A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Flawless Academic Essays

 

It is the time of the year when our lectures want us to submit the perfect essay with a good amount of research, coherence, and content. It might feel impossible at times to submit a well-written essay but there are a few tricks to get it right.

I get it! Writing an essay could be daunting as that consumes time, involves coherence in writing, and asks for quality writing. In this beginner’s guide to writing the perfect academic essay, I’ll walk you through the 7-step process so you know how you can secure the highest score in the exam.

You will read

✔️ How do you write a good academic essay?

✔️ Three-Part Essay Structure

✔️ Introduction

✔️ How to structure a compelling body paragraph?

✔️ Writing a conclusion

 

What is an Academic Essay?

 

Academic essays are used at the level of universities and colleges. Different types of essays are used based on the requirements of the essay. Academic essays focus on and discuss interpretation, new results, and interpretations. These essays are used for abstracts, research papers, research proposals, and in many other instances. The time takes to write the essay depends on the difficulty of the subject and the arguments you want to state on it.

 

Four Stages to writing an essay

 

1️⃣ Preparation

Read extensively on the idea that you want to discuss. Decide on the topic and do a basic research. Have an outline of what ideas will be discussed in the essay.

2️⃣ Structuring

Jot down the points based on where you want to place it in the essay.

3️⃣ Drafting

Write a draft of the essay and check whether the arguments are developed in the introduction, main body, and conclusion.

4️⃣ Editing or Revision

Cross-check the content, grammar, and format of the essay.

Always start by preparing your essay. Preparation is just to draft the essay outline and define the essay topic you want to deal with in detail. In this guide, we will walk you through each step of how to write an essay for any academic purpose.

📝 Three-Part Essay Structure

A basic academic essay has three structures and they are the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This is called a three-part essay structure. The body paragraph is as many as possible based on the requirement of the essay and the type of it.

 

🚩  Crafting a pitch-perfect introduction

 

1️⃣ Hook Statement

To captivate readers from the start, a hook statement creatively grabs their attention, sparking curiosity about the forthcoming essay topic.

2️⃣ Overall Information about the Topic

The overall information about the topic provides context and background, offering readers a foundational understanding of the subject matter to be explored in the essay.

3️⃣ Thesis Statement

The thesis statement, often found at the end of the introduction, succinctly encapsulates the main point or argument of the essay, guiding the reader on the essay’s trajectory.

📖 How to structure a compelling body paragraph?

 

1️⃣ Topic Sentence

Begin with a clear and concise topic sentence that encapsulates the main point of the paragraph.

2️⃣ Explain the Topic Sentence

Elaborate on the topic sentence to provide context and detail, ensuring your readers understand the main idea.

3️⃣  Give an Example

Support the explanation by presenting a specific example that illustrates the concept introduced in the topic sentence.

4️⃣ Explain the Topic Sentence with Reference to the Example

Further clarify the topic sentence by connecting it explicitly to the example, showing how the example reinforces the main point.

5️⃣ Prove the Claim

Offer evidence or analysis to substantiate the validity of the main point asserted in the topic sentence, demonstrating the paragraph’s significance in supporting the overall argument or thesis.

🏁 Writing a conclusion

 

1️⃣ Restate the Key Argument

Begin the conclusion by succinctly rephrasing the central thesis or main argument of the essay, ensuring clarity and emphasis on the core idea.

2️⃣ Sum Up the Main Ideas of the Essay

Provide a concise overview of the key points discussed in the essay, offering a synthesis of the main ideas to reinforce the essay’s central theme.

3️⃣ Opinions Can Be Included

Optionally, incorporate personal opinions or reflections, emphasizing the significance of the topic or expressing your stance on the subject matter.

4️⃣ Closing Sentence

Craft a closing sentence that leaves a lasting impression, whether by summarizing the essay’s implications, offering a call to action, or providing a thought-provoking reflection.

One best way to restate the key argument is by paraphrasing the introductory paragraph. The thesis statement can be restated in the conclusion. Bringing in examples from the essays in a word or two supports the argument greatly. Having personal opinion says to the reader about the originality of the work. It also encourageable the writer/researcher to prove their opinions on the essay.