Essay Writing Practice: How to Practice Essay-Writing

An essay is a piece of short-form, nonfiction writing that focuses on a specific topic. Writers typically use the essay format to argue a thesis or provide their viewpoints on a subject. There are many different types of essays—from persuasive essays, which make arguments, to narrative essays, which tell a story. Essays can be any length, ranging from one paragraph to many pages, and can be formal or informal. An easy way to improve your essay writing skills is to practice writing in the five-paragraph essay structure.

Essay-writing skills are essential to strong academic writing performance. Most language arts lesson plans include essay-writing starting in high school to prepare students for their future college careers. By the time students reach the university level, professors expect them to have a firm grasp of grammar, spelling, and essay formats. However, the benefits of solid essay-writing skills extend beyond academics. Being a good communicator is essential to your education, career, and everyday life. Essay-writing can help you learn to communicate your thoughts, ideas, and arguments effectively.

The standard five-paragraph essay template is relatively easy to follow, but there are actions you can take to facilitate the writing process:

1. 1. Write your thesis statement first. A thesis statement summarizes your essay and functions as a road map for the piece of writing that lies ahead. It articulates your easy’s main point in one or two sentences, and the rest of the paper reinforces your thesis with supporting points, so nailing it down first makes the rest of the work easier. Learn how to write a thesis statement.
2. 2. Create an outline. Once you have a solid thesis, brainstorm essay ideas by making a bulleted list of the information or points you will include in each paragraph. This will give you a clear idea of what your entire essay should encompass when finalized. Learn more about how to outline an essay.
3. 3. Write your introductory paragraph. Your first paragraph is how you introduce the topic and grab a reader’s attention. It also contains your thesis statement, or your essay’s primary case, phrased succinctly. The thesis statement must clearly reference the topic itself, the focus of the essay, and the three main points you will make in the following body paragraphs.
4. 4. Write your body paragraphs. The next three paragraphs, called body paragraphs, should support your thesis statement in a way that’s clear to the reader. Your first body paragraph will address the first of the three main points you included in your thesis statement. Your second body paragraph will address the second point, and so on. Each body paragraph should begin with a first sentence that serves as a topic sentence—this functions similarly to a thesis statement but directly applies to the particular paragraph to which it belongs. Continue each body paragraph with supporting sentences that back up your topic sentence. Use transition words (like “initially,” “therefore,” “however,” and “nevertheless”) so that the reader can track your logic. Varying sentence structure is an effective way to keep your reader engaged. Learn more about how to write a body paragraph for an essay.
5. 5. Write your conclusion. The last paragraph closes your essay and should reiterate your main supporting points and provide a restatement of the thesis. Do not introduce any new points or concepts into your concluding paragraph. Instead, bring the essay to a succinct and efficient close with a solid last sentence. Add a call to action if that suits the format of your essay.
6. 6. Edit your first draft. Read your first draft with the goal of ensuring your sentences are cohesive, the transitions work, and all the points in your thesis have adequate support. Make adjustments when necessary and repeat this process as many times as needed.

Turn a good essay into a great essay with these essay-writing exercises:

• Write sample essays. Essay-writing is a standard feature of academic testing. Sample essay writing templates are practice tests that can help you prepare for the real thing. When writing a sample essay, focus on crafting a strong thesis statement with body paragraphs that directly support your argument. If you want to prepare for a specific class, you can ask your instructor for sample topics and guidelines.
• Complete writing worksheets. A writing worksheet typically includes an essay prompt, space for outlining your essay, and a defined essay structure. Writing worksheets are especially beneficial for English language learners looking to hone their ESL skills.
• Practice writing different types of essays. Brush up on your knowledge of different essay formats by practicing the common essay types, including expository, narrative, and argumentative essays.

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