The word “essay” can strike fear in the hearts of even the best students. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Students who approach essay writing systematically find essay writing both easy and enjoyable. If getting your assignment done isn’t reward enough, remember that good writing skills will help you get ahead in your career some day too.

With that homework assignment looming, here are some tips for good essay writing:

1. Planning. You wouldn’t take a trip without a map, and good writers don’t start writing until they’ve determined (at least as a starting point) what they are going to say. Before you write a word, make notes about your topic. What are your opinions about it? Your first impressions? What do you find most interesting about the subject? If you don’t know much about the subject, where can you find out more?
2. Research. Depending on the essay, you may need to read material that has been assigned in class. Don’t skip this step. It’s key to your success. You also may need to make a trip to the library or conduct some internet research to supplement your topic knowledge. Remember, the more you know, the more you will have to write about the topic. As you do your research, make note of interesting information and sources you can use either as background or for direct quotes or citations.
3. Outline. Now that you’ve thought things through and done a little research, make an outline for your essay. The outline consists of your topic sentence (the theme of your writing) and your key points, which are interesting facts that support your topic sentence, add information, or help explain your topic and/or point of view. The more detailed your outline, the easier it will be to complete the essay.
4. Write. Step 4 is often where most students start, and that’s probably what leads to frustration and the fear of essays. But for those students who have gone through Steps 1 through 3, this step – the actual writing of the essay – is a piece of cake. Here’s where you take the thinking from your plan, the information from your research, and the key points from your outline and write clear, concise sentences that flow from one point to the next. Wrap it up with a conclusion, and you’re ready to turn it in!

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