{"id":75,"count":22,"description":"An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.\r\n\r\nThere are many <a href=index-4218.html>types of essays<\/a> you might write as a student. The content and <a href=index-4219.html>length of an essay<\/a> depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are <a href=index-3691.html>argumentative<\/a><span>\u2014<\/span>they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.\r\n\r\nThe essay writing process consists of three main stages:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Preparation:<\/strong> Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Writing<\/strong><strong>: <\/strong>Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Revision:\u00a0<\/strong>Check the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIn this guide, we walk you through what to include in the <a href=index.html#introduction\">introduction<\/a>, <a href=index.html#body\">body<\/a>, and <a href=index.html#conclusion\">conclusion<\/a> of an academic essay, using paragraphs from our <a href=index-3419.html>interactive essay example<\/a>.\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<div class=\"card youtubeContainer\"><iframe src=uuownnvupik438d.html?rel=0\%22 frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<h2>Essay writing process<\/h2>\r\nThe <a href=index-1750.html>writing process<\/a> of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the <a href=index-4219.html>type of essay<\/a>.\r\n\r\nFor example, if you've been assigned a five-paragraph <a href=index-4220.html>expository essay<\/a> for a high school class, you'll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level <a href=index-3691.html>argumentative essay<\/a>, on the other hand, you'll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.\r\n<table class=\"kb-table responsive auto-th\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th style=\"width: 33%;\">1. Preparation<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 33%;\">2. Writing<\/th>\r\n<th>3. Revision<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\r\n \t<li>Define your <a href=index-4212.html>essay topic<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Do your research and gather sources<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Come up with a <a href=index-1763.html>thesis<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Create an <a href=index-4221.html>essay outline<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\r\n \t<li>Write the <a href=index-1764.html>introduction<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Write the <a href=index-4222.html>main body<\/a>, organized into <a href=index-1767.html>paragraphs<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=index-1767.html><\/a>Write the <a href=index-1765.html>conclusion<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\r\n \t<li>Evaluate the <a href=index-4223.html#step-1\">overall organization<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Revise the content of each paragraph<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=index-1077.html>Proofread your essay<\/a> or use a <a href=index-989.html>Grammar Checker<\/a> for language errors<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use a <a href=index-931.html>plagiarism checker<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2>Preparation for writing an essay<\/h2>\r\nBefore you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you're going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you're prepared:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Understand your assignment:<\/strong> What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Define a topic:<\/strong> If you're allowed to <a href=index-4212.html>choose your own topic<\/a>, try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Do your research: <\/strong>Read\u00a0<a href=index-2937.html>primary and secondary sources<\/a> and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You'll use these as evidence for your points.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Come up with a thesis:\u00a0<\/strong>The <a href=index-1763.html>thesis<\/a> is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay\u2014you should keep referring back to it as you write.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Create an outline:<\/strong> Map out the rough <a href=index-4224.html>structure<\/a> of your essay in an <a href=index-4221.html>outline<\/a>. This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nOnce you've got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you'll use, you're ready to start writing.\r\n<figure class=\"kb-textbox border-left green\"><figcaption>Tip<\/figcaption>AI tools like ChatGPT can be effectively used to brainstorm potential ideas and develop a research paper outline. To learn how to use these tools responsibly, see our <a href=index6e91.html?page_id=538865\%22>AI writing<\/a> resources page.<\/figure>\r\n<h2 id=\"introduction\">Writing the introduction<\/h2>\r\nThe introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader's interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10\u201320% of the text.\r\n<h3>1. Hook your reader<\/h3>\r\nThe first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader's interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s say we're writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:\r\n<p class=\"kb-textbox border-left blue\">The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>2. Provide background on your topic<\/h3>\r\nNext, it's important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don\u2019t provide too much detail in the introduction\u2014you can elaborate in the body of your essay.\r\n<h3>3. Present the thesis statement<\/h3>\r\nNext, you should formulate your <a href=index-1763.html>thesis statement\u2014<\/a>the central argument you're going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:\r\n<p class=\"kb-textbox border-left blue\">As the first writing system designed for blind people\u2019s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>4. Map the structure<\/h3>\r\nIn longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.\r\n\r\n[scribbr-iexample id=\"essay-introduction-example\"]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--blue btn--small\" href=index-1764.html>Write your essay introduction<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"body\">Writing the main body<\/h2>\r\nThe body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.\r\n<h3>Length of the body text<\/h3>\r\nThe length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60\u201380% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8\u201310 pages.\r\n<h3>Paragraph structure<\/h3>\r\nTo give your essay a clear <a href=index-4224.html>structure<\/a>, it is important to organize it into <a href=index-1767.html>paragraphs<\/a>. Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.\r\n\r\nThat idea is introduced in a\u00a0<a href=index-1768.html>topic sentence<\/a>. The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. <a href=index-3399.html>Transition words<\/a> can be used to create clear connections between sentences.\r\n\r\nAfter the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or <a href=index-1776.html>quotes<\/a> from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.\r\n\r\n[scribbr-iexample id=\"essay-paragraph-example\"]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=index-4225.html class=\"btn btn--blue btn--small\">See the full essay example<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\">Writing the conclusion<\/h2>\r\nThe conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10\u201315% of the text<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">. A strong <\/span>essay conclusion<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">:<\/span>\r\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\r\n \t<li>Returns to your thesis<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ties together your main points<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Shows why your argument matters<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nA great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.\r\n<h3>What not to include in a conclusion<\/h3>\r\nTo make your essay\u2019s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:\r\n<ul class=\"kb-errorlist\">\r\n \t<li>Including new arguments or evidence<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Undermining your arguments (e.g. \u201cThis is just one approach of many\u201d)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Using concluding phrases like \u201cTo sum up...\u201d or \u201cIn conclusion...\u201d<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n[scribbr-iexample id=\"essay-conclusion-example\"]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--blue btn--small\" href=index-1765.html>Write your essay conclusion<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Essay checklist<\/h2>\r\n[checklist id=\"69079\" compact]\r\n<h2>Lecture slides<\/h2>\r\n<iframe width=\"730\" height=\"439\" src=embed7c57.html?start=false&amp;loop=false&amp;delayms=10000\%22 frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" mozallowfullscreen=\"mozallowfullscreen\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"webkitallowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--small btn--blue\" href=index-1568.html>Open Google Slides<\/a><a class=\"btn btn--small btn--blue\" href=index-1569.html>Download PowerPoint<\/a><\/p>\r\n[FAQ-article]","link":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/","name":"Essay","slug":"academic-essay","taxonomy":"category","parent":0,"meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<title>The Beginner&#039;s Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps &amp; Examples<\/title>\n
<!-- Mirrored from www.scribbr.com/wp-json/wp/v2/categories/75 by HTTrack Website Copier/3.x [XR/YP'2000] -->
<!-- Added by HTTrack --><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /><!-- /Added by HTTrack -->
<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To write a strong essay, you need an introduction, a main body organized into paragraphs, and a conclusion. See how it&#039;s done with examples.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=index-1578.html \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Essay Archieven\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Scribbr\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/open-graph-scribbrcom.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"627\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/\",\"name\":\"The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#website\"},\"description\":\"To write a strong essay, you need an introduction, a main body organized into paragraphs, and a conclusion. See how it's done with examples.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Essay\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/\",\"name\":\"Scribbr\",\"description\":\"The checkpoint for your thesis\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Scribbr\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/scribbr-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/scribbr-logo.png\",\"width\":902,\"height\":212,\"caption\":\"Scribbr\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/scribbr_\",\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/scribbr\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/Scribbr-us\/\"]}]}<\/script>","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples","description":"To write a strong essay, you need an introduction, a main body organized into paragraphs, and a conclusion. See how it's done with examples.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Essay Archieven","og_url":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/","og_site_name":"Scribbr","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":627,"url":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/open-graph-scribbrcom.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"CollectionPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/","name":"The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#website"},"description":"To write a strong essay, you need an introduction, a main body organized into paragraphs, and a conclusion. See how it's done with examples.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/category\/academic-essay\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Essay"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/","name":"Scribbr","description":"The checkpoint for your thesis","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#organization","name":"Scribbr","url":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/scribbr-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/scribbr-logo.png","width":902,"height":212,"caption":"Scribbr"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/scribbr_","http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/scribbr","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/Scribbr-us\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories\/75"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/category"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?categories=75"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}