Step Up & Stand Out

The Right Way to Write an Essay

A fundamental mainstay in the classroom - writing - is here to stay. The key is to have your child approach the task in stages, concentrating on each step as he goes along.

Here's a five-part formula for writing an A+ essay.

Interpret the Question.

Although this seems obvious, it is the most frequently overlooked part of the whole essay process. The writer must begin by analyzing what is being asked by reading the question carefully, re-reading it, writing down key directions (compare, describe, etc.) and clarifying anything that is unclear. There are various methods of writing for different types of essays. Students should identify both what the teacher is asking and what type of essay is required before advancing to the next stage.

Research.

Writing the essay is only half the battle; the brunt of the work comes in the research stage. Students should pinpoint what they already know about the topic and for which questions they will need outside sources. By identifying these two elements first, they'll avoid overloading their paper with every piece of information they find. Make sure your child develops effective organizational strategies to keep all of the information straight, from using index cards for each point to creating file folders. Whatever form the research takes, the key element is preparation.

Plan.

Notes in hand, your child is armed for phase three. A child who says that he can't write probably just doesn't know where to start. The hardest time to write is when you don't know what you want to say. Too often children blame their inability to write on their writing skills, when they really just haven't thought it through.

After giving the topic considerable thought, students can organize their collected facts into a clear structure with a definite beginning, middle and end, recalling what exactly is being asked and how best to answer it. To create this structure, students can use a traditional outline or try another approach, such as creating an essay roadmap on a large sheet of white paper, freely marking and connecting ideas until the ideal structure is generated.

Write.

All that remains is elaborating on the core structure and expressing the facts into a clear, flowing piece. The introductory paragraph should be well-written and a convincing proof of that thesis. Maybe supporting paragraphs should be ordered by increasing importance. Maybe each point should compare and contrast. Or, maybe something else will work better. With the information already organized and the structure established, the emphasis in this stage is on maintaining a flawless style - with active voice, good transitional statements and purposeful structure.

Revision.

While your child may be breathing a sigh of relief when he places that last period on the paper, he has not crossed the finish line yet. Revision can be the difference between an A and B essay. Beyond merely running a computer spell check, he must re-read his essay, making sure the question has been, answered the paragraphs are linked effectively, the conclusion is consistent with the introduction, and if references are used, the proper citation form is used.