Steps to Writing a Good Essay

Steps to Writing a Good EssayAlthough it might seem easy enough to write an essay in a college setting, writing a good essay that is cogent and free of errors can actually be difficult if you don't know how to go about it. You can however take some simple steps to ensure your essay is well written and accurate in the end.The first step to writing a good essay is to make sure you have a clear outline of what the piece should cover. This can be done by putting together a list of topics you want to cover, allowing you to decide on a topic that is close to your heart or one that can cover many topics. When you have a general idea of what you want to cover, you can start to research topics and find out which ones are more interesting.Having a list of topics allows you to narrow down your focus and to concentrate on a specific topic. This can also help you make sure you do not waste time on topics that will not be suitable for your essay as these may not be able to stand up to scrutiny in the final draft.Before you start writing the main body of your essay, there are some things you should consider closely before starting the work of writing the full essay. First, consider how much you know about the topic at hand. Having a general idea of the topic allows you to write in a way that is relevant and is not all out of your knowledge base.Second, look at how important the topic is for you personally. If you are very passionate about a topic, even though you know very little about it, then writing an essay on it would probably be well worthwhile. If you have less interest in the topic, or if it is not very important to you, then it is probably a good idea to keep the topic to yourself and just write a shorter overview of the topic.Third, decide on a central theme that will drive your main topic. It is a good idea to have a clear idea of the main topic in order to make sure you have enough space to properly explain your views, and even to consider the best methods to writ e it. You should also think about whether your central theme will need to be the focus of the essay or whether you will be able to use a specific writing technique to deliver your ideas.Fourth, consider how to divide the major topic into two or three sections. As a general rule, always divide the essay into three parts. This makes it easier to find the key ideas or concepts and helps you keep your focus.Fifth, think about how best to conclude the final part of the essay. Do you have any ideas to elaborate on the main point or topics or do you need to move on? Often, you are left with the problem of whether to include a conclusion or not.