In this essay writer guide, we are going to talk about the ins and outs of essays, how to write them, and how to get started if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of having to write an essay. This isn’t meant to be an all-encompassing guide, but it should help you learn the basics of essay writing and prepare you for tackling the assignment head on. Let’s get started!

Start with Research

When it comes to writing an essay, make sure you have researched your topic before you get started. Without knowing what you’re talking about, your essay will sound half-baked and insincere. You might even plagiarize if you don’t know what to leave out or how to properly cite sources. Researching can be one of the most daunting aspects of essay writing—and understandably so—but once you break it down into simple steps, research can be both fun and stress-free. Here are some easy ways to tackle research when putting together an essay

Introductions, Paragraphs, and Conclusions

In a persuasive essay, an introduction serves two main purposes. First, it tells your reader what kind of essay you’re writing. Is it an analysis? Argument? Narrative? This is why introductions are often called the hook. It catches and holds your reader’s attention. Second, your introduction should explain what position you’re taking on your topic. Remember that in a persuasive essay you don’t have to agree with or argue on behalf of someone else; you can take any stance you want (argumentative essays are different). Your position—whether it be pro or con—will make up most of your body paragraphs.

All About Writing an Introduction

You’ve probably heard that a good essay needs an introduction, and you may have even written one yourself. Maybe it was a bit boring, though, or maybe it didn’t grab your reader’s attention. That can happen when you write an introduction to an essay without understanding why it is so important in academic writing. In fact, some teachers will grade essays more harshly if they do not include introductions because they don’t really understand how important introductions are in essays. Read on to learn more about what makes a good introduction in your next essay.

All About Paragraphs

Although it may seem simple, a paragraph can be a surprisingly complex thing. That’s because every single paragraph should have one specific purpose. Whether you’re writing an essay, a report or just a basic email to your boss, keep in mind that your paragraphs need to flow seamlessly together and support each other in their argument. Don’t think of them as separate little essays—think of them as pieces of a larger puzzle that you have to solve, each one dependent on its partner(s). When all said and done, they should form a unified whole that makes sense both logically and emotionally. Good luck!

Organizing Your Thoughts

Once you’ve got an idea for a paper, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. When you write your essay, or any other type of college paper, you need to organize your thoughts. And we mean organizing, not outlining—that’s a different process altogether! You don’t need an elaborate outline that outlines every single point in your paper before you even start writing; instead, think about what you want your paper to include and what points specifically will help develop those ideas. Start with broad topics that have numerous subtopics, which can then be fleshed out into full-fledged paragraphs once you get started writing. Not sure where to start?

Don’t Forget Conclusions

It’s tempting to skip a conclusion in your essay—after all, you’ve already said everything you have to say. But just as important as starting strong is ending strong. A short paragraph that summarizes your point can be helpful, especially if it includes a call-to-action (if you want someone else to do something after reading your essay, such as share it with others). Even a sentence or two is better than nothing at all. Your conclusion shouldn’t be so vague that it sounds like you’re merely restating your thesis. It should contain meaning on its own and serve as an extension of your thesis statement (or whatever specific claim you made in your introduction).