Steps to Writing an Academic Essay

By Jonan Donaldson

1. Choose a topic.

2. Brainstorm. Clustering works best for most people. Also, it’s a good idea to talk to other people about the topic.

3. Organize your ideas into groups of related ideas.

4. Make an outline with three main ideas which all support your overall main idea.

5. Start writing the essay at the body of your essay (main point 1, main point 2, and main point 3) with at least one paragraph for each main idea. (Do not write the introduction or conclusion yet)

6. Summarize the whole body (your three main ideas) in one paragraph with at least one sentence for each main idea. You can add some opinion or suggestions at the end. This is your conclusion.

7. Summarize your conclusion in one sentence. This is your thesis statement. Put this right before your first main idea. It will be the last sentence of your introduction.

8. Write a funnel introduction (general to specific) that ends with the thesis statement you wrote in the previous step.

9. Summarize your thesis statement in two to five words. This is your title. Put it at the beginning of your essay, and don’t forget to center it. Now your first draft is finished.

10. Put your name, class name, professors name, and date at the top left or top right of the essay.

11. Edit your essay. Most people find it best to print it out on paper and write editing marks by hand and then enter the changes on the computer. This will be your second draft.

12. Get a friend or professional to edit your second draft (by hand). Enter these changes and print it out again. This is your third or final draft, depending on whether you have time for another draft.

Funnel Introduction

Very General Statements

General Statements

More Specific Statements

Specific Statements

Very Specific Statements

Most Specific Statements = Thesis Statement*

* A thesis statement is a one-sentence summary of the whole essay. It includes all the main ideas in the essay (but not supporting ideas). It should be the last sentence of the introduction.