Crash Course on Essay Writing

Published on: April 29, 2024by Scribbr

Introduction

Welcome to your crash course on essay writing, by the time you finish this series, you'll be all set to ace your essay! In an academic essay, the goal is to persuade readers of a position or perspective through informed arguments, supported with evidence and analysis. There are 3 main stages to writing an essay: Preparation, Writing, Revision. In this video, I will quickly go through all the stages and steps with you. And in the next few videos in this playlist, we'll go more into detail for each stage with example sentences and paragraphs. Can't wait? Let's dive right in! Hi, I'm Jessica from Scribbr, here to help you achieve your academic goals.

Introduction: Basics of academic essay writing

The introduction is a crucial part of academic essay writing as it sets the stage for the entire piece. It is essential to captivate the reader's interest from the beginning and provide a clear overview of what will be discussed in the essay. The introduction should include a hook to grab the reader's attention, present a thesis statement that outlines the central argument of the essay, and give a brief outline of the structure of the essay.

In the preparation stage, students need to first understand the assignment requirements and select a suitable topic for their essay. Developing an initial thesis statement is also a key step in this stage, as it helps to establish the main point or argument that will be discussed throughout the essay. Creating an outline of the essay structure is another important aspect of the preparation stage, as it provides a roadmap for the writing process and ensures that all key points are addressed.

The writing stage of academic essay writing involves starting with the introduction, presenting the thesis statement, and providing an overview of the essay's content. It is important to engage the reader right from the beginning, clearly state the argument that will be made, and give a preview of what the reader can expect in the following paragraphs. By following these essential steps in the writing stage, students can effectively communicate their ideas and persuade readers of their perspective.

Body section: Make arguments supporting thesis, provide evidence, develop ideas with paragraphs and topic sentences

The body section of an essay is where the arguments supporting the thesis are presented. It is crucial to provide evidence to back up these arguments and develop ideas with clear paragraphs and topic sentences. Each paragraph should focus on a single argument or idea, introduced by a topic sentence. This helps in maintaining a clear structure for the essay and ensures that the reader can follow the line of reasoning easily.

Evidence plays a key role in the body section of an essay. It can include data, examples, or quotes that support the arguments being made. It is essential to interpret and explain the evidence to show how it contributes to the overall argument of the essay. By connecting the evidence to the thesis statement, the body section reinforces the main point that the writer is trying to convey.

Writing the body section of an essay requires attention to detail and coherence. Transitioning smoothly between paragraphs, providing strong evidence, and logically developing ideas are all essential components of this section. By structuring the body section effectively, the writer can make a compelling case for the thesis and persuade the reader of the validity of their argument.

Conclusion: Summarize key points, show outcome of arguments, emphasize argument's importance

The conclusion of an essay serves as a summary of the key points discussed in the body section. It provides an opportunity to tie together the arguments made and show the overall outcome of the analysis. By emphasizing the importance of the argument, the conclusion reinforces the significance of the thesis and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

In addition to summarizing the main points, the conclusion should also highlight any new insights or perspectives that have been offered in the essay. This is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of the research and the implications of the argument presented. By reiterating the key findings and demonstrating their relevance, the conclusion adds depth and substance to the essay's overall message.

Crafting a strong conclusion requires careful consideration of the argument's broader implications. By summarizing the key points, showcasing the outcome of the arguments, and underlining the argument's importance, the conclusion serves as the final opportunity to persuade and convince the reader. A well-written conclusion can leave a lasting impact and reinforce the credibility of the essay's thesis.

Revision: Check arguments, revise writing, check grammar, spelling, and formatting

Revision is a critical step in the essay writing process that involves checking arguments, revising writing, and ensuring the overall quality of the essay. It is essential to review the arguments presented in the essay to ensure they are logical, coherent, and effectively support the thesis statement. Any weak or unsupported arguments should be revised or strengthened to enhance the overall persuasiveness of the essay.

In addition to checking arguments, revising writing involves reviewing the content for clarity, coherence, and relevance. This includes examining the structure of the essay, the flow of ideas, and the consistency of the argument throughout the paper. By revising the writing, the author can refine their ideas, clarify their arguments, and improve the overall readability of the essay.

Checking grammar, spelling, and formatting is another crucial aspect of the revision process. By meticulously proofreading the essay for errors and inconsistencies, the writer can ensure that the final product is polished and professional. Proper grammar, correct spelling, and consistent formatting all contribute to the overall quality of the essay and help to convey the writer's ideas clearly and effectively.

Next steps: Create outline for essay, continue with detailed stages in upcoming videos

Welcome to your crash course on essay writing, by the time you finish this series, you'll be all set to ace your essay! This is the first video of the playlist, in which you'll learn the basics. In an academic essay, the goal is to persuade readers of a position or perspective through informed arguments, supported with evidence and analysis. There are 3 main stages to writing an essay: Preparation, Writing, and Revision.

In the preparation stage, you first need to understand the assignment and choose a topic. Once you've chosen your topic, you should come up with an initial thesis – this is the main point you want to make in the essay, or the position you’re going to argue for. Then you can start creating an outline and planning your essay’s structure. This will kickstart your writing and keep you on track!

Moving onto the body section, this is the longest part of your essay, usually around 60-80%. Here is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. It’s easy to get lost in a big chunk of text, to give your essay a clear structure, it is important to make use of paragraphs. Each paragraph should be centered around just one argument or idea. Introduce the purpose of each paragraph using topic sentences. After the topic sentence, present evidence by providing the reader with data, examples, or quotes.

Highlights

• Understand the assignment and choose a topic
• Create an initial thesis statement
• Develop an outline for the essay
• Craft a compelling introduction
• Use paragraphs for clear structure
• Support arguments with evidence
• Write a strong conclusion
• Revise and polish writing
• Check grammar, spelling, and formatting
• Use plagiarism checker for cited sources

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