HOW TO WRITE ESSAYS PART 1:THE PLANNING STAGE

The task of writing an essay can truly be overwhelming. However, you can do it and succeed in it. You just need to know how an essay is written. You can learn the process of writing an essay and develop your essay writing skills.

3. WRITING2. RESEARCH1. PLANNING

THE ESSAY WRITING PROCESS

Let us start with the PLANNING STAGE.

This stage should be short and quick. This is because you need to give more time for the next stages of research and writing. You can do this over only one night.

PLAN HOW TO DO– Plan how you can or will carry out the process of writing the essay. Prepare a schedule of the tasks involved in essay writing as:

RESEARCH

– researching for references– selecting evidences you will use as your supporting points– developing your thesis (thesis statement) from your supporting points by organising them into a tentative outline Summary: Research, Select and Develop (RSD)

WRITING

– finalising the outline by finalising the presentation and the thesis or argument into a thesis statement– writing initial and final drafts– proofreading the final draft Summary: Outline, Write and Proofreading (OWP)

Example Plan / Schedule

For example, you can plan your essay writing tasks this way: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Week 1 today - planresearch for references

research for references

research for references

research for references

research for references

Week 2 select

evidencesselect evidences develop thesis develop thesis develop thesis

Week 3

write outlinewrite

outlinewrite

first draftwrite

first draftWrite

first draft

Week 4 write

final draftproofread submit deadline