How to Write Essays Part 3:

The Writing Stage

THE WRITING STAGE OF THE ESSAY WRITING PROCESS INVOLVES

OUTLINING, WRITING AND PROOFREADING.

OUTLINING IS ORGANISING YOUR CHOSEN EVIDENCES

OR POINTS INTO A FRAMEWORK OF HOW YOU

WILL PRESENT THE TOPIC THROUGH YOUR ESSAY.

The basic form of an outline looks like this:

Title of Essay

Introduction Discussion Conclusion

However, the actual chronological order of writing an essay is like this:

1. discussion – outline the evidence or points you have chosen; and write this as the discussion part

2. conclusion – from the discussion you have outlined, derive a conclusion; and write this as the conclusion part

3. thesis – turn or restate your conclusion into your argument or thesis; and write it as the thesis in a thesis statement

4. introduction – write an introduction for your essay

Thus, at this point, you organise the evidences you have chosen into an outline, specifically an outline for the discussion part.

Outline of the Discussion Part

Point No. 1 Point No. 2 Point No. 3

For each point, here are the parts you will include:

1. topic sentence stating the point2. a short explanation of the relevance of the point3. give an example4. discuss how the example demonstrates the point

Point No. 1 – Strongest Point Point No. 2 – Less Strong Point Point No. 3 – Least Strong Point

You can write the discussion part starting with the strongest point to the least strong point. This depends on the topic and your decision to start strong at the onset.

You Alternatively, you can start with the least strong point and end with the strongest point. Again this depends on the topic and your decision to present your topic in a manner that you build up its strength and finish strong.

Point No. 1 – Least Strong PointPoint No. 2 – Less Strong PointPoint No. 3 – Strongest Point

Write the Conclusion

After writing the discussion, you may now write your conclusion. You may start with a short summary of your points before giving your conclusion. Or, you may also start with your conclusion and then give a short summary of your points.

Write the Introduction

1. Prepare the Thesis Statement

Restate or re-write your conclusion into a thesis statement. Set this aside and do the next steps.

2. Introduction in the Introduction

Your essay starts with an introduction and this introduction has an introduction of its own, specifically an introduction for the thesis statement.

In other words, after the title, the very beginning of your essay is a short introduction for your thesis statement.

- a joke- an anecdote- statistical figures- a quote- a fact

This introduction to your thesis statement should be interesting or attractive. Depending on the guidelines or requirements given to you, it can be:

- an observation- a principle- a theory- a philosophy- etc.

What is important is you introduce it or state it in a manner that is interesting and attractive to your professor or the target audience your professor has specified or implied.

3. Thus, the introduction of the essay goes like this:

Introduction [Introduction in the Introduction or Introduction to the Thesis Statement]. [Thesis Statement].

To summarise, you have written the parts of the essay in this order:

1. Discussion2. Conclusion3. Thesis4. Introduction

After this...

... you will assemble these parts in this order:

1. Introduction2. Thesis3. Discussion4. Conclusion

Proofreading

After writing your essay, you should proofread it. Do this when your eyes are fresh and you have refrained from reading your essay or doing anything related to it, even reading other materials. For example, if you have done today any task related to your essay writing especially if it is writing or reading it, it is better if you proofread tomorrow before doing any task related to it. If you have more time, it is better to allow one day of rest before proofreading. Also, have your essay proofread by other people like a friend.