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Essay Writing Process

The document outlines the steps for writing an essay, including analyzing the question, brainstorming, researching, planning, writing drafts, and editing. It discusses introducing and concluding the essay, and structuring the body with topic sentences and evidence.

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moneshanrathaparan
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59 views3 pages

Essay Writing Process

The document outlines the steps for writing an essay, including analyzing the question, brainstorming, researching, planning, writing drafts, and editing. It discusses introducing and concluding the essay, and structuring the body with topic sentences and evidence.

Uploaded by

moneshanrathaparan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Essay writing process Academic Skills

Division of Student Success

An essay presents a well-argued discussion or response to a question or proposition, using


analysis and critique of relevant literature. It establishes a proposition or thesis and presents a
point of view.

Process
The following are suggested steps for writing an essay.

1. Analyse the question


• Underline instructional words, e.g. discuss, explain, describe, justify.
• Circle key content words and phrases.
• Be clear about what the task is: put the question in your own words.
• Look for hints on structure, i.e. how many parts are there to the question?
• Compare/contrast or cause/effect, list of factors/reasons, etc.?

2. Brainstorm the question


• Bring all of your ideas together on one page to:
✔ take stock of what you already know;
✔ identify any gaps in your knowledge, and
✔ give you the beginnings of a plan for your essay.
• Mind maps are useful at this stage.

3. Start your research


• Begin with general reading – start with recommended texts and books from the library.
• Look for potential ways to structure your essay.
• Record all bibliographical details, including page numbers for your references, as you go.

4. Plan the essay


• Organise the information – use headings and make connections.
• Decide on a logical order for your points.
• Your plan should include:
✔ main points and their relationship to the question;
✔ secondary points and their relationship to the main points;
✔ references, and
✔ a draft of your introduction.
csu.edu.au/academicskills Page 1 of 3
Charles Sturt University - TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018 (Australian University). CRICOS Provider: 00005F.
5. Continue your research
• Focus your research, expanding on the main points and arguments.
• Use search terms from your earlier research to locate precise information/evidence e.g. on
data bases, such as Primo.

6. Write
• Write using your detailed plan.
• Some writers write the body first, then the conclusion, then the introduction.
• A paragraph must contain one idea, which is stated in the topic sentence. Other sentences
should support and give evidence from research and/or examples and explain how the
evidence relates to the idea and your overall argument.
• Expect to write several drafts. Try to avoid getting stuck looking for the ‘right’ word.
• Include your references as you go.

7. Edit
• Are my points connected? Read the topic sentences only - to see if there is a logical
argument.
• Make sure your reference list includes all work cited.
• Proofread for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. Reading aloud can be useful here.
• Check layout, margins, page numbers, line spacing and the title page. Check your lecturer’s
expectations.
• Always keep additional copies of your essay in different locations, e.g. your USB, laptop or
on cloud storage such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or iCloud.

Structure
Introduction – an outline for the reader
• Begins with a brief general statement setting the essay in a context (connecting it to the
world)
• May define terms
• Indicates the areas and perspectives to be discussed in the essay
• Leads to a thesis statement, which summarises the essay in one sentence, and contains a
point of view

Body – made up of connected paragraphs


• Each paragraph contains one main idea, expressed in a topic sentence (usually the first
sentence).
• The rest of the sentences in the paragraph expand on the topic sentence, giving evidence
(with references to the sources) and/or examples.
• The final sentence is linked back to the main idea in the topic sentence.
• The topic sentences carry the theme or outline of the essay and relate directly back to the
thesis statement. This creates logical development and flow of the argument.
✔ Tip: If you cover all the main text and read only the topic sentences, the essay should make
basic logical sense.

csu.edu.au/academicskills Page 2 of 3
Conclusion
• Provides a restatement of the thesis in different words (often with additional knowledge).
• Gives a very brief summing up of the main points.
• May open out with recommendations or predictions (connects back to the world again).
• Contains no new information.

Reach out for help


The Charles Sturt Academic Skills team is here to help you develop your learning skills. You can
also:
• ask a question on our Ask an Academic Skills Adviser forum,
• join one of our Academic Skills workshops, or
• access further information about all of our available services and learning resources,
including assignment writing feedback, at csu.edu.au/academicskills.

csu.edu.au/academicskills Page 3 of 3

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