How to write an essay:

1- Make sure you understand the question of the essay and the different implications of this question.
Look up the definition of the words if necessary, for they can have more than one meaning (it can
also sometimes help you find ideas for your essay). It can even sometimes be a good idea to include
these definitions in your essay.

2- Brainstorming: write down your ideas and thoughts about the question. Write down also examples
from authors, life experience, quotes, that could support your ideas.

3- Find the leading thesis of your analysis: what is your final answer to the question going to be?
What point do you want to make? What main ideas do you want to support?
It is important to have a leading thesis because it will help you organize your essay and paragraphs
so that they demonstrate efficiently the point that you are trying to make.

4- Write the outline of your paper: what each paragraph will contain and the quotes, principles or
examples that will support the ideas of your paragraphs (you should always have examples, quotes
or some kind of references to support your arguments). There should be a continuity in the
organization of your paragraphs, one should lead to the next one, in other words, there should be a
transitional phrase or idea in between the two paragraphs, remember that the point of the essay is to
build up an argumentative development leading to demonstrating your final thesis.

5- Write your introduction. The introduction should:

1) Raise the attention of the reader: you have to show that the question asked is an important one that
bears existential value for instance. You have to show why it is a topic worth being discussed.
2) Introduce your thesis: a question is raised that you are going to answer, an issue or principle is
brought to light that you are going to explainetc.
In any case, you should leave the reader with a sense of anticipation that makes him/her want to
continue reading.

6- Write your essay. Try to use a formal, literary style: colloquial English is not appropriate for a
college essay! Also, make sure you proofread your paper to track down any error in the language.

7- Write your conclusion. The conclusion should wrap up your thesis, but also draws further
conclusions that open up the subject, and leave the reader with more thoughts to ponder and continue
the reflection. In other words, the conclusion ends your paper but also opens new perspectives. It
should be personal but objective: share your personal opinion on the subject, but remain open-
minded.

And remember that an essay is a personal work: it is about what you personally think. But it is not
just about stating your opinion either, you have to make sure that you use arguments and examples
that demonstrate the validity of your thoughts.