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GUIDELINES for ESSAY WRITING

What is an Essay? • An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject or theme.

There are many different types of essays (or responses) and they can have many purposes, but the basic
structure is the same. You may be writing an essay to argue for a particular point of view, to explain the steps
in a particular task, to compare and contrast a topic, to describe a topic/method, or to give your opinion
about a certain subject.

After you know the topic you are writing about and the purpose of your essay, you follow these steps:
1) Brainstorm Ideas: Write down some ideas based on the question for each paragraph. This will help you
to organize your ideas for the different sections of the essay in a way the reader can understand. Maybe
you need to look for information to know more about the topic and be prepared to write about it. You
can use Internet but be sure that the websites you visit are reliable.

2) Prepare an outline: (sandwich)

 Write down your tentative Thesis statement (inside the INTRODUCTION paragraph)
 Write down Topic Sentences (the first sentence in each BODY PARAGRAPH) with the supporting
ideas (examples, evidence)
 Write down a concluding sentence for the CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION

BODY PARAGRAPH #1

BODY PARAGRAPH #2
CONCLUSION
3) Write the first Draft: Some pieces of advice
 Think of your reader
 Follow the outline. Write the Thesis Statement first; then, the body paragraphs, and finally, the
Introduction and Conclusion.
 Take into account these pages from the Student’s Book: General tips (page 161), useful linking words
and phrases (page 162-163) and useful language (page 164)
 Look at your body paragraphs. Which one is the strongest? You might want to start with the strongest
paragraph, end with the second strongest, and put the weakest in the middle.
 Use dictionaries (COLLOCATIONS: http://oxforddictionary.so8848.com/; THESAURUS:
http://www.thesaurus.com/; ENGLISH-SPANISH: www.wordreference.com; ENGLISH:
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/)
 Check the instructions for the assignment (margins, title, name, date, spacing, font, size)

4) Edit it after some time: Don’t write it in one sitting. Take your time to think, write, read, correct and
write again. Read and reread your paper. Do the sentences flow smoothly from one another? If not, try
to add some words and phrases to help connect them. Transition words, such as "therefore" or
"however," sometimes help.

5) Hand in the outline and essay: once you have checked your work and you are happy with the results,
your essay is finished. Hand in the OUTLINE too!
 USE
 Orientate the reader
 Identify the focus/purpose
 Engage the reader
INTRODUCTION
 State the THESIS STATMENT
Quick tip (It is a sentence that tells the - If the essay is an exposition, the
The introduction is
reader what the essay will be only. The first sentence may strongly
where the writer says
what he/she is going about -topic - and what point
to say. YOU, the author, will
making –aspects, reasons, the writer argues from two or more
causes, consequences )
 Expand the writer’s points
BODY
mentioned in the Introduction.
(number of paragraphs vary)
The topic you have chosen must point of view with supporting ideas
Quick tip
now be explained, described, or
The body of an essay is
argued.
where the writer says
what he/she has to say.  State TOPIC SENTENCES for
each aspect of the main topic
 Give evidence and examples for
each aspect
OVERVIEW /
DESCRIPTION
- An introduction should start with an
interesting first sentence, to gain the
reader’s interest. (you can share a
short anecdote, a short
explanation/summary of the topic,
share a famous person’s quote or a
well-known phrase) Each sentence
should become gradually more
specific, until you reach your thesis.
writer argues from one point of view
support or oppose the ideas in the
question.
be
• In the case of a discussion question,
points of view. The first sentence
should show the different positions
about the ideas posed by the question.
- Finish the paragraph with your thesis
statement. (avoid expressions like “I
think" or "The point I will make today
is...“)
- Each paragraph should start with a
topic sentence that explains the main
idea of the paragraph.
- Then, the writer should back up their
through examples/evidence. This
could include quotations from
different authors (use double quotation
marks “ ”).
- You can finish the paragraph with a
summary sentence
- The body of an essay features a
number of paragraphs that start with
linking words such as: moreover, in
addition, another, similarly, also,
furthermore, however, in contrast, on
the other hand, although.

CONCLUSION
Quick tip
The conclusion is where
the writer says what
he/she has said so far.
 Restate the thesis statement
 Summarise the essay (make
reference to the main points and
evidence in the body of the
essay)
 Your own point of view/opinion - Ways to introduce your conclusion:
- Paraphrase the Thesis Statement.
- All the conclusion needs is three or
four strong sentences. Simply review
the main points or briefly describe
your feelings/point of view about the
topic. Do not introduce new
arguments here.
• So…
• It is clear that…
• In conclusion,…
• All in all,
• These examples suggest/
demonstrate/ prove/ indicate…

Bibliography
 University of Bath Students’ Union, (2011) https://www.bathstudent.com/pageassets/advice/academic/Essay-
writing.doc.pdf

 Smalley, Regina and Ruetten, Mary (1995) Refining Composition Skills, Heinle and Heinle Publishers

 Starkey, Lauren (2004) How to write great essays, Learning Express