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How to Write an Essay - A Step-by-Step Guide

Writer's picture: Sophie DoanSophie Doan

Updated: Jan 13, 2024

A female student sitting in front of the computer and studying
How to Write an Essay That Nails

Nail Your Next Essay

Do you agree that writing an excellent essay requires a combination of careful planning, critical thinking, and effective communication? However, do not panic, as today, I will share with you an essay outline that I have followed during my entire study period at Monash University. This structure helped me achieve a score of 92/100 for my International Management course.

Set a goal for yourself

Every achievement starts with a goal, and so does your assignment. Before beginning anything, write down your desired goal on a piece of paper. The more detailed your goal is, the higher the chance that you will drive your motivation into your studies to accomplish it. If you want to know how to write a SMART goal, check out my blog "How to Score HDs (without missing out on the fun)".

Read the instructions carefully

This step seems pretty easy but is crucial. You should read and follow the instructions carefully. Don't just skim through it, but understand each bullet point in the marking criteria, so that you know what is expected of you and how to achieve the desired outcome. Make sure to ask your instructor for clarification when you have questions about the essay requirements or marking criteria.

Don't just skim through it (the instruction), but understand each bullet point in the marking criteria, so that you know what is expected of you and how to achieve the desired outcome.

Outline your essay paper

Mind mapping is a useful tool to help you organize your thoughts and structure your essay logically. There are three parts that every essay should have: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

The introduction of the essay first, outlines the background information of a specific problem or issue first. Second, it states your position or contention towards your supporting point. Finally, it should include the main points that you are going to address later on to support your claims.

Body

It should take up to 80% of your time and effort when writing an essay. One method that I found extremely effective when writing my body paragraph is called "the TEECL structure," which stands for Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence, Comment, and Link (Monash University, n.d.). For more information about how this structure can help you nail your essay paragraph, I highly recommend you check out this page "How to build an essay"

Conclusion

A good conclusion for an essay not only restates your point of view in your introduction but also summarizes your key points in the body paragraph and implies what this argument helps you reflect on the broader significance of the topic. Discover tips to write good conclusion here.

Leave time to edit and proofread

Allow enough time between drafts to rework your language and ideas. I usually finalize my essay one day in advance so that I can skim through my writing and make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Editing and proofreading can dramatically improve your essay's quality. Having time for this allows you to see your writing with fresh eyes and make your editing more effective. Want to save time in this step? Check out those resources - Grammarly, ChatGPT, QuillBot's, etc.

And...that's it for this week. I hope you find these tips helpful, and you are ready to write an excellent essay that is well-structured, well-supported, and well-written. By following these instructions, I am sure you will create an essay that stands out and leaves a lasting impression on your reader.

Reference

Monash University. (n.d.). How to build an essay. Learn HQ; Monash University. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.monash.edu/learnhq/excel-at-writing/how-to-write.../essay/how-to-build-an-essay#tabs__2725037-03

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