When in Doubt, Go Back to the Basics

An integral part of school is the essay. No matter what grade you are in or degree, you generally are going to have to write at least one. I know most people abhor essay writing and there are a very slim number of essay enthusiasts. So I'm going to tell you what you already know, but what you may forget when overwhelmed with the prospect of writing.

Go back to the basics.

Write an outline.
I know. It's simple and obvious, but even I sometimes forget this tool. Outlines will give you structure, especially when your professor is giving you none.

A basic outline looks like this:

Introductory paragraph -

• Hook
• (Draw the reader in. Tell them that they want more with this first sentence. A very similar quality that writers want in their novels.)
• Background/Summary
• (Help your reader out. Maybe they know everything about your topic, maybe they don't. Give them enough ground to stand on so that they're not lost later.)
• Thesis Statement
• (Make your argument. You're here to prove something and this is just a small preview of what is in store.)

Body Paragraph 1 -

• Lead-In/Mini Thesis Statement
• Argument 1
• (By the way, you can have multiple arguments in the body paragraphs, but the general rule of 3 is good to live by. Too many and the paragraph may become its own essay. Too few and you might struggle to get the point across.)
• Mini Conclusion/Set-Up for next paragraph
• (Potentially you don't need to set up. Just wrap it up on a good note so that they're satisfied with this argument and can move onto your next paragraph.)

Body Paragraph 2 -

• Lead-In/Mini Thesis Statement
• (It's a good idea to refer back to your original/intro thesis and tie it back around, but don't use repetitive phrasing or your reader will get annoyed.)
• Argument 1
• Mini Conclusion/Set-Up for next paragraph

Body Paragraph 3 -

• Lead-In/Mini Thesis Statement
• (Wash, rinse, repeat...an essay has a repetitive format which can get old, but can make it easier for you to write it.)
• Argument 1
• Mini Conclusion/Set-Up for next paragraph

Conclusion -

• Summary
• (At last, you're almost there. Draw your points together and get it done.)
• Ending Thought/Takeaway Point/Call to Action
• (This is your time to tell the reader, but that's not all. This is how this is applicable or "go forth and conquer" with these new strategies.)

Now there are many variations and different terms for outlines, so this is definitely not an end-all-be-all model. However, if you find yourself thrown for a loop and scrambling to finish that essay, start with an outline. It might just save your life.