The Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay

Essay writing is a fundamental skill for students, a common requirement in academic assignments, exams, and even scholarship applications. It can help you communicate your ideas effectively, think critically, and organize your thoughts in a structured manner.

As a student, you may be asked to write various types of essays, each with its own specific requirements and goals. The subject matter and word count of an essay can vary depending on your academic level, field of study, and specific course requirements. 

However, at the university level, the majority of essays are argumentative in nature. The primary purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince the reader to agree with a particular viewpoint or stance on a given topic by presenting a well-reasoned and evidence-based argument.

Essay writing process

The essay writing process can be divided into three essential stages: preparation, writing, and revision. Each stage plays a crucial role in developing a well-crafted, effective essay.

Preparation	Writing	Revision
Understand assignment requirements	Draft the essay based on the outline	Review the essay’s well-supported arguments
Choose a topic (if not assigned)	Write a compelling introduction	Ensure coherent structure with each paragraph
Research to gather information and evidence	Develop well-structured body paragraphs	Consider feedback from peers, tutors, or writing center staff
Formulate a clear thesis statement	Use topic sentences and transition words for a smooth flow	Edit for grammar, punctuation, and style
Create an outline to organize ideas	Conclude with a strong conclusion	Proofread to detect and correct errors

Preparation for writing an essay

Before you start writing your essay, it’s crucial to take the time to prepare. This stage involves several steps:

• Understand your assignment: Read the assignment prompt carefully, paying attention to the requirements, word count, and deadline. Ensure you understand what type of essay you are expected to write (e.g., argumentative, comparative, narrative).
• Define a topic: If the topic is not assigned, choose one that interests you and fits the assignment requirements.  When selecting a topic, consider your audience and the purpose of your essay.
• Do your research: Gather information from reliable sources, such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. Take notes and organize your findings to help you identify the main points and supporting evidence for your essay.
• Come up with a thesis: Your thesis statement is the main argument or point you want to make in your essay. It should be clear, concise, and arguable, providing a roadmap for the rest of your essay.
• Create an outline: Organize your ideas and evidence logically, typically including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. An outline helps you stay focused and ensures that your essay flows smoothly from one point to the next.

Writing the introduction

The introduction is a crucial component of your essay, setting the tone and direction for the rest of your paper. A well-crafted introduction should accomplish several key objectives:

1. Hook your reader

Start your introduction with an engaging opening that captures your reader’s attention. This could be a striking fact, a thought-provoking question, a relevant quote, or a brief anecdote. The goal is to pique your reader’s interest and motivate them to keep reading.

2. Provide background on your topic

After the hook, provide some context and background information on your topic. This helps your reader understand the broader context of your essay and its significance. Be concise and focus on information that is directly relevant to your thesis.

3. Present the thesis statement

The thesis statement is the central argument or main point of your essay. Your introduction should clearly state it, usually as the last sentence. Your thesis should be specific, arguable, and concise, providing a roadmap for the rest of your essay.

4. Map the structure

In some cases, you may want to include a brief overview of the structure or main points of your essay. This can help your reader understand how you will develop your argument and what to expect in the upcoming paragraphs.

Example of an essay introduction

Childhood obesity has become a growing epidemic in many countries around the world. According to the World Health Organization, the number of obese children and adolescents has risen tenfold in the past four decades. This alarming trend has significant implications for public health, as obesity increases the risk of numerous chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. While there are many factors contributing to childhood obesity, including genetic predisposition and socioeconomic status, this essay will argue that the rise in obesity rates is primarily due to unhealthy dietary habits and insufficient physical activity among young people. 

In this example, the opening sentence serves as a hook by stating a striking fact about the prevalence of childhood obesity. The next two sentences provide background information on the severity of the problem and its potential consequences for public health. The final sentence presents the thesis statement, identifying the main causes of childhood obesity that the essay will explore and argue for.

Writing the main body

The main body of your essay is where you present your arguments, evidence, and analysis. This section should be divided into several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific idea or point that supports your thesis statement.

Length of the body text

The length of the main body depends on the overall word count of your essay and the number of points you want to discuss. In general, the body text should make up the majority of your essay, with the introduction and conclusion being shorter in comparison. The main body typically comprises 60-80% of your essay length. A typical 5-paragraph essay might have 3 body paragraphs, but longer essays may have more.

Paragraph structure

Each paragraph in the main body should follow a similar structure:

• Topic sentence: Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea or point of the paragraph. This sentence should relate directly to your thesis statement.
• Evidence and analysis: Present evidence that supports your topic sentence, such as examples, statistics, or quotes from credible sources. Follow the evidence with your own analysis and interpretation, explaining how it supports your argument.
• Transitional sentence: End each paragraph with a transitional sentence that summarizes the main point and smoothly connects to the next paragraph.

Example of a paragraph from an essay

One of the primary factors contributing to childhood obesity is the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages. Many children consume excessive amounts of sugary drinks, fast food, and processed snacks, which are high in calories, fat, and sugar but low in essential nutrients. A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that children who consumed more than 10% of their daily calories from added sugars had a higher risk of obesity than those who consumed less than 10% (Thompson et al., 2020). These findings suggest that reducing children’s intake of sugary and high-calorie foods could be an effective strategy for preventing and combating childhood obesity.

In this example, the topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph – that unhealthy food consumption contributes to childhood obesity. The next two sentences provide evidence and analysis to support this claim, describing the types of unhealthy foods children often consume and citing a relevant study that links high sugar intake to obesity risk. The final sentence serves as a transitional sentence, summarizing the main point and suggesting a potential strategy for addressing the problem, which could be explored further in subsequent paragraphs.

Writing the conclusion

The conclusion is the final section of your essay, where you summarize your main points, restate your thesis in a new way, and leave a lasting impression on your reader. Covering 10-15% of the total essay length, a strong conclusion should provide a sense of closure and reinforce the significance of your argument.

What not to include in a conclusion

• New information or evidence: Your conclusion should not introduce any new information or evidence that was not discussed in the main body of your essay.
• Overly broad or irrelevant statements: Avoid making overly broad statements or introducing irrelevant ideas that detract from your main argument.
• Clichéd phrases: Steer clear of clichéd phrases like “in conclusion” or “to sum up,” as they can make your writing seem unoriginal and unengaging.

Example of an essay conclusion

Here’s a health-related example of a well-crafted conclusion for an essay on the causes of childhood obesity:

Childhood obesity is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, including unhealthy dietary habits, lack of physical activity, and genetic predisposition. However, the evidence suggests that the rise in obesity rates among children is primarily due to the increased consumption of high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods and beverages coupled with increasingly sedentary lifestyles. To combat this growing epidemic, we must take a multi-faceted approach, promoting healthy eating habits, encouraging regular physical activity, and supporting policies and interventions that make it easier for children and families to make healthy choices. By working together to address the root causes of childhood obesity, we can help ensure that our children grow up to be healthy, happy, and productive adults.

In this example, the conclusion begins by restating the thesis in a new way, acknowledging the issue’s complexity while reiterating the main argument. It then summarizes the key points discussed in the essay, emphasizing the role of unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles in contributing to childhood obesity. The conclusion ends with a call to action, stressing the need for a collaborative, multi-faceted approach to addressing the problem and promoting healthy lifestyles for children. This final insight leaves the reader with a sense of the issue’s significance and the importance of taking action to combat childhood obesity.

Essay Checklist

Before submitting your essay, review it thoroughly using this comprehensive checklist to ensure that it meets all the necessary requirements and is free of errors.