General Essay Writing Tips

Despite the fact that, as Shakespeare said, "the pen is mightier than the sword," the pen
itself is not enough to make an effective writer. In fact, though we may all like to think of
ourselves as the next Shakespeare, inspiration alone is not the key to effective essay
writing. You see, the conventions of English essays are more formulaic than you might
think and, in many ways, it can be as simple as counting to five.

The Five Paragraph Essay

Though more advanced academic papers are a category all their own, the basic high school
or college essay has the following standardized, five paragraph structure:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Body 1
Paragraph 3: Body 2
Paragraph 4: Body 3
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
Though it may seem formulaic and, well, it is - the idea behind this structure is to make it
easier for the reader to navigate the ideas put forth in an essay. You see, if your essay has
the same structure as every other one, any reader should be able to quickly and easily find
the information most relevant to them.

The Introduction
The principle purpose of the introduction is to present your position (this is also known as
the "thesis" or "argument") on the issue at hand but effective introductory paragraphs are so
much more than that. Before you even get to this thesis statement, for example, the essay
should begin with a "hook" that grabs the readers attention and makes them want to read
on. Examples of effective hooks include relevant quotations ("no man is an island") or
surprising statistics ("three out of four doctors report that").
Only then, with the readers attention "hooked," should you move on to the thesis. The
thesis should be a clear, one-sentence explanation of your position that leaves no doubt in
the readers mind about which side you are on from the beginning of your essay.
Following the thesis, you should provide a mini-outline which previews the examples you
will use to support your thesis in the rest of the essay. Not only does this tell the reader
what to expect in the paragraphs to come but it also gives them a clearer understanding of
what the essay is about.
Finally, designing the last sentence in this way has the added benefit of seamlessly moving
the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper. In this way we can see that the
basic introduction does not need to be much more than three or four sentences in length. If
yours is much longer you might want to consider editing it down a bit!
Here, by way of example, is an introductory paragraph to an essay in response to the
following question:

"Do we learn more from finding out that we have made mistakes or from our successful
actions?"
"No man is an island" and, as such, he is constantly shaped and influenced by his
experiences. People learn by doing and, accordingly, learn considerably more from
their mistakes than their success. For proof of this, consider examples from both
science and everyday experience.
DO - Pay Attention to Your
Introductory Paragraph
Because this is the first paragraph of your
essay it is your opportunity to give the
reader the best first impression possible.
The introductory paragraph not only gives
the reader an idea of what you will talk
about but also shows them how you will
talk about it. Put a disproportionate
amount of effort into this more than the
20% a simple calculation would suggest
and Body
you will
be rewarded accordingly.
The
Paragraphs

DO NOT - Use Passive Voice or I/My

Active voice, wherein the subjects direct
actions rather than let the actions "happen
to" them "he scored a 97%" instead of
"he was given a 97%" is a much more
powerful and attention-grabbing way to
write. At the same time, unless it is a
personal narrative, avoid personal
pronouns like I, My, or Me. Try instead to
be more general and you will have your
reader hooked.

The middle paragraphs of the essay are collectively known as the body paragraphs and, as
alluded to above, the main purpose of a body paragraph is to spell out in detail the
examples that support your thesis.
For the first body paragraph you should use your strongest argument or most significant
example unless some other more obvious beginning point (as in the case of chronological
explanations) is required. The first sentence of this paragraph should be the topic sentence
of the paragraph that directly relates to the examples listed in the mini-outline of
introductory paragraph.
A one sentence body paragraph that simply cites the example of "George Washington" or
"LeBron James" is not enough, however. No, following this an effective essay will follow
up on this topic sentence by explaining to the reader, in detail, who or what an example is
and, more importantly, why that example is relevant.
Even the most famous examples need context. For example, George Washingtons life was
extremely complex by using him as an example, do you intend to refer to his honesty,
bravery, or maybe even his wooden teeth? The reader needs to know this and it is your job
as the writer to paint the appropriate picture for them. To do this, it is a good idea to
provide the reader with five or six relevant facts about the life (in general) or event (in
particular) you believe most clearly illustrates your point.
Having done that, you then need to explain exactly why this example proves your thesis.
The importance of this step cannot be understated (although it clearly can be underlined);

this is, after all, the whole reason you are providing the example in the first place. Seal the
deal by directly stating why this example is relevant.
Here is an example of a body paragraph to continue the essay begun above:
Take, by way of example, Thomas Edison. The famed American inventor rose to
prominence in the late 19th century because of his successes, yes, but even he felt that
these successes were the result of his many failures. He did not succeed in his work
on one of his most famous inventions, the lightbulb, on his first try nor even on his
hundred and first try. In fact, it took him more than 1,000 attempts to make the first
incandescent bulb but, along the way, he learned quite a deal. As he himself said, "I
did not fail a thousand times but instead succeeded in finding a thousand ways it
would not work." Thus Edison demonstrated both in thought and action how
instructive mistakes can be.
DO: Tie Things Together

DO NOT: Be Too General

The first sentence the topic sentence of your body paragraphs needs to have a
lot individual pieces to be truly effective.
Not only should it open with a transition
that signals the change from one idea to
the next but also it should (ideally) also
have a common thread which ties all of
the body paragraphs together. For
example, if you used "first" in the first
body paragraph then you should used
"secondly" in the second or "on the one
hand" and "on the other hand"
accordingly.

Examples should be relevant to the

thesis and so should the explanatory
details you provide for them. It can be
hard to summarize the full richness of
a given example in just a few lines so
make them count. If you are trying to
explain why George Washington is a
great example of a strong leader, for
instance, his childhood adventure
with the cherry tree (though
interesting in another essay) should
probably be skipped over.

A Word on Transitions
You may have noticed that, though the above paragraph aligns pretty closely with the
provided outline, there is one large exception: the first few words. These words are example
of a transitional phrase others include "furthermore," "moreover," but also "by contrast"
and "on the other hand" and are the hallmark of good writing.
Transitional phrases are useful for showing the reader where one section ends and another
begins. It may be helpful to see them as the written equivalent of the kinds of spoken cues
used in formal speeches that signal the end of one set of ideas and the beginning of another.
In essence, they lead the reader from one section of the paragraph of another.
To further illustrate this, consider the second body paragraph of our example essay:
In a similar way, we are all like Edison in our own way. Whenever we learn a new
skill - be it riding a bike, driving a car, or cooking a cake - we learn from our

mistakes. Few, if any, are ready to go from training wheels to a marathon in a

single day but these early experiences (these so-called mistakes) can help us
improve our performance over time. You cannot make a cake without breaking a
few eggs and, likewise, we learn by doing and doing inevitably means making
mistakes.
Hopefully this example not only provides another example of an effective body paragraph
but also illustrates how transitional phrases can be used to distinguish between them.

The Conclusion
Although the conclusion paragraph comes at the end of your essay it should not be seen as
an afterthought. As the final paragraph is represents your last chance to make your case
and, as such, should follow an extremely rigid format.
One way to think of the conclusion is, paradoxically, as a second introduction because it
does in fact contain many of the same features. While it does not need to be too long four
well-crafted sentence should be enough it can make or break and essay.
Effective conclusions open with a concluding transition ("in conclusion," "in the end," etc.)
and an allusion to the "hook" used in the introductory paragraph. After that you should
immediately provide a restatement of your thesis statement.
This should be the fourth or fifth time you have repeated your thesis so while you should
use a variety of word choice in the body paragraphs it is a acceptable idea to use some (but
not all) of the original language you used in the introduction. This echoing effect not only
reinforces your argument but also ties it nicely to the second key element of the conclusion:
a brief (two or three words is enough) review of the three main points from the body of the
paper.
Having done all of that, the final element and final sentence in your essay should be a
"global statement" or "call to action" that gives the reader signals that the discussion has
come to an end.
In the end, then, one thing is clear: mistakes do far more to help us learn and improve
than successes. As examples from both science and everyday experience can attest, if
we treat each mistake not as a misstep but as a learning experience the possibilities
for self-improvement are limitless.
DO: Be Powerful

DO NOT: Copy the First Paragraph

The conclusion paragraph can be a

difficult paragraph to write effectively
but, as it is your last chance to convince
or otherwise impress the reader, it is
worth investing some time in. Take this
opportunity to restate your thesis with
confidence; if you present your argument
as "obvious" then the reader might just do
the same.

Although you can reuse the same key

words in the conclusion as you did in
the introduction, try not to copy whole
phrases word for word. Instead, try to
use this last paragraph to really show
your skills as a writer by being as artful
in your rephrasing as possible.

Taken together, then, the overall structure of a five paragraph essay should look something like this:

Introduction Paragraph
An attention-grabbing "hook"
A thesis statement
A preview of the three subtopics you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
First Body Paragraph
Topic sentence which states the first subtopic and opens with a transition
Supporting details or examples
An explanation of how this example proves your thesis
Second Body Paragraph
Topic sentence which states the second subtopic and opens with a transition
Supporting details or examples
An explanation of how this example proves your thesis
Third Body Paragraph
Topic sentence which states the third subtopic and opens with a transition
Supporting details or examples
An explanation of how this example proves your thesis
Concluding Paragraph
Concluding Transition, Reverse "hook," and restatement of thesis.
Rephrasing main topic and subtopics.
Global statement or call to action.

More tips to make your essay shine

Planning Pays
Although it may seem like a waste of time especially during exams where time is tight
it is almost always better to brainstorm a bit before beginning your essay. This should
enable you to find the best supporting ideas rather than simply the first ones that come to
mind and position them in your essay accordingly.
Your best supporting idea the one that most strongly makes your case and,
simultaneously, about which you have the most knowledge should go first. Even the bestwritten essays can fail because of ineffectively placed arguments.
Aim for Variety
Sentences and vocabulary of varying complexity are one of the hallmarks of effective
writing. When you are writing, try to avoid using the same words and phrases over and over
again. You dont have to be a walking thesaurus but a little variance can make the same
idea sparkle.
If you are asked about "money," you could try "wealth" or "riches." At the same time, avoid
beginning sentences the dull pattern of "subject + verb + direct object." Although examples
of this are harder to give, consider our writing throughout this article as one big example of
sentence structure variety.
Practice! Practice! Practice!

In the end, though, remember that good writing does not happen by accident. Although we
have endeavored to explain everything that goes into effective essay writing in as clear and
concise a way as possible, it is much easier in theory than it is in practice.
As a result, we recommend that you practice writing sample essays on various topics. Even
if they are not masterpieces at first, a bit of regular practice will soon change that and
make you better prepared when it comes to the real thing.
Reference
http://www.internationalstudent.com/essay_writing/essay_tips/#introduction
Compiled by Frank Ameca

A Sample Paper
1

Stephen King, creator of such stories as Carrie

and Pet Sematary, stated that the Edgar Allan
Poe stories he read as a child gave him the
inspiration and instruction he needed to
become the writer that he is. 2Poe, as does
Stephen King, fills the reader's imagination
with the images that he wishes the reader to
see, hear, and feel. 3His use of vivid, concrete
visual imagery to present both static and
dynamic settings and to describe people is
part of his technique. 4Poe's short story "The
Tell-Tale Heart" is a story about a young man
who kills an old man who cares for him,
dismembers the corpse, then goes mad when
he thinks he hears the old man's heart beating
beneath the floor boards under his feet as he
sits and discusses the old man's absence with
the police. 5In "The Tell-Tale Heart," a careful
reader can observe Poe's skillful manipulation
of the senses.

The introductory paragraph includes a

paraphrase of something said by a famous
person in order to get the reader's attention.
The second sentence leads up to the thesis
statement which is the third sentence. The
thesis statement (sentence 3) presents topic
of the paper to the reader and provides a
mini- outline. The topic is Poe's use of visual
imagery. The mini- outline tells the reader that
this paper will present Poe's use of imagery in
three places in his writing: (1) description of
static setting; (2) description of dynamic
setting; and (3) description of a person. The
last sentence of the paragraph uses the words
"manipulation" and "senses" as transitional
hooks.

The sense of sight, the primary sense, is

particularly susceptible to manipulation. 2In
"The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe uses the following
image to describe a static scene: "His room
was as black as pitch with the thick darkness . .
." Poe used the words "black," "pitch," and
"thick darkness" not only to show the reader
the condition of the old man's room, but also
to make the reader feel the darkness."
3
"Thick" is a word that is not usually
associated with color (darkness), yet in using
it, Poe stimulates the reader's sense of feeling
as well as his sense of sight.

In the first sentence of the second paragraph

(first paragraph of the body) the words
"sense" and "manipulation" are used to hook
into the end of the introductory paragraph.
The first part of the second sentence provides
the topic for this paragraph--imagery in a
static scene. Then a quotation from "The TellTale Heart" is presented and briefly discussed.
The last sentence of this paragraph uses the
expressions "sense of feeling" and "sense of
sight" as hooks for leading into the third
paragraph.

The first sentence of the third paragraph

(second paragraph of the body) uses the
words "sense of sight" and "sense of feeling"
to hook back into the previous paragraph.
Note that in the second paragraph "feeling"
came first, and in this paragraph "sight" comes
first. The first sentence also includes the topic

Further on in the story, Poe uses a couple of

words that cross not only the sense of sight
but also the sense of feeling to describe a
dynamic scene. 2The youth in the story has
been standing in the open doorway of the old
man's room for a long time, waiting for just
the right moment to reveal himself to the old

man in order to frighten him. 3Poe writes: "So I

opened it [the lantern opening]--you cannot
imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at
length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the
spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full
upon the vulture eye." 4By using the metaphor
of the thread of the spider (which we all know
is a creepy creature) and the word "shot," Poe
almost makes the reader gasp, as surely did
the old man whose one blind eye the young
man describes as "the vulture eye."

for this paragraph--imagery in a dynamic

scene. Again, a quotation is taken from the
story, and it is briefly discussed. The last
sentence uses the words "one blind eye"
which was in the quotation. This expression
provides the transitional hook for the last
paragraph in the body of the paper.

The reader does not know much about what

the old man in this story looks like except that
he has one blind eye. 2In the second
paragraph of "The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe
establishes the young man's obsession with
that blind eye when he writes: "He had the
eye of the vulture--a pale blue eye, with a film
over it." 3This "vulture eye" is evoked over and
over again in the story until the reader
becomes as obsessed with it as does the
young man. 4His use of the vivid, concrete
word "vulture" establishes a specific image in
the mind of the reader that is inescapable.

In the first sentence of the fourth paragraph

(third paragraph in the body), "one blind eye"
is used that hooks into the previous
paragraph. This first sentence also lets the
reader know that this paragraph will deal with
descriptions of people: ". . . what the old man
looks like . . .." Once again Poe is quoted and
discussed. The last sentence uses the word
"image" which hooks into the last paragraph.
(It is less important that this paragraph has a
hook since the last paragraph is going to
include a summary of the body of the paper.)

The first sentence of the concluding

paragraph uses the principal words from the
quotations from each paragraph of the body
of the paper. This summarizes those three
paragraph. The second and third sentences
provide observations which can also be
considered a summary, not only of the
content of the paper, but also offers personal
opinion which was logically drawn as the
result of this study. The last sentence returns
to the Edgar Allan Poe-Stephen King
relationship which began this paper. This
sentence also provides a "wrap-up" and gives
the paper a sense of finality.

"Thick darkness," "thread of the spider," and

"vulture eye" are three images that Poe used
in "The Tell-Tale Heart" to stimulate a reader's
senses. 2Poe wanted the reader to see and
feel real life. 3He used concrete imagery rather
than vague abstract words to describe settings
and people. 4If Edgar Allan Poe was one of
Stephen King's teachers, then readers of King
owe a debt of gratitude to that nineteenthcentury creator of horror stories.

The Five Paragraph Essay

The five paragraph essay measures a student's basic writing skills,
and is often a timed exercise.
Use this Guide to help you practice and succeed at this form of writing.
Getting started means getting organized:
Analyze the assignment; determine what is required.
With a highlighter, note important words that define the topic.
Then organize your plan
For example, you have been given this writing prompt:
You have a present that was really memorable. It could have been given for an important
occasion or just for no reason at all. Tell us about the present and why it was memorable.
Include the reason it was given, a description of it, and how you felt when you got it.
The objective is to write a narrative essay about this present you were given
The subject is a memorable present
The three main subtopics are:

the reason it was given

a description of it
and how you felt when you got it

Outline your five paragraph essay; include these elements:

Introductory Paragraph
General Topic Sentence: memorable present
1.
2.
3.
4.

Subtopic One: the reason it was given

Subtopic Two: a description of it
Subtopic Three: how you felt when you got it
(Transition)

First Supporting Paragraph

1. Restate Subtopic One
2. Supporting Details or Examples
3. (Transition)
Second Supporting Paragraph

1. Restate Subtopic Two

2. Supporting Details or Examples
3. (Transition)
Third Supporting Paragraph
1. Restate Subtopic Three
2. Supporting Details or Examples
3. (Transition)
Closing or Summary Paragraph
1. Synthesis and conclusion of the thesis
2. Rephrasing main topic and subtopics.
Write the essay!
Think small; build the full essay gradually.
Divide your essay into sections and develop each piece separately and incrementally.
The Introductory Paragraph

The opening paragraph sets the tone

It not only introduces the topic, but where you are going with it (the thesis). If you
do a good job in the opening, you will draw your reader into your "experience." Put
effort up front, and you will reap rewards.
Write in the active voice
It is much more powerful. Do that for each sentence in the introductory essay.
Unless you are writing a personal narrative, do not use the pronoun "I."
Varying sentence structure
Review to avoid the same dull pattern of always starting with the subject of the
sentence.
Brainstorm to find the best supporting ideas
The best supporting ideas are the ones about which you have some knowledge. If
you do not know about them, you cannot do a good job writing about them. Don't
weaken the essay with ineffective argument.
Practice writing introductory paragraphs on various topics
Even if you do not use them, they can be compared with the type of writing you are
doing now. It is rewarding to see a pattern of progress.

Supporting Paragraphs

Write a transition to establish the sub-topic

Each paragraph has to flow, one to the next.
Write the topic sentence
The transition can be included in the topic sentence.

Supporting ideas, examples, details must be specific to the sub-topic

The tendency in supporting paragraphs is to put in just about anything.
Avoid this: the work you have made above with details and examples will help you
keep focused.
Vary sentence structure
Avoid repetitious pronouns and lists
Avoid beginning sentences the same way (subject + verb + direct object).

The Ending or Summary Paragraph

This is a difficult paragraph to write effectively.
You cannot assume that the reader sees your point

Restate the introductory thesis/paragraph with originality

Do not simply copy the first paragraph
Summarize your argument with some degree of authority
this paragraph should leave your reader with no doubt as to your position or
conclusion of logic
Be powerful as this is the last thought that you are leaving with the reader.

Edit and revise your essay

Check your spelling and grammar
Subjects and verbs agree, and verb tenses are consistent
Examine your whole essay for logic
Thought builds and flows?
Avoid gaps in logic, or too much detail.
Review individual sentences

Use active verbs to be more descriptive

Avoid passive constructions and the verb "to be"
Use transitional words and phrases
Avoid sentences beginning with pronouns, constructions as "There are....,"
Example: "There is a need to proofread all works" becomes "Proofreading is a
must."
Be concise
though vary the length and structure of sentences

Ask a knowledgeable friend to review and comment on your essay

and to repeat back what you are trying to say. You may be surprised.
Taken from
http://www.studygs.net/fiveparag.htm
by Frank Ameca