how to Write an English Essay | Writing
Thesis statement
A thesis statement is what starts off the essay, and sets out what you intend to prove throughout the rest of the paper. Before you even begin writing the essay, decide on the main point you'll be making, and then use this to create a good thesis statement. You might have several points you'll be trying to prove within the essay, but only one main idea to focus on at first. An example of a thesis statement would be "The purpose of the essay is to highlight the importance of being environmentally friendly."
Structure
Once you've decided on your thesis statement, you'll now need to break down the rest of the essay into smaller pieces. Think of each section as having its own 'topic' within the larger essay, and make sure that each topic is related to the main idea. These sections can be split up into paragraphs - these should help you to keep track of where you are going with the various parts of the essay. Each paragraph should have its own sub-heading, and these subheadings should relate back to the main idea of each paragraph. If you add in some additional supporting material, this will help both yourself and your readers to understand exactly what you're talking about. Make sure that the supporting information is relevant to the topic, though. If you just throw in random facts without relating them to the topic, you won't be proving much of anything.
Paragraph planning
Think about how you want the different parts of the essay to flow together. Will they be starting off with a general overview before moving onto the details? Or will you jump straight in with the details? Whatever approach you wish to take, make sure that you stick to it. Don't go jumping between topics or tangents unless you have a really strong argument to back up your claims!
Writing style
You don't need to try to sound clever or academic when you're writing an essay. In fact, using long words and complex sentences isn't always a good thing; instead, keep things simple and clear. Avoid jargon and make sure your grammar is correct. Also remember that if you use slang words, you may not impress your teacher or audience. However, if you do use slang, make sure that you explain the meaning of those words clearly.
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