How to write an essay
Writing an essay
Define the context of your essay. The context is the scope of the essay. What are you being asked to write about? The context can include multiple parameters including:
Topic. Sometimes your teacher or professor will give you a prompt that you're required to use. If you do get an option to pick your own topic, then choose something that you genuinely want to become an expert about or something you feel passionate about discussing.
Format. The length of the essay, the way the pages are put together and the presentation all matter. Follow the rules exactly as your teacher gives them to you so that you don't lose points.
Audience. With whom are you trying to communicate? Do you want to persuade your teacher, your peers or a college admissions committee? You'll need to tailor your writing to the correct audience.
Types of Essays
Narrative
Narration is telling a story from a certain viewpoint, and there is usually a reason for the telling. All narrative essays will have characters, setting, climax, and most importantly, a plot. The plot is the focus of the story and is usually revealed chronologically, but there are sometimes flash forwards and flash backs.
In writing a narrative essay, remember to:
Include sensory and emotional details, so the reader will experience the story, not just read about it
Have the story support the point you are making, and make reference to that point in the first sentence.
Write in the first or third person
Descriptive
Descriptive essays have text which describes traits and characteristics of people, objects, events, feelings, etc in intricate detail.
Whatever is being described will be thoroughly examined. For example, if you were describing roses, you would explain:
Where they come from
What they look like
What colors they are
How they grow and smell
When you write a descriptive essay, you want to involve the reader’s senses and emotions. For example, you could say, “I got sleepy” or describe it
Define the context of your essay. The context is the scope of the essay. What are you being asked to write about? The context can include multiple parameters including:
Topic. Sometimes your teacher or professor will give you a prompt that you're required to use. If you do get an option to pick your own topic, then choose something that you genuinely want to become an expert about or something you feel passionate about discussing.
Format. The length of the essay, the way the pages are put together and the presentation all matter. Follow the rules exactly as your teacher gives them to you so that you don't lose points.
Audience. With whom are you trying to communicate? Do you want to persuade your teacher, your peers or a college admissions committee? You'll need to tailor your writing to the correct audience.
Types of Essays
Narrative
Narration is telling a story from a certain viewpoint, and there is usually a reason for the telling. All narrative essays will have characters, setting, climax, and most importantly, a plot. The plot is the focus of the story and is usually revealed chronologically, but there are sometimes flash forwards and flash backs.
In writing a narrative essay, remember to:
Include sensory and emotional details, so the reader will experience the story, not just read about it
Have the story support the point you are making, and make reference to that point in the first sentence.
Write in the first or third person
Descriptive
Descriptive essays have text which describes traits and characteristics of people, objects, events, feelings, etc in intricate detail.
Whatever is being described will be thoroughly examined. For example, if you were describing roses, you would explain:
Where they come from
What they look like
What colors they are
How they grow and smell
When you write a descriptive essay, you want to involve the reader’s senses and emotions. For example, you could say, “I got sleepy” or describe it