How to Write an Essay: 4 Minute Step-by-step Guide | Scribbr 🎓

Summary

This video offers a crash course on academic essay writing, covering the three main stages: Preparation, Writing, and Revision. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the assignment, choosing a topic, and formulating a clear thesis. The script guides viewers on crafting an engaging introduction, organizing the body with focused paragraphs, and concluding effectively. It also stresses the need for thorough revision, including grammar, spelling, and plagiarism checks, to ensure a polished final submission.

Takeaways

• 📚 The main goal of an academic essay is to persuade readers through informed arguments backed by evidence and analysis.
• 🎯 The essay writing process consists of three main stages: Preparation, Writing, and Revision.
• 🤔 In the Preparation stage, understanding the assignment and choosing a topic are crucial first steps.
• 💭 Developing an initial thesis statement is important to establish the main point or position you will argue in the essay.
• 📝 Creating an outline and planning the essay structure helps kickstart the writing process and maintain focus.
• 📖 The introduction should grab the reader's interest and provide context for the essay's argument.
• 📝 The thesis statement, presented in the introduction, is a central argument that drives the entire essay.
• 🔍 The body of the essay, which makes up 60-80% of the content, is where arguments supporting the thesis are developed with evidence.
• 📑 Using clear topic sentences in each paragraph helps to structure the essay and guide the reader through the arguments.
• ✍️ The conclusion should summarize the essay's main points, show the outcome of the arguments, and emphasize the importance of the thesis.
• 🔧 After writing, revising and polishing the essay is essential, including checking arguments, grammar, spelling, and formatting.

Q & A

What is the main goal of an academic essay?

The main goal of an academic essay is to persuade readers of a position or perspective through informed arguments supported with evidence and analysis.

How many main stages are there in writing an essay according to the script?

There are three main stages in writing an essay: Preparation, Writing, and Revision.

What is the first step in the preparation stage of essay writing?

The first step in the preparation stage is to understand the assignment and choose a topic.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

The purpose of a thesis statement is to present the main point or the central argument that the essay will make.

What should be included in the introduction of an essay?

The introduction should include a hook to grab the reader's interest, context to help the reader understand the argument, and the thesis statement.

What is the function of the body section in an essay?

The body section is where arguments supporting the thesis are made, evidence is provided, and ideas are developed.

Why is it important to use paragraphs in the body section of an essay?

Using paragraphs in the body section helps give the essay a clear structure and allows each argument or idea to be centered around one topic sentence.

What should a topic sentence in an essay paragraph do?

A topic sentence should introduce the purpose of the paragraph, making a transition from the previous paragraph and presenting the argument to be made.

What are the three things that should be done in the conclusion of an essay?

In the conclusion, one should summarize and tie together the points made in the essay's body, show the outcome of the arguments, and emphasize why the argument matters.

What is the final step before submitting an essay after it's been written?

The final step before submitting an essay is to revise and polish the writing, double-check arguments, and ensure grammar, spelling, and formatting are correct, including checking for plagiarism if sources were cited.

What is the next step recommended after understanding the stages of essay writing?

The next step recommended is to create an outline for the essay.