Essays may have many purposes but the basic structure of essays is the same no matter what. An essay can be written to argue for a particular point of view or to explain the necessary steps involved to complete a task. You write it either way, the basic format of the essay will be the same. If a few steps are followed by you, then you will find that the essay almost writes itself. You will only be responsible to supply ideas, which will be the important parts of the essay anyway. Do not let the thought of putting pen to paper daunt you.
There are some simple tools and techniques which will guide you through the essay writing process, they are as follows:
• Decide the topic on which you want to write
• Make some vague idea or diagram
• Write a thesis statement
• Write the body section
• Write the main points
• Write the subpoints
• Elaborate on the subpoints
• Write the introductory part
• Write the conclusion
• Conclude the essay
Choose a Topic
Topic Has Been Assigned
You may have no choice as to your topic. If in this case, you still may not be able to jump to the next step. Think about the type of paper you are expected to compose. It can be a general overview or a specific analysis of the topic. If it is an overview, then you are may be ready to move to the next step. If it is a specific analysis, make sure that your topic is fairly specific. If your topic is too general, you must choose a narrower subtopic to discuss. For example, the topic ‘Japan’ is a general topic. If your motive is to write an overview, this topic is suitable for that purpose. If your aim is to write a specific analysis, then this topic is too general. You must limit it to something like ‘Politics in Japan’ or ‘Culture of Japan’. Once you have decided that your topic will be suitable, you can go forward to write the essay.
Topic Has Not Been Assigned
If you are not assigned a topic, then the whole world lies before you. Sometimes, it seems to make the task of starting a topic even more intimidating. Actually, this means that you are free to choose any topic of your interest, which can often makeyour essay a stronger one.
Define Your Purpose
First, you must think about the purpose of your essay that you want to write on. Is your purpose to explain, to persuade, to educate people about some person, place, thing or idea, or something else entirely? The topic you choose must fit that purpose.
Brainstorm Subjects of Interest
Once you have decided the purpose of your essay, write down some subjects of your interest. If you are finding it hard to think of subjects, start it to look around you. Is there anything in your surroundings that interests you to write subjects? Think about your life. What occupies the most time of yours?
That might be a good topic. Do not evaluate the subjects yet; just write down the things that spring to your mind.
Evaluate Each Potential Topic
If you are able to think of at least a few appropriate topics, you must simply consider each one separately. Think about the topic that how you feel about that. If you choose an educative topic, ensure it is a subject about which you are particularly well-informed. If you wish to persuade, ensure are at least moderately passionate about the subject.
The most essential element in choosing a topic is the number of ideas to include in the topic. Even you do not find any topic particularly appealing, choosing the one you find best to work with. It could be a better topic than you at first thought. Before you are ready to proceed towards the essay-writing process, look at the selected topic once.
Organise Your Ideas
The purpose of an outline or diagram is to put your ideas about the topic on paper, in a moderately organised format. The structures you have created here can still change before the essay is complete, so do not agonise over this. Decide which structure you want to follow i.e. whether you prefer the cut-and-dried structure of an outline or a more flowing structure. If you start any of the structures and further it is not working for you, you can always switch later.
Diagram
1. Start your diagram with a circle or a horizontal line or whatever shape you prefer in the middle of the page.
2. Inside the shape or on the line, write your topic.
3. From your centre shape or line, draw three or four lines out into the page. Be sure to spread them out.
4. At the end of each of these lines, draw another circle or horizontal line or whatever you drew in the centre of the page.
5. In each shape or on each line, write the main ideas that you have about your topic, or the main points that you want to make. If you are trying to persuade, you want to write your best arguments.
• If you are trying to explain a process, you want to write the steps that should be followed.
• You will probably need to group these into categories. If you have trouble grouping the steps into categories, try using Beginning, Middle, and End.
• If you are trying to inform, you want to write the major categories into which your information can be divided.
6. From each of your main ideas, draw three or four lines out into the page.
7. At the end of each of these lines, draw another circle or horizontal line or whatever you drew in the centre of the page.
8. In each shape or on each line, write the fact or information that supports that main idea.When you have finished, you have the basic structure for your essay and are ready to continue.