Writing an Effective Essay

One of the tasks students dread most is writing essays.  Explaining your thoughts in person is one thing, but getting them down on a paper is another.  Putting together a coherent, cohesive argument in writing can be daunting for many students.  However, there is no way to avoid it. It will be required throughout your academic career.  To make it a little less intimidating, here are five tips for writing an effective essay.


Formulate Your Thesis

Before you begin writing, you need to come up with a thesis statement that tells the reader the subject and purpose of your essay.  It sets the tone and prepares your audience for what they can expect to read.  For example, if you are writing an essay about women in the work force, a plausible thesis might be “As the role of women in the work force has evolved throughout history, women are experiencing new challenges that did not exist when they only worked inside the home.”


Create an Outline

It might be tempting to sit down and start writing whatever is on your mind without any preparation.  Don’t.  It will be much easier and save time in the long run if you spend a little bit of time creating an outline before you start writing.  Developing an outline gives you an opportunity to organize your thoughts and help you plan what you are going to say.  It can also make the process of writing an effective essay less intimidating because it gives you a roadmap for what you will write, so you don’t have to start with a blank slate.


Provide Support

While having a strong thesis is important for setting the stage for your essay, having adequate support for your thesis is critical to making an effective argument.  It’s not enough to state your thesis.  You also need to show why it is correct.  Use real life examples from history or your own personal experience to prove your point and strengthen your argument.


Know Your Audience

The style, tone and voice you use will vary based on the purpose of your essay and your audience, so it is important to adapt your writing accordingly.  For example, if you are writing an essay about Shakespeare for your English teacher, you would probably want to adopt a formal tone.  However, if you are writing a “year in review” for your school yearbook, it would be more appropriate to use an informal, conversational tone.


Review Your Writing

Although reviewing and editing are often overlooked by students, they are key components to writing an effective essay.  After drafting your essay, take the time to go back and review it.  Be sure you have a strong thesis and adequate support for your arguments, and check for proper punctuation, spelling and grammar.  Poor grammar, misspelled words and typos can sabotage even the most compelling ideas.