a very comfortable number for the brain to deal with. Trust me. Iâve taught many, many people.Â
Letâs apply the Power of Three to our simple example.Â
Why do I love apples? I love them for three reasons. Not one, not two, not seven. Just three reasons.Â
I love apples because they are:
- NutritiousÂ
In this step, your job is to make sure that these three reasons are really different from one another. In this case, they are.Â
Here is a wrong way to do it:
In this case, apples being filling is too similar to being nutritious. This means that when youâre writing the body of the essay, you may run into writerâs block.
This happens because you realize that youâve already said everything there is to say about the nutrition of apples, and now them being filling is too closely related. And youâre out of words to write.Â
Donât let that happen. Just keep your supporting points really distinct from one another.Â
Step 3. Write out the complete thesis statement
Now you have everything you need to write a complete thesis statement. You have your main and supporting points.Â
Take them and write them out as complete sentences in one paragraph. Letâs do it very simplistically, using our apples example:
Again, this is overly simple, and I donât expect you to write such short sentences one after another this way.Â
But itâs crystal clear. And the supporting points really sound like good evidence for the main point.Â
In other words, this thesis statement works.Â
Your Thesis Statement Is Also Your Outline
Students often ask how to write an essay outline. But once you have written your thesis statement the way I just showed you, you have yourself a nice outline.Â
In addition, you already have the first paragraph. It may not be complete. You may choose to add some words to it. You will also add an introduction in a later step.
But your first paragraph is, for the main, done. It exists, and itâs good to know that you just wrote a nice paragraph.Â
We are ready for the next step.Â
Step 4. Write the body of the essay
We already know that we have three sections in our little example. And you will also have three main sections if you apply the Power of Three to your essay.
Each of your sections will contain one or more paragraphs.Â
But as a beginner, just stick to one paragraph per section. Each of your sections will be a paragraph, and you need to write only three paragraphs in the body of the essay.
Body Paragraph Structure
You must begin each of your body paragraphs with a lead sentence (also known as a topic sentence). And then your job is to fill the rest of the paragraph with evidence to support what you just stated in the lead sentence.
You may have heard that in your essay you should proceed from more general to more specific ? That is exactly right.
The lead sentence (the first sentence in the paragraph) is the most general statement in that paragraph.Â
For example, in our essay about apples, the second section is about how nutritious apples are. So, you would begin your paragraph with something like this:
This is the most general statement. And now, your job would be to unpack that, to write a little more specifically.Â
As an explanation , you can write a sentence or two on what kinds of nutrients apples contain.Â
And as examples , you can write about what some of these nutrients do in the body that makes them nutritious.Â
Does this make sense? You are proceeding from general to specific. Weâll take a closer look at this process in the essay topic sample that is coming up.Â
Once youâve written the body paragraphs, youâre ready for the next step.Â
Step 5. Write the introduction and the conclusion
Introductions.
The introduction is really just a sentence (two at most) that you add in the beginning of your first paragraph.Â
Introductions are not necessary. Many instructors will expect that you write them while others wonât. You can go straight to the point by starting your first paragraph with the thesis.Â
However, most instructors will expect an introduction, and you should know how to write one.Â
To write an introduction, just zoom out a bit and write a more general and less relevant sentence. For example, we can start our essay about apples with this sentence:
And then we proceed straight to the thesis: âI love apples.â And so onâŠ
Conclusions
In your conclusion you can do one of several things. But I recommend that, as a beginner, you stick to the time-proven restatement .
Basically, you simply repeat what you stated in your thesis statement, using different words. Â
Yes, this is repetitious, but that is the nature of conclusions. Donât worry.Â
You can literally copy your thesis statement, paste it at the end of your essay, and make sure you change the wording so that it reads like a new paragraph.
For example, this is how we can write our conclusion about apples:
Yes, your conclusion can be just one sentence. But it can also contain many sentences.Â
Step 6. Proofread
Our final step in writing an essay is to go back and proofread our draft.
We must look out for:
- Any contradictions (to make sure we donât contradict our own points)
- Any irrelevant material (stuff that doesnât belong in the essay at all)
- Grammatical errors
- Misspellings
One good, thorough round of proofreading can be enough to be ready to submit your essay for grading.Â
You can use a variety of tools sto spell-check your essay. Google docs is one great tool for that. But many others, such as Grammarly, are available as well.
Guess what! Now you know how to write an essay, even if youâre a beginner.Â
And now, letâs apply what we learned.
Letâs take a sample topic and follow the 6 steps to write a nice sample essay.
Letâs do this!
Sample Essay: âParents are the best teachers.âÂ
This essay topic came from one of my readers. Letâs develop it into an essay by following the steps we just learned.
Step 1. Decide on the main point and write it
Letâs say that we are given a choice â whether we agree or disagree that parents are the best teachers.
All we have to do is take a stand. We have to simply decide â yes or no.
Letâs decide that parents are indeed the best teachers.
We simply state this as the main point:
Step 2. Think up three supporting ideas
Why could parents be the best teachers?
This will take some thinking. But thatâs what we need to do.
Letâs use the Power of Three . And here is what we came up with:
- They are the first teachers, and thatâs very important.
- They have the childâs best interests in mind.
- They spend more time with their child than anyone else.Â
We really want to make sure that these supporting points are different from one another. Are they?
If we read them over, weâll see that each of them is indeed distinct. Great!
Step 3. Write out the thesis statement
We have our main point. We have our supporting points. And writing the full thesis statement is now easy.
Letâs do it:
We really just took the thesis and the supporting statements and wrote them all in a sequence as one paragraph.Â
As a result, we now have a nice, clear opening paragraph.
We also now have our outline:
We know exactly how many sections our essay will have.
We also know in which order weâll be presenting our support. Itâs all in the thesis statement, which is also our outline.Â
Now our job is to write three good supporting paragraphs, one at a time.
Letâs start with the first body paragraph.
The first sentence is always the lead sentence â the most general sentence in a body paragraph.Â
Writing the Lead Sentence
Letâs first copy and paste our first supporting point from our thesis statement:
I copied this because this is exactly what my paragraph is about. And this would be a perfect lead sentence if it were not repetitious.Â
To make sure itâs not simply repetitious, weâll tweak and expand it a little:
We made sure that the subject is clear â that it is not â They â but â Parents .â
And we expanded the sentence by adding an explanation: ââŠbecause what is imprinted early stays with the child forever.â
You donât have to necessarily add an explanation in the lead sentence like this. But this is an option that you have.Â
All we really want to do in the lead sentence is just expand it slightly over the initial supporting point that it came from.Â
Writing the Rest of the Paragraph
Letâs review our body paragraph structure:
In our paragraph, we proceed from more general to more specific. Our lead sentence is the most general statement.Â
The next most general part of the paragraph is where you explain your point. You can provide a scientific explanation with data and research. You can explain it logically, using your own rationale.Â
But it is still a general part. Letâs write it.
Explanation
We are keeping it simple and not using any references to scientific studies. You can and should cite sources in your essay when necessary.
If youâre writing an essay in an exam or test, you wonât need any references. You can just make things up as you go along. And it works as long as your content is logical and supports the main point.
If youâre writing for a college course, you will likely need to cite sources, unless itâs English 101 where you write basic essays like this one.Â
But now, we have three explanatory sentences in our paragraph. Our next step is to add at least one example. You can add more, but one should do it for a beginner.Â
This example presents a phenomenon that is well known in psychology. It is an example because it describes one extreme kind of a phenomenon. It is also much more specific than our explanation.Â
Note that we can add more words by talking about a specific wild child from history. But letâs stop here and look at our full paragraph:
We have 113 words in this paragraph. And itâs a perfect body paragraph that supports the first part of our thesis statement.
Letâs write the next one.Â
Again, letâs copy the second supporting point and then tweak and expand it.
This sentence already starts with the subject, which is â parents .â Now, all we need to do is to expand it slightly:
We added a short phrase just to make the lead sentence a little longer and more detailed. Now it doesnât read like plain repetition.
Letâs write the next most general part of this paragraph â the explanation:
These three sentences explain why it makes sense that parents would have the childâs best interests in mind. She is the most precious thing to them in the world.Â
Itâs time for an example. And Iâll use my personal experience:
Itâs totally okay to use personal examples in an essay. You can use them even in advanced research papers. Your personal experience is valuable. Use it.
Letâs take a look at our second body paragraph in its entirety:
This paragraph contains 98 words of evidence to support the second point.Â
Itâs time for the final body paragraph.
Again, you know what weâll do. Weâll just copy our third supporting point and tweak and expand it a little:
Letâs make sure the reader knows what the real subject is in this sentence. And letâs also expand it just a bit:
Great! Itâs time for the explanatory part:
Again, we wonât be citing any sources here and will keep it simple. This explanation works really well because it provides evidence for the third supporting point.
Letâs be even more specific and write at least one example.
Again, Iâm using a personal example to show that whoever spends the most time with the child will have the most influence.
And letâs take a look at our third body paragraph as a whole:
We have here 116 words of great, general-to-specific content that supports our third point.Â
As a result, if we look back at what weâve done, weâll see that everything we wrote in the body paragraphs supports the main point that parents are the best teachers.
Itâs time for the next step.Â
Introduction Â
Our introduction will be just one sentence, which is enough.Â
First, letâs revisit our complete thesis statement. We will write the introductory sentence based on it.Â
In this paragraph, we go straight to the point, and thereâs nothing wrong with that.Â
However, as we know, most instructors will expect some kind of an introduction. So, weâll add one sentence before we get to the main point.
This sentence must be more general. We are zooming out a little. Letâs do it:
And letâs take a look at the full paragraph together with the introduction:
Note that I took out the phrase âfor three reasons.â It is unnecessary because it is clear that you are providing three supporting points. And the whole paragraph sounds better this way.
To write the conclusion, weâll simply reword the thesis statement. We only need to make sure that we donât sound like weâre just repeating things.
That was not too hard, was it?
Itâs time for the final step.Â
In this step, we just need to go over our essay, making final edits and corrections. And thatâs all.
I hope this tutorial really helps you in your essay writing.Â
Stay tuned and weâll talk soon!
How to Write a 300 Word Essay â Simple Tutorial
How to expand an essay â 4 tips to increase the word count, 10 solid essay writing tips to help you improve quickly, 6 simple ways to improve sentence structure in your essays.
Tutor Phil is an e-learning professional who helps adult learners finish their degrees by teaching them academic writing skills.
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How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application â especially if youâre applying to selective colleges.
Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peersâ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.
We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.
College Essay Basics
Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.
- Why do essays matter in the college application process?
- What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
- How to format and structure your college essay
Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:
How a college essay fits into your application
What a strong essay does for your chances
How to create an application theme
Learn the Types of College Essays
Next, letâs make sure you understand the different types of college essays. Youâll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.
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- How to write the âWhy This Collegeâ Essay
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- How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
- Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples
Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type
What each type of essay is really asking of you
How to write each essay effectively
The Common App essay
Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why itâs important you get this right.
- How to Write the Common App Essay
- Successful Common App Essay Examples
- 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
- 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them
How to choose which Common App prompts to answer
How to write a successful Common App essay
What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers
Supplemental Essay Guides
Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.
These essays are extremely important in standing out. Weâve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last yearâs essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. Weâll update these in August when schools release their prompts.
See last yearâs supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.
Essay brainstorming and composition
Now that youâre starting to write your essay, letâs dive into the writing process. Below youâll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.
- Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
- Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay
- How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
- What If I Donât Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
- 8 Doâs and Donât for Crafting Your College Essay
- Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writerâs Block
Understand how to write a great hook for your essay
Complete the first drafts of your essay
Editing and polishing your essay
Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.
- 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
- Getting Help with Your College Essay
- 5 DIY Tips for Editing Your College Essay
- How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
- Essential Grammar Rules for Your College Apps
- College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?
Proofread and edited your essay.
Had someone else look through your essay â we recommend submitting it for a peer review.
Make sure your essay meets all requirements â consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when youâre really ready to submit.
Advanced College Essay Techniques
Letâs take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.
- 10 Guidelines for Highly Readable College Essays
- How to Use Literary Devices to Enhance Your Essay
- How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your College Applications
Hereâs how you can nail your college essay in 5 steps
What is university experience without tackling the mammoth of words and hours upon hours of writing? Essays are inevitable if youâre pursuing an academic life, and youâll encounter them soon enough just weeks into the start of your freshman year. If youâre looking for a guide on how to write an essay , hereâs where we bring you the nitty-gritty stuff to ace your next paper.
How to write an essay: A step-by-step guide for college students
Step 1: understand the assignment .
Donât assume, and donât underestimate how easily you can misinterpret instructions. A misunderstanding is costly; you canât get good grades if youâre not responding to the correct questions in the first place. When youâre tasked with a writing assignment , take a few minutes to read through and digest what your professor is looking for.
Read the instruction thoroughly, and highlight keywords that indicate the true purpose of the assignment. Are you writing a discursive essay, a prĂ©cis, or a book review? Your writing style, tone, and formatting will need to conform to whatâs required in the paper. If youâre still unclear about what you need to do, always ask your professor for clarification before proceeding.
Students can avoid over-researching by listing specific questions that will help narrow down certain viewpoints in a research topic. Source: Philippe Lopez/AFP
Step 2: Research the topic
Now that youâve cleared the confusion, itâs time to dive into the actual pre-writing work. Researching allows you to go in-depth into a subject beyond what is studied in class, hence why itâs usually the most fun part of the entire writing process. Thereâs such a thing as over-researching though, and you donât want to be overwhelmed with more information than necessary.
The key to avoiding falling into the rabbit hole of endless research is by starting smart. Put yourself in the readerâs shoes: what would you like to know most about your subject matter? Begin with a list of inquiries that are specific to your topic, eliminating anything that is too generalised.
As you research, itâs crucial to keep track of your sources and compile a reference list so you can have your facts at hand when you start writing them in your essay. You can use citation tools from websites like Mendeley or Zotero to instantly generate citations in the correct format. Your writing process will be more streamlined if you start organising your sources early on.
Step 3: Construct your thesis statement
An essay is as good as its thesis statement. Think of your paper as building a case in a defence trial. Whatâs the central argument or purpose of your paper? Does it invite the reader to hear your side of the story?
The thesis statement has to be something that is debatable, but not too broad. It isnât a fact, nor an opinion, but rather a claim that can be expanded on both sides of the fence. A well-crafted thesis is a prelude to how your argument will develop, and gives readers a glimpse into where youâre going with your evidence.
Proofreading your writing draft is a crucial step to polishing your essay before submitting it for grading. Source: Charly Triballeau/AFP
Step 4: Outlining, structuring, and concluding
Youâve got your thesis statements and painstaking research to back it up â the next step is putting them all together. A convincing essay is one that can deliver coherence and consistency throughout the pages. You want your arguments to read like they develop organically, so think about ways you can order them. If there is a timeline involved, structuring your points by chronology will make your points easier to follow.
Sectioning your paragraphs with topic sentences is another way to signal transition between ideas before introducing new supporting evidence in your writing. End each idea with real-life examples obtained from your research, and anticipate counterarguments to your claims by addressing them as much as you can in your essay.
When writing your conclusion, donât regurgitate your previous ideas. Use the space to make a lasting impression on your readers by summarising your arguments and providing a good closure by offering a unique perspective on the larger scholarship of your subject.
Step 5: Proofread your draft
While itâs tempting to submit your essay and not look back, taking time to proofread and edit your writing is a critical step in your overall writing procedure. Try to not edit immediately after finishing your draft â let it sit for a day or two if you have the time. Youâll notice more subtle mistakes with a fresh set of eyes, and wonât lose marks in stylistic errors.
Some professors are more than happy to give feedback and suggestions to improve your draft, so make use of that if you have time to spare before the deadline. Getting professional input could be the game-changer between a lower and a higher grade for your essay.
Once youâre happy with your final draft and have cited all your sources accordingly, youâre all good to go! Remember, learning how to write an essay gets better with practice if you plan accordingly from the beginning.
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Facing Difficulty Writing an Academic Essay? â Here is your one-stop solution!
Academic writing is an important aspect of higher education, as it helps to develop critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. However, for many people, writing an academic essay can be a daunting task. In this blog, we will take you through the process of writing an academic essay, step by step, so that you can approach your next writing assignment with confidence.
From understanding the assignment and researching the topic to developing an outline and revising your work, we will cover all of the key elements of the academic essay-writing process. We will also provide tips and tricks for overcoming common challenges and improving your writing skills. Whether you’re just starting out in your academic career, or you’re a seasoned pro looking to refine your writing skills, this blog has something to offer.
So, if you’re ready to take your academic writing to the next level, read on and discover how to write an academic essay that will impress your readers and help you achieve your goals.
Table of Contents
Writing an Academic Essay
1. introduction.
The introduction is one of the most important parts of an academic essay, as it sets the stage for what’s to come. The introduction should provide background information on the topic, establish the purpose of the essay, and clearly state your thesis. The purpose of the introduction is to engage your reader and make them want to continue reading.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong introduction:
1. Start with a hook
Begin your introduction with a hook that will grab the reader’s attention. This could be a quote, a statistic, or an interesting fact related to the topic.
2. Provide background information
After the hook, provide some background information on the topic to give context to the reader. This information should be relevant to the topic and help the reader understand why it’s important.
3. State your thesis
The thesis statement is a clear and concise statement of what you will argue in your essay. It should be placed near the end of the introduction and should reflect the focus of your essay.
4. Preview the main points
Preview the main points of your essay, so the reader knows what to expect. This will give your reader a roadmap for what is to come and will help you to stay focused as you write your essay.
5. Engage your reader
The introduction should engage your reader and make them want to continue reading. Avoid using too much technical language or jargon, and instead, focus on making your introduction accessible and interesting.
Writing a strong introduction to an academic essay is crucial for engaging your reader and setting the stage for what’s to come. By starting with a hook, providing background information, stating your thesis, previewing the main points, and engaging your reader, you will be well on your way to writing a strong academic essay.
2. Literature Review
The literature review is a critical component of an academic essay, as it provides a foundation for the rest of your research. The purpose of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize previous research on the topic and to identify gaps in the existing knowledge. The literature review should be more than just a list of articles and books, but rather an evaluation of the relevant literature.
Here are some key steps to writing a literature review :
1. Choose the right sources
Start by identifying relevant sources for your literature review. This may include academic journals, books, conference proceedings, and theses. Make sure to choose only the most relevant and up-to-date sources.
2. Read and take notes
Once you’ve identified your sources, it’s time to read and take notes. Use a system to keep track of the information and be sure to note the author, date, and key findings of each source.
3. Summarize the literature
In your literature review, you should summarize the key findings of each source, highlighting their relevance to your research. You should also synthesize the information, looking for patterns, similarities, and differences among the sources.
4. Evaluate the literature
A strong literature review should not just summarize the sources, but also evaluate them. This means examining their strengths and weaknesses and assessing their relevance to your research question .
5. Identify gaps in the literature
As you evaluate the sources, look for gaps in the existing knowledge and areas where further research is needed. This will help you to identify the significance of your research and justify the need for your study.
6. Organize your literature review
Once you’ve completed your evaluation, you should organize your literature review clearly and logically. This could be chronologically, thematically, or based on methodology.
By choosing the right sources, reading and taking notes, summarizing and evaluating the literature, identifying gaps, and organizing your review, you will be able to provide a thorough and well-supported foundation for the rest of your essay.
3. Methodology
The methodology section of an academic essay is where you describe the methods you used to conduct your research. This section is an opportunity to explain the steps you took to answer your research question and to justify why you chose these methods. The methodology should be detailed, precise, and transparent so that others can understand and replicate your study if necessary.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong methodology:
1. Define your research question
Before writing your methodology, you should have a clear understanding of your research question. This will guide the choice of methods you use and the information you collect.
2. Choose the right methods
The choice of methods should be guided by the research question. For example, if you’re conducting a survey, you would use a different method than if you were conducting a case study. Consider the strengths and limitations of each method, and choose the one that is best suited to your research question.
3. Explain your methods in detail
In your methodology, you should describe your methods in detail, so that others can understand how you conducted your research. This should include information on the sample size, how you collected the data, and any instruments or techniques you used.
4. Justify your methods
You should justify why you chose the methods you used and how they are appropriate for answering your research question. This might involve a discussion of the limitations of your methods and how they affect the results.
5. Address ethical considerations
If your research involved human subjects, you must address ethical considerations in your methodology. This might include information on informed consent, data confidentiality, and any potential risks to participants.
6. Be transparent
Your methodology should be transparent and honest so that others can understand and replicate your study if necessary. Be sure to report all of the methods you used, even if the results were not what you expected.
By defining your research question, choosing the right methods, explaining your methods in detail, justifying your methods, addressing ethical considerations, and being transparent, you will be able to provide a thorough and well-supported methodology for your essay.
The results section of an academic essay is where you present the findings of your research. This section should be clear, concise, and objective, and should present the data without any interpretation or discussion. The results should be organized logically and should include tables, figures, and other visual aids as necessary.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong results section:
1. Summarize the data
The first step in writing the results section is to summarize the data you collected. This might involve calculating means, standard deviations, and other descriptive statistics , depending on the type of data you collected.
2. Organize the results
This might involve presenting the results for each hypothesis, each research question, or each variable, depending on the nature of your study.
3. Use visual aids
Visual aids, such as tables and figures , can help to clarify and simplify the results. Make sure to label each visual aid clearly, and provide a caption that explains what the visual aid is showing.
4. Be objective
The results section should be objective, presenting the data without any interpretation or discussion. The interpretation of the results should be left to the discussion section.
5. Report results accurately
The results section should report the results accurately and precisely. This might involve rounding numbers to a specified number of decimal places, or using appropriate units of measurement.
In summary, by summarizing the data, organizing the results, using visual aids, being objective, and reporting the results accurately, you will be able to present your findings in a clear and compelling manner.
5. Discussion
The discussion section of an academic essay is where you interpret the results of your research and relate them to your research question and the broader literature. This section is an opportunity to conclude, make recommendations, and reflect on the strengths and limitations of your study. The discussion should be well-organized and should provide a clear and concise interpretation of the results.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong discussion section:
1. Interpret the results
The first step in writing the discussion section is to interpret the results of your study. This might involve comparing your results to previous research, explaining any unexpected results, and drawing conclusions about the implications of your findings.
2. Relate the results to your research question
The discussion should relate the results of your study to your research question, demonstrating how the results answer the question and providing insights into the topic.
3. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of your study
The discussion should include an evaluation of the strengths and limitations of your study, addressing any limitations that might affect the validity of the results, and suggesting areas for future research.
4. Draw conclusions
The discussion should conclude the results of the study, make recommendations based on the findings, and discuss the implications for future research.
5. Consider the broader context
The discussion should consider the broader context of the research, relating the findings to the broader literature and making connections to other related fields.
6. Write clearly and concisely
The discussion should be well-written and easy to understand, using clear and concise language. Avoid using technical jargon, and make sure to define any terms that may be unfamiliar to your reader.
6. Conclusion
The conclusion of an academic essay is the final section in which you summarize the key points of your argument and provide closure to your reader. This section should be concise and to the point, reiterating the main points of your essay and providing a final perspective on your topic. The conclusion should also reflect on the implications of your research, considering the broader context of your study and its contributions to the field.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong conclusion:
1. Summarize the key points
The first step in writing the conclusion is to summarize the key points of your essay. This might involve restating your research question, summarizing your findings, and reiterating your arguments.
2. Reflect on the implications of your research
The conclusion should reflect on the implications of your research, considering the broader context of your study and its contributions to the field. This might involve discussing the potential applications of your findings, considering any ethical implications, or discussing future directions for research.
3. Provide closure
The conclusion should provide closure to your reader, bringing your argument to a logical end and tying up any loose ends. This might involve suggesting a conclusion based on your research, or providing a final perspective on your topic.
4. Avoid introducing new information
The conclusion should avoid introducing new information or arguments that were not discussed in the body of your essay. This might confuse your reader and undermine the coherence of your argument.
5. Write concisely
The conclusion should be concise, using clear and concise language to summarize the key points of your essay. Avoid using technical jargon, and make sure to write in a way that is easy for your reader to understand.
By summarizing the key points, reflecting on the implications of your research, providing closure, avoiding introducing new information, and writing concisely, you will be able to provide a compelling conclusion to your argument.
7. References
The references section of an academic essay is a crucial component that provides a list of the sources you used in your research and writing. The purpose of the references section is to give credit to the authors whose work you have used, to provide evidence for your arguments, and to support the validity of your research.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong references section:
1. Follow a specific citation style
The first step in writing the references section is to follow a specific citation style. There are several citation styles used in academic writing, including APA , MLA , and Chicago , and it is important to choose the one that is appropriate for your discipline and the type of essay you are writing.
2. Cite all sources used in your essay
The references section should include a citation for all sources that you used in your essay, including books, journal articles, websites, and other types of sources.
3. Follow the format guidelines
The references section should be formatted according to the specific citation style that you have chosen. This might involve including information such as the author’s name, the title of the source, the publication date, and the page numbers for any direct quotes or paraphrased material.
4. Alphabetize the references
The references section should be alphabetized according to the author’s last name, or the first word of the title for sources without authors.
5. Check for accuracy
Before submitting your essay, make sure to check the references section for accuracy, verifying that all of the information is correct and that all of the sources are cited properly.
By following a specific citation style, citing all sources used in your essay, following the format guidelines, alphabetizing the references, and checking for accuracy, you will be able to provide a comprehensive and well-documented references section for your essay.
8. Appendices
The appendices section of an academic essay is an optional component that provides additional information that supports the main argument or research findings. This section might include materials such as graphs, tables, maps, images, or other types of data or supplementary information.
Here are some key steps to writing a strong appendices section:
1. Decide what to include
The first step in writing the appendices section is to decide what to include. This might involve evaluating the relevance of different types of information and determining which information is necessary to support your argument.
2. Label and organize the appendices
The appendices should be labeled and organized clearly and consistently, making it easy for the reader to understand the information being presented. This might involve including a title or description for each appendix, and numbering the appendices in a logical order.
3. Refer to the appendices in the main body of your essay
The appendices should be referred to in the main body of your essay, helping to connect the appendices to your argument. This might involve including a reference to the appendix in your text, or including a cross-reference to the appendix in your table of contents.
4. Use clear and concise language
The appendices should be written using clear and concise language, making it easy for the reader to understand the information being presented. Avoid using technical jargon, and make sure to write in a way that is accessible to your reader.
Before submitting your essay, make sure to check the appendices section for accuracy, verifying that all of the information is correct and that all of the tables, graphs, and other materials are properly labeled and organized.
By deciding what to include, labeling and organizing the appendices, referring to the appendices in the main body of your essay, using clear and concise language, and checking for accuracy, you will be able to provide a comprehensive and well-documented appendices section for your essay.
In Conclusion
Writing an academic essay is a complex and challenging task that requires careful planning, research, writing, and revision. From developing a strong thesis statement and researching the topic to writing the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references, each step in the essay writing process requires attention to detail and a commitment to producing a high-quality essay.
By following the guidelines and tips outlined in this blog, you will be able to write a clear and well-structured essay that effectively communicates your argument, supports your claims with evidence, and meets the expectations of your reader.
In conclusion, writing an academic essay is a multi-step process that requires time, effort, and dedication. However, by breaking the process down into manageable steps, and by focusing on the key elements of writing an effective essay, you will be able to produce a high-quality essay that meets the expectations of your reader and contributes to your academic or professional success.
The best info ever thanks keep going like this đ đ đ đ
It’s clearly and interesting work. I will use ir for My study and work i’m education un Patagonia, Argentina. Thanks Shrutika.
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How to Write an Essay: Step by Step Guide With Examples
An essay is a brief writing that explains, analyzes and interprets a topic; itâs a summary of a particular topic in which the author also expresses an opinion.
The essay is a very useful, practical and simple learning and expression tool and it has rules, specifications or details regarding its format and content you must know to be able to do it correctly. Some of the most frequent questions about the essay are:
Does the essay need a title? How many paragraphs does an essay have? Does it have headings and a conclusion? Does the essay have a full stop? Are the introduction, body and conclusion on separate pages? How do you make the cover of an essay?
Those are some of the various questions that come up when you need to do an essay, all of which are addressed here.
Table of Contents
What is an essay.
An essay is a short writing that explains, analyzes, and interprets a topic. It is an explanatory and analytical summary of a specific topic, where the author not only exposes or explains the subject but also, based on solid information, expresses an opinion on it.
The difference between an essay and the informational text you can see everywhere, is  that an essay is freer, and its parts are not separated by headings.
The format of an essay and most common doubts
The format of an essay refers to the arrangement or location of each of its parts; it is the order of its components that is visually perceived and that gives the essay better appearance and organization.
This is done according to the APA format and itâs norms are the ones that are below
- Font: Arial or Times New Roman, number 12.
- Leading: Leading is the vertical space between each line and must be 1.5.
- Margins : 2.54 cm lower, upper and right margins.
- The text must always be justified , that a text is justified means that the lines have to be aligned, so they create the shape of a square. However, there can be cases when this canât be achieved, like when you write a list.
- The headings âIntroductionâ, âBodyâ and âConclusion â are not written in the essay. They essay is written continuously, and you should avoid placing such headings.
The essay does have each of these parts but they are not identified as in a monographic work, but rather they are written one after another. An example of an essay can be seen at the end of this article.
- Full stop. The essays do have a full stop, after each paragraph.
- Paragraphs : An essay needs to have at least 5 paragraphs, and each paragraph must have a minimum of 3 lines and a maximum of 10 lines.
The parts or structure of an essay
The structural organization of an essay comprises three fundamental parts:
- Introduction.
- Conclusion.
The introductionÂ
The introduction, as its name implies, introduces the reader to the essay with following steps:
- Expression of a general idea. It consists of expressing a broad or macro idea of the topic, for example, if an essay is going to be about a type of personal pronoun , it begins with the definition of pronoun. Or, if itâs about a sport like soccer, it begins with the definition of sport.
- Indication of a less general idea. The topic begins to be reduced and concentrated. For example, after having defined what a sport is, it is mentioned that there are many sports and one of them is soccer and present a definition of soccer.
- Indication of an update . The purpose is to locate the essay in time and space, that is, in the historical moment and / or geographical location where it has context. If you talk about human rights violations , here you write about the violations that are currently taking place and the geographical place of interest where they take place.
- An exemplification . Here you could write cases in which human rights have been violated.
- Presentation of the problem, topic, question, this will depend on the type of essay . The most common essay that is frequently assigned to students is expository, which consists of developing the topic through explanations, comparisons, and exemplifications. Here is where the fundamental idea of the essay is located and that is placed last.
The body of the essay
The body consists of the points that develop the essay in depth. In the example of the essay about soccer, the body could have the history of soccer, the rules of the game, the most important championships, etc
Form and organization the body
- Each topic should be covered in a separate paragraph.
- Each topic, preferably, should be introduced by a connector (Regarding⊠As regard⊠With respect toâŠ)
- The development must contain more information than the introduction and conclusion because it constitutes the detailed information of the essay.
The conclusionÂ
- The conclusion is preferably written in a single paragraph, and it is also preferred that it be the same or similar in size to that of the introduction. It starts with a connector (To finishâŠ. In conclusionâŠ)
- There should be a mention of one or two topics covered in the body.
Here goes the authorâs personal opinion, (You, the person doing the essay, your opinion) an essay has, of course, personal opinions in its body, however, in the conclusion these must be emphatic.
To make it clear that the author is giving his or her opinion, he or she can use phrases such as âIn my opinionâŠâ âI thinkâŠâ âI hold that âŠâ âFrom my perspective ⊠etc.
In the last part, you write what you think about the subject, if itâs a typical expository essay. What appears here depends on the type of essay, it can be the answer to the question, or the solution of the problem as the case may be. Â
- References go in a separate page that starts with the heading âReferencesâ. Add only those that have been cited, not the texts you read to do the essay.
- References must be placed in alphabetical order and according to APA standards.
Example of references
Savater, F. (1991). Ătica para Amador. Barcelona: Ariel.
Thomas, Ann and Aron Thomas, Jr. (1956 ). Non-intervention: The law and its import in the Americas . Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University Press.
Transtle. (2022). How to Write an Essay: The Ultimate Step by Step Guide. Transtle . Available: https://www.transtle.com/general-learning/how-to-write-an-essay/ [Consulted: 2022, January 24th].
Walzer, M. (2000). Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations.  (3rd edn.). New York: Basic Books.
Example of an essay
Text in the essay from: Mundanopedia.com
- Scriptwriting
How to Write a Narrative Essay â A Step-by-Step Guide
N arrative essays are important papers most students have to write. But how does one write a narrative essay? Fear not, weâre going to show you how to write a narrative essay by breaking down a variety of narrative writing strategies. By the end, youâll know why narrative essays are so important â and how to write your own.
How to Write a Narrative Essay Step by Step
Background on narrative essays.
Narrative essays are important assignments in many writing classes â but what is a narrative essay? A narrative essay is a prose-written story thatâs focused on the commentary of a central theme .
Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV , and are usually about a topic thatâs personal to the writer.
Everything in a narrative essay should take place in an established timeline, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
In simplest terms, a narrative essay is a personal story. A narrative essay can be written in response to a prompt or as an independent exercise.
Weâre going to get to tips and tricks on how to write a narrative essay in a bit, but first letâs check out a video on âstory.â
How to Start a Narrative Essay âą What is a Story? by Mr. Kresphus
In some regards, any story can be regarded as a personal story, but for the sake of this article, weâre going to focus on prose-written stories told in the first-person POV.
How to Start a Narrative Essay
Responding to prompts.
Many people wonder about how to start a narrative essay. Well, if youâre writing a narrative essay in response to a prompt, then chances are the person issuing the prompt is looking for a specific answer.
For example: if the prompt states ârecount a time you encountered a challenge,â then chances are the person issuing the prompt wants to hear about how you overcame a challenge or learned from it.
That isnât to say you have to respond to the prompt in one way; âovercomingâ or âlearningâ from a challenge can be constituted in a variety of ways.
For example, you could structure your essay around overcoming a physical challenge, like an injury or disability. Or you could structure your essay around learning from failure, such as losing at a sport or performing poorly on an important exam.
Whatever it is, you must show that the challenge forced you to grow.
Maturation is an important process â and an essential aspect of narrative essays... of course, there are exceptions to the rule; lack of maturation is a prescient theme in narrative essays too; although thatâs mostly reserved for experienced essay writers.
So, letâs take a look at how you might respond to a series of narrative essay prompts:
How successful are you?
This prompt begs the writer to impart humility without throwing a pity party. I would respond to this prompt by demonstrating pride in what I do while offering modesty. For example: âI have achieved success in what I set out to do â but I still have a long way to go to achieve my long-term goals.â
Who is your role model?
âMy role model is [Blank] because â is how you should start this narrative essay. The âbecauseâ is the crux of your essay. For example, Iâd say âBill Russell is my role model because he demonstrated graceful resolve in the face of bigotry and discrimination.
Do you consider yourself spiritual?
For this prompt, you should explain how you came to the conclusion of whether or not you consider yourself a spiritual person. Of course, prompt-givers will differ on how much they want you to freely express. For example: if the prompt-giver is an employee at an evangelizing organization, then they probably want to see that youâre willing to propagate the churchâs agenda. Alternatively, if the prompt-giver is non-denominational, they probably want to see that youâre accepting of people from various spiritual backgrounds.
How to Write Narrative Essay
What makes a good narrative essay.
You donât have to respond to a prompt to write a narrative essay. So, how do you write a narrative essay without a prompt? Well, thatâs the thing⊠you can write a narrative essay about anything!
Thatâs a bit of a blessing and a curse though â on one hand itâs liberating to choose any topic you want; on the other, itâs difficult to narrow down a good story from an infinite breadth of possibilities.
In this next video, the team at Essay Pro explores why passion is the number one motivator for effective narrative essays.
How to Write a Narrative Essay Step by Step âą Real Essay Examples by Essay Pro
So, before you write anything, ask yourself: âwhat am I passionate about?â Movies? Sports? Books? Games? Baking? Volunteering? Whatever it is, make sure that itâs something that demonstrates your individual growth . It doesnât have to be anything major; take a video game for example: you could write a narrative essay about searching for a rare weapon with friends.
Success or failure, youâll be able to demonstrate growth.
Hereâs something to consider: writing a narrative essay around intertextuality. What is intertextuality ? Intertextuality is the relationship between texts, i.e., books, movies, plays, songs, games, etc. In other words, itâs anytime one text is referenced in another text.
For example, you could write a narrative essay about your favorite movie! Just make sure that it ultimately reflects back on yourself.
Narrative Writing Format
Structure of a narrative essay.
Narrative essays differ in length and structure â but there are some universal basics. The first paragraph of a narrative essay should always introduce the central theme. For example, if the narrative essay is about âa fond childhood memory,â then the first paragraph should briefly comment on the nature of the fond childhood memory.
In general, a narrative essay should have an introductory paragraph with a topic sentence (reiterating the prompt or basic idea), a brief commentary on the central theme, and a set-up for the body paragraphs.
The body paragraphs should make up the vast majority of the narrative essay. In the body paragraphs, the writer should essentially âbuild the storyâs case.â What do I mean by âbuild the storyâs case?â
Well, I mean that the writer should display the storyâs merit; what it means, why it matters, and how it proves (or refutes) personal growth.
The narrative essay should always conclude with a dedicated paragraph. In the âconclusion paragraph,â the writer should reflect on the story.
Pro tip: conclusion paragraphs usually work best when the writer stays within the diegesis.
What is a Video Essay?
A video essay is a natural extension of a narrative essay; differentiated only by purpose and medium. In our next article, weâll explain what a video essay is, and why itâs so important to media criticism. By the end, youâll know where to look for video essay inspiration.
Up Next: The Art of Video Analysis â
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How to write a perfect essay
Need to write an essay? Does the assignment feel as big as climbing Mount Everest? Fear not. Youâre up to the challenge! The following step-by step tips from the Nat Geo Kids Almanac will help you with this monumental task.
Sometimes the subject matter of your essay is assigned to you, sometimes itâs not. Either way, you have to decide what you want to say. Start by brainstorming some ideas, writing down any thoughts you have about the subject. Then read over everything youâve come up with and consider which idea you think is the strongest. Ask yourself what you want to write about the most. Keep in mind the goal of your essay. Can you achieve the goal of the assignment with this topic? If so, youâre good to go.
WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE
This is the main idea of your essay, a statement of your thoughts on the subject. Again, consider the goal of your essay. Think of the topic sentence as an introduction that tells your reader what the rest of your essay will be about.
OUTLINE YOUR IDEAS
Once you have a good topic sentence, you then need to support that main idea with more detailed information, facts, thoughts, and examples. These supporting points answer one question about your topic sentenceââWhy?â This is where research and perhaps more brainstorming come in. Then organize these points in the way you think makes the most sense, probably in order of importance. Now you have an outline for your essay.
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, WRITE!
Follow your outline, using each of your supporting points as the topic sentence of its own paragraph. Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your essay. Use transitions to make your writing flow.
Finish your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your entire essay and 5 restates your main idea.
PROOFREAD AND REVISE
Check for errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Look for ways to make your writing clear, understandable, and interesting. Use descriptive verbs, adjectives, or adverbs when possible. It also helps to have someone else read your work to point out things you might have missed. Then make the necessary corrections and changes in a second draft. Repeat this revision process once more to make your final draft as good as you can.
Download the pdf .
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Readers' Corner
How To Write An Essay Introduction: A Step-by-Step Guide
Table of contents, determine your essay statement:, hook the reader:, provide overview and preview:, crafting your outline:, edit and revise:, conclusion:.
Writing a strong introduction is one of the most important parts of crafting a polished essay. The opening paragraph sets the tone for your argument and piques the reader’s interest right from the start. This article will break down the step-by-step process for writing an effective essay introduction, including determining your essay statement, hooking the reader with an attention-grabbing opening, providing an overview of the essay, and revising your writing. Relevant examples will be provided for each step to illustrate how it can be implemented. By following these guidelines and examples to write essay introduction, you’ll be well on your way to starting your essay off strong.
The foundation of any solid academic paper or essay comes from having a clear, focused statement. Your statement should present the central argument you will explore and prove over the course of the essay. It conveys the perspective or conclusion you have reached regarding the topic at hand and contains the key points or ideas you will analyse in your body paragraphs.
For example, let’s say the topic is police brutality in America . A weak statement might be:
“This paper will discuss police brutality.”
This statement is too broad and does not take a clear stance. A stronger statement could be:
“This paper argues that systemic racism within American police departments has led to disproportionate violence against people of colour and proposes policy reforms such as mandatory de-escalation training, community oversight boards, and bans on chokeholds as ways to promote racial justice and restore trust in law enforcement.”
This statement is clearer, narrower, and takes a definitive position that can be supported over the course of the essay. It outlines the key points that will be analysed in the body paragraphs. Some tips for crafting a strong essay statement include:
- Narrow your topic to a single, manageable claim rather than a broad topic area. Ask yourself what specific point you want to make or prove.
- Keep your essay statement concise – usually one sentence that is between 10-15 words. Short, sweet, and right to the point is best.
- Use definitive language that takes a stance rather than presenting both sides. State your perspective overtly rather than hinting at it.
- Include elements that will structure your essay, such as key terms, concepts, individuals, events, or works that you will analyse in depth.
- Place the statement at the end of your introductory paragraph so readers have context before your central argument.
- Check that your statement gives a sense of direction for the essay by tying back to the prompt or guiding question if one was provided. Make sure any contents or claims mentioned in the statement are logically argued and proven over the body paragraphs.
With conscious effort focused on these strategies, you can craft a crystal clear statement that sets an achievable roadmap for your essay’s structure and analysis. It’s the linchpin that holds everything together.
Now that you have identified your central argument, the next important element is hooking the reader right away with an engaging opening sentence. Your essay introduction only has a few short lines to capture attention and establish a compelling tone – so make them count!
For example, in an essay analysing the themes of power and corruption in George Orwell’s Animal Farm , you may begin with:
“While on the surface a simple fable about barnyard insurrection, George Orwell’s Animal Farm contains deeper parallels to the corruption of the Russian Revolution that have cemented its status as a classic of political satire.”
This opening directly references the subject work and piques curiosity about its deeper significance. Another essay, on debates over police funding, may start with:
“In June of 2020, as national protests against police brutality erupted across America, the Minneapolis City Council made a bold claim – they would dismantle the police department entirely.”
This current events reference establishes relevance while surprising readers on where the introduction may lead. Some other attention-grabbing techniques may include:
- Quotes, statistics or facts: Drop an interesting snippet of evidence right off the bat to surprise and intrigue readers.
- Rhetorical questions: Pose an open-ended query to make readers think and get them invested in the topic.
- Vivid scenarios: Paint a picture with descriptive details to transport readers visually into your world.
- Counterintuitive claims: Challenge conventional wisdom in a thought-provoking manner from the start.
- Relevant anecdotes: Share a brief personal story that builds empathy and relevance.
- Current events: Reference a newsworthy development to show timeliness of discussion.
- Humour: Start off on a lighter note if your tone allows for a bit of levity to capture smiles.
- Definitions: Clarify how you are using important terms in an original way.
The goal is to pique natural human curiosity by teasing just enough context without giving everything away. Make readers want to lean in and keep reading to learn more. With practice, you’ll develop your own signature style for captivating opener sentences tailored to your voice and content area.
After generating initial intrigue, use the next couple lines of your introductory paragraph to offer readers direction about where you aim to lead them. Provide a brief overview of key facts and background necessary to establish context for the topic. You can state the main themes, schools of thought, influential figures, opposing viewpoints or any other defining characteristics that help orient readers. Moreover, it’s helpful to give a quick preview of how the remainder of your paper is structured by stating the main supporting points and ideas you will expand upon in subsequent paragraphs. This overview transitions the reader smoothly into the body while retaining suspense about which evidence or analyses might surprise them along the way. You can also state the main themes or ideas that will structure your paper by saying something like:
“This paper examines three prevailing schools of thought on the debate, analyses the flawed assumptions behind popular arguments, and ultimately argues that sustainable policy reforms are necessary to make progress.”
A quick preview helps transition the reader into the body of the essay while retaining suspense about how your unique analysis and evidence will unfold. It gives them direction without revealing all your cards.
For a humanities essay on morality in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, an overview may be:
“This essay explores how Steinbeck portrays the human need for dignity and companionship through the lens of 1930s migrant work. It analyses the complex relationships between George, Lennie, and other characters to ultimately argue Steinbeck uses their plight to comment on the dehumanizing realities of the Great Depression.”
Providing a lightly detailed synopsis serves as a useful roadmap and entices continued learning without “spoiling” your full analysis and argumentative strategies still to unfold. It gives structure without giving everything away too quickly. Try to keep this final sentence of your introductory paragraph under 2-3 concise sentences for optimal impact and flow.
As highlighted in the previous sections, it’s crucial your introduction tightly links back to your overall essay’s content and fulfils its signposting purpose. That’s why outlining both your introduction as well as the overall essay structure simultaneously is advised. Determine the flow of ideas for your body paragraphs first so the introduction can adequately mirror that intended progression and put forth clues about what’s to come without fully revealing your hand. Some tips for outlining:
- Jot down your main points, analyses and support in note form in whatever sequential order makes the most logical sense based on how the evidence flows together.
- Assign each chunk of information a corresponding letter or number to use as headings to structure the physical writing later.
- Consider how long you want each body paragraph or section to be – aim for Uniformity but allow flexibility if needed.
- Fill in any gaps where transitions between ideas may fall flat by inserting more research or brainstorming.
- Note sources and direct quotations or examples you plan to incorporate with their corresponding place in the outline.
- Leave space after each point to type out the full paragraphs once you begin physically writing up the essay.
For example, an outline analysing political themes in Shakespeare’s Macbeth may group as:
I. Introduction
Statement: Shakespeare uses…to critique early modern politics etc.
II. Royal Misconduct
A. Ambition
- Quotes on Lady Macbeth’s speech
- Examples of Macbeth’s soliloquies
B. Ethical Failures
- Scene of murdering Duncan
- Banquo’s ghost
III. Downfall of a Leader
A. Isolation of a Tyrant
- Macbeth’s madness
- Example of the witches’ final prophecies
B. Fall from Grace
- Macduff’s return
- Scene of final battle
A carefully mapped outline lays the essential roadmap for your essay and ensures each new section builds cohesively upon the last. Returning to review your essay introduction paragraph against this master plan before finalizing it is a great way to guarantee it delivers on signposting duties effectively.
Like any other part of the writing process, allow time for careful editing and revising your introduction. The advice of trusted writing consultants or professors can highlight areas where clarity or flow could be improved. When editing:
- Evaluate the strength and focus of your statement. Revise as needed.
- Check introductory paragraph follows a logical progression from start to finish.
- Ensure any defined terms, names or background are clearly explained at first mention.
- Evaluate your opening sentence – is it still an effective hook or could a stronger technique be swapped in?
- Trim any excess wordiness that does not directly serve orienting the reader.
- Proofread spelling, grammar punctuation to eliminate issues that break reading flow.
- Consider reworking sentence structure for variances and eloquent phrasing.
- Have your introduction mimic the organization and tone of the essay to follow.
Evaluate whether it successfully previews your paper’s substantive content and leave enough for the reader to discover on their own. Getting constructive outside eyes on your introduction is invaluable for perfecting its impact and quality prior to submission. Keep refining until you’re proud of each elegant, cohesive element!
In conclusion, crafting an introduction is as much an art as a strategic process. With practice and conscious attention to these elements, your opening paragraphs can set the stage for a strong essay that grabs reader attention from the very start and invites them into your perspective. Remember – determination of a focused statement that ties back to the essay’s key aims, hooking curiosity with an intriguing lead sentence, orienting with context and previews of what’s to come, and allowing time for revision will set your work up for success. Following these guidelines for writing an effective introduction lays the foundation for proficient academic and professional communications. Continue challenging yourself to develop your signature voice and writing excellence.
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How to Write an Argumentative Essay with Impact
When it comes to persuading others, legal professionals are masters. They use persuasive skills, like crafting compelling stories, to win cases in court. This shows how important it is to argue effectively, especially when the stakes are high. In our journey into argumentative essays, we'll learn how to structure our writing well, predict counterarguments, and tell a convincing story.
With help of our argumentative essay writer , you'll learn how to organize your ideas, support your arguments, and see examples that make it all clearer. Whether you're new to writing an argumentative essay or have some experience, come along to become better at arguing your point.
What Is an Argumentative Essay
Argumentative essays deal with topics that spark different opinions. Here, writers take a stand on an issue and back it up with evidence and reasons. The topic should be something people can have different views on. The goal isn't just to share an opinion but to persuade others to agree with the writer.
In these essays, writers use strong and convincing language, similar to when learning how to write persuasive essay . They try to make readers see their point of view. For example, in an essay about online education, the writer might say:
'Online education offers more flexibility and access compared to traditional classrooms.'
This statement sets up the essay to discuss reasons, evidence, and examples supporting this view. These essays rely on facts, stats, research, and examples to prove the writer's points.
If you find writing such essays daunting, don't worry. There are skilled writers who can help. If you feel like saying, ' Write essay for me !' let experienced writers handle it with their expertise.
Argumentative Essay Examples
Let's check out some example essays where convincing arguments, backed by facts and clear language, have made a big difference. These stories not only inspire us but also teach us valuable lessons on how to effectively sway opinions and create compelling narratives that resonate with others.
Argumentative Essay Example â
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Argumentative Essay Outline
Understanding how to structure an argumentative essay goes beyond having strong opinions. It involves creating a clear framework that helps both the writer and the reader follow a logical flow of ideas. In this part, we'll look closely at three different ways to outline an argumentative essay: the Aristotelian (Classic) method, the Toulmin model, and the Rogerian strategy. Each method has its own structure, giving writers various tools to craft convincing and well-organized arguments.
Aristotelian (Classic)
The Aristotelian approach, also known as the Classic method, pays homage to the ancient wisdom of Aristotle's rhetorical principles. This argumentative essay structure is composed of three distinct movements: introduction, body, and conclusion.
Introduction :
- Initiate with a captivating hook to captivate the reader's attention.
- Offer background context to illuminate the significance of the topic at hand.
- Articulate a clear and concise thesis statement that unequivocally states your position.
- Deploy the power of logos (logical appeal) by presenting concrete evidence, factual information, and cogent reasoning.
- Establish ethos (ethical appeal) by integrating reputable sources to bolster your credibility and authority.
- Evoke pathos (emotional appeal) to resonate with the reader's emotions and forge a deeper connection.
Conclusion :
- Synthesize the main arguments and insights discussed throughout the essay.
- Reiterate the thesis to leave a lasting impression on the reader.
- Conclude with a poignant and thought-provoking closing statement that lingers in the reader's mind.
Crafted by philosopher Stephen Toulmin, this model zooms in on the pieces of an argument puzzle and how they fit together. Here's the breakdown, tailor-made by our team at dissertation writing services :
Claim : Clearly state your main argument or point.
Grounds : Back up your claim with evidence and support.
Warrant : Connect the dots between your claim and the evidence provided.
Backing : Give more backup for your reasoning.
Qualifier : Recognize any limitations or boundaries to your argument.
Rebuttal : Take on opposing views and arguments head-on.
Inspired by psychologist Carl Rogers, the Rogerian method for writing an argumentative essay prioritizes building bridges and fostering empathy.
- Set a neutral tone to encourage open-mindedness.
- Acknowledge the complexity of the topic to show understanding.
- Introduce the issue from various viewpoints to provide a broader understanding.
- Clearly state your stance while acknowledging opposing viewpoints to demonstrate fairness.
- Explore common ground and areas of agreement to foster understanding.
- Present your perspective with empathy, respecting differing opinions.
- Highlight shared objectives and potential areas for compromise to promote cooperation.
- Encourage ongoing dialogue to continue exploring solutions.
Argumentative Essay Structure
Understanding how to write an argumentative essay requires a structured approach that leads both writer and reader through a compelling narrative. Let's break it down into key parts: introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
- Capture attention with a striking opener. 'In a world driven by environmental concerns, the debate over renewable energy sources becomes increasingly critical.'
- Offer a brief context to the topic. 'With the looming threat of climate change, society grapples with the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions.'
- Clearly state your stance. 'This essay argues that investing in solar energy is imperative for combating climate change and securing a greener future.'
Thesis Statement:
- Example: 'Investing in solar energy infrastructure is not only environmentally responsible but also economically advantageous.'
Body Paragraphs:
- Introduce the main idea. 'Solar energy presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.'
- Provide supporting facts or examples. 'Research shows that solar power installations have steadily increased over the past decade, demonstrating growing global interest in renewable energy.'
- Explain the significance of the evidence. 'This trend indicates a shifting mindset towards clean energy, driven by concerns over climate change and dwindling fossil fuel reserves.'
- Recap key arguments. 'In summary, investing in solar energy offers a viable solution to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on non-renewable resources.'
- Restate your thesis. 'Embracing solar energy not only addresses environmental challenges but also promotes sustainable economic development.'
- End with a compelling thought. 'By harnessing the power of the sun, we can pave the way for a brighter, cleaner future for generations to come.'
Building a Compelling Argumentative Essay Thesis
Crafting a strong thesis statement is essential for a persuasive argumentative essay. Let's dive into a guide that will help you create a thesis statement that grabs attention and sets the stage for your essay.
Ask a Provocative Question and Answer It
Start by igniting curiosity with a thought-provoking question that directly connects to your topic. Then, provide a clear and insightful response that not only sets the stage for your argument but also hints at the complexities and nuances surrounding the issue.
Example: 'Is the use of smartphones beneficial for children's development? This essay argues that while smartphones offer educational opportunities, excessive screen time may hinder social skills.'
Introduce Your Argument and Address Contrary Views
A good argumentative essay should begin with a bold assertion of your main claim. However, to truly enrich your position, it's important to delve deeper by acknowledging and addressing opposing perspectives. This not only showcases a nuanced understanding of the topic but also reinforces the validity of your argument.
Example: 'While many believe that technology improves productivity, it's crucial to consider its potential drawbacks. This essay asserts that while technology enhances efficiency, it can also lead to information overload and burnout.'
Outline Your Main Points for Clarity
Provide a brief overview of the key points you'll explore in your essay. This helps clarify your direction and prepares your reader for the arguments ahead.
Example: 'In examining the impact of technology on work-life balance, we'll explore the benefits of remote work, the challenges of constant connectivity, and strategies for achieving harmony between work and personal life.'
By adding these steps from our experts in research paper help to your thesis-building process, you establish a base that not only clearly expresses your standpoint but also captivates readers with interesting questions, challenges, and key points that will unfold in your essay.
How to Write an Argumentative Essay with Quick Steps
Let's break down each part of your writing process step by step. By embracing these steps, you'll sail through the challenges of argumentative writing, crafting a piece that not only shares your thoughts clearly but also grabs the attention and persuades your readers along the way.
Generating Ideas
Before you start writing, take some time to brainstorm ideas. Research different viewpoints and gather information about your topic. Try techniques like freewriting or mind mapping to explore various angles and gather a range of perspectives. This phase is all about gathering a pool of ideas so that you can choose the strongest arguments to support your essay later on.
Getting Ready
Preparation is key before diving into the writing process. Organize your thoughts and argumentative essay topics into a coherent structure. Develop a focused thesis statement that not only communicates your main point but also sets the tone for your entire essay. This stage is crucial for refining your focus and ensuring that each part of your essay supports your central argument effectively.
Putting Pen to Paper
Now it's time to start writing! Maintain a logical progression in your essay as you draft your ideas. Begin with an engaging introduction that introduces your topic and presents your thesis statement. In the body paragraphs, explore each argument thoroughly, providing supporting evidence and examples. Don't forget to address potential counterarguments to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the topic. This step is all about fleshing out your ideas and constructing a compelling narrative.
Perfecting Your Work
Once you've finished drafting, it's time to refine your essay. Review your arguments to ensure they flow logically and contribute effectively to your thesis. Pay attention to the clarity of your language and the strength of your evidence. This stage allows you to fine-tune the persuasiveness of your essay, transforming it from a draft into a polished piece of writing.
Polishing the Final Product
Now it's time for the finishing touches! Meticulously proofread your essay to ensure it's polished and impactful. Check for grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure errors. Make sure your writing style remains consistent throughout and clarify any parts that may be unclear. In the conclusion, revisit your thesis statement and leave your reader with a thought-provoking statement that lingers in their mind. This attention to detail ensures that your argumentative essay not only captivates but also showcases your writing skills effectively.
Essential Argumentative Essay Tips
Our tips on writing an argumentative essay work just as effectively as they do for any other type of essay. So, if you're in need of additional guidance, here are some specific tips that can help you craft persuasive arguments:
Strengthen Your Case with Solid Facts
Ensure your argument is supported by reliable facts and evidence. Utilize research, data, and examples to reinforce your points. You can also use our essay writing help helping you ground your argument in verifiable information, demonstrate credibility and strengthen your position.
Example: Drawing from recent studies by leading environmental organizations, it's clear that deforestation has reached alarming levels, with devastating consequences for ecosystems worldwide. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Environmental Science found that deforestation contributes to biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and disruptions in the water cycle, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Take Charge with Language
While learning how to write an argumentative essay, remember to choose your words carefully to convey your argument persuasively. Adopt a tone that is confident yet respectful, and craft your sentences to engage and convince your audience. The language you use can influence how your argument is perceived, so wield it skillfully to make a compelling case.
Example: Without a doubt, the urgency of addressing climate change demands immediate action and concerted efforts from policymakers and individuals alike. As evidenced by recent climate reports, the consequences of inaction are dire, with rising global temperatures leading to more frequent and severe weather events, loss of biodiversity, and threats to food security.
Employ Tools for Effective Writing
Similar to learning how to write an explanatory essay , structure your arguments logically, with a clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Use transition words to guide your reader smoothly through your argument. Incorporate rhetorical devices to add depth and resonance to your writing, making your arguments more impactful and memorable.
Example: Transitioning from the causes of environmental degradation to potential solutions, the essay navigates a range of approaches, each offering a unique perspective on balancing ecological preservation with human needs. For instance, implementing reforestation projects and promoting sustainable land management practices are crucial steps in mitigating the effects of deforestation and preserving natural habitats for future generations.
In this guide, we've covered the basics of crafting great argumentative essays. We've looked at everything from coming up with ideas to refining your final draft, sharing helpful strategies and tips along the way. With these insights into language, facts, and writing techniques, you're all set to create essays that really grab attention and persuade your readers. Consider this your starting point for smooth and confident argumentative writing.
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- How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples
How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples
Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 1, 2023.
Paraphrasing means putting someone elseâs ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.
Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.
Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism .
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Table of contents
How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs. quoting, paraphrasing vs. summarizing, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing.
If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.
Incorrect paraphrasing
You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for synonyms .
Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).
This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:
- âAdvancement and contaminationâ doesnât really convey the same meaning as âdevelopment and pollution.â
- Sometimes the changes make the tone less academic: âhomeâ for âhabitatâ and âsea creaturesâ for âmarine animals.â
- Adding phrases like âinhabiting the vicinity ofâ and âputs pressure onâ makes the text needlessly long-winded.
- Global warming is related to climate change, but they donât mean exactly the same thing.
Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism .
Correct paraphrasing
Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.
Here, we’ve:
- Only included the information that’s relevant to our argument (note that the paraphrase is shorter than the original)
- Introduced the information with the signal phrase “Scientists believe that ⊔
- Retained key terms like “development and pollution,” since changing them could alter the meaning
- Structured sentences in our own way instead of copying the structure of the original
- Started from a different point, presenting information in a different order
Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.
Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.
- Journal article
- Newspaper article
- Magazine article
Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.
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It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:
- Paraphrasing shows that you fully understand the meaning of a text
- Your own voice remains dominant throughout your paper
- Quotes reduce the readability of your text
But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:
- Giving a precise definition
- Saying something about the author’s language or style (e.g., in a literary analysis paper)
- Providing evidence in support of an argument
- Critiquing or analyzing a specific claim
A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.
When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing .
Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.
When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism .
This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.
Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.
To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.
If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
- ChatGPT vs human editor
- ChatGPT citations
- Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
- Using ChatGPT for your studies
- What is ChatGPT?
- Chicago style
- Critical thinking
 Plagiarism
- Types of plagiarism
- Self-plagiarism
- Avoiding plagiarism
- Academic integrity
- Consequences of plagiarism
- Common knowledge
To paraphrase effectively, donât just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:
- Reformulating the sentence (e.g., change active to passive , or start from a different point)
- Combining information from multiple sentences into one
- Leaving out information from the original that isnât relevant to your point
- Using synonyms where they donât distort the meaning
The main point is to ensure you donât just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.
Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.
However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .
As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.
Plagiarism means using someone elseâs words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.
So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?
- Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don’t properly credit the original author.
- Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead.
- Paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you put the author’s ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source .
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To present information from other sources in academic writing , itâs best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that youâve understood the ideas youâre discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.
Itâs appropriate to quote when:
- Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text
- You want to discuss the authorâs language choices (e.g., in literary analysis )
- Youâre presenting a precise definition
- Youâre looking in depth at a specific claim
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Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2023, June 01). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-paraphrase/
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