Writing is a skill that does not come naturally to many people. There are the select few that can pick up a pencil or keyboard and pen a lengthy essay on whatever topic they are assigned. They have minds that allow them to create robust sentences and captivate their audiences. However, since most people do not enjoy that talent, it becomes essential that they learn how to be successful in writing essays from scratch. It is an endeavor that will take some practice and devotion, but it can certainly be accomplished.
The academic essays that you will most likely be assigned are typically analytical in nature. They require you to address a problem and offer potential solutions. Or, they ask you to research a topic and present varying viewpoints. Structuring your analytical essays to meet the academic institution’s requirements is essential to their success. Therefore, understanding what style and format the instructor is seeking is imperative. So, the first step to writing any academic paper is ensuring you know exactly what the assignment requires from you. Then you can move on to the other methods of putting it together.
7 Steps to Writing Essays from Scratch
Understand that writing something from scratch means that it is your “original” work. That means you have to perform all the necessary steps prior to, and while, putting the piece together. That is why we are providing you with seven steps to writing essays from scratch. Hopefully, these steps will help you prepare, plan, create, edit, and submit a paper worthy of the grade you are striving for. Follow these steps for that purpose:
- Prepare. This is an invaluable step in the writing process. And, it is a multifaceted one that begs further consideration. The first aspect of preparation includes understanding what the professor or instructor is looking for. Each one will have his/her own personal preferences when it comes to writing and handling the topics they assign. You will need to know what citation style is required and what topics are acceptable. Preparation also includes determining how you will perform your research, what methods you will use to gather necessary information, as well as how you will record it in your notes. And, it will delineate what outlining procedures you will follow in the pre-writing process. Some people choose to take notes on paper, others prefer index cards, or a word processor. That is up to you.
- Samples. Ask the professor or institution for samples of writing that received high marks. This will help you understand the format and style that is most readily appreciated and efficacious. These samples can show you how the successful writers’ handled topic statement presentations. You will see the means in which they employed for the placement of supportive pieces of information. Emulating the writing style of people who have achieved high marks is always advantageous.
- Research. Since you do not know everything there is to be known about the assigned topic, research is necessary. And, most professors and academic institutions are particularly strict about the sources you choose to utilize. They often want a reputable, maybe even peer-reviewed, source. Researching multiple perspectives on the topic will help you to provide a holistic view of the subject you are investigating. The better, more thorough your research is, the easier it will be to defend your analytical stance.
- Introduction. This is your chance to grab the attention of the reader. If you cannot captivate at this stage in the paper, you will be sorely disappointed with your grade. Be sure your thesis statement is clearly presented in this introduction. Readers do not want to have to guess where you stand on the topic, or what it is you are even discussing. Be sure that it is both clear and concise, so there can be no misunderstanding your point of view. Keep in mind that your title will also be assisting you in the realm of revealing the topic and thesis.
- Body. This is the meat of your paper. How many paragraphs are included in the body section is up to the format required by your instructor. That is something to take note of when you evaluate the samples you have been given. No matter the number of paragraphs in this section, each of them should have a topic sentence at the beginning. Statements that support that position should follow shortly after its revelation. The sentences will build upon each other creating a structure that supports your thesis. Ensure that the last sentence in your paragraph offers a transition into the next one.
- Conclusion. When you finally reach this position of the paper, be sure to restate your thesis. Draw your conclusions here based on all the research you have performed. Some people call this a discovery statement because it reveals the import of all your research and what you learned in the midst of it. Showing the reader what you learned helps draw the essay to a conclusion.
- Rewrite. Even professional writers have to rewrite things on occasion. Sometimes putting your thoughts down in a rough draft form will help you understand what you learned and why you believe what you believe. It will also help you create engaging sentences and throw out those that have been poorly written. You may not need to perform an entire rewrite though, you can, quite probably, get away with some simple editing. Take the time to read the piece out loud to be certain that you have not left out words or made any typographical errors.
Do not hand in your essay until you have taken considerable time to evaluate the structure, citations, and grammar. Turning in a paper with simple, or relatively small, mistakes will devalue your work’s quality and then earn you a grade that greatly disappoints you and your GPA. Do not underestimate the value of reviewing and adjusting your custom written paper several times before you determine that it is of adequate quality.
