How to write an essay

An essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis and
interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an
essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. The essay writing process
consists of three main stages:

1. Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.

2. Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body,
and wrap it up with a conclusion.

3. Revision: Check the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

Writing the introduction

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of
what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is
sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement
emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing
system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement that about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might
involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates
on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can
elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement—the central argument you’re going to make. The
thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences
long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

 As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new
accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of
blindness.

4. Map the structure

Example of an essay introduction

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability.  The writing system of
raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-
century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly
stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The
idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were
difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a
groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the
cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-
century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance
within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind
people’s social and cultural lives.

Writing the main body

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and
develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you
have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your
essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of
6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure, it is important to organize it into paragraphs. Each paragraph should
be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a topic sentence. The topic sentence should generally lead on from the
previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used
to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be
sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Example of essay body paragraph

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century
society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture,
communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that
did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While
disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst
disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or
improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading
and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully
participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent
on sighted people for information and education.

Writing the conclusion

The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of
the text. A strong essay conclusion:

 Returns to your thesis

 Ties together your main points

 Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a
strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most
common mistakes are:

 Including new arguments or evidence

 Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)

 Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Example of an essay conclusion

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the
opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems
from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their
students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social
changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who
need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.
Essay length guidelines

Type of essay Average word Essay content

High school 300–1000 In high school you are often asked to write a 5-paragraph essay,
essay words composed of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a
conclusion.