How to Write an Essay

Process Essay - How to Write an Essay

Writing a college essay can be a very difficult task. However, there

are techniques to help make this task easier. The writing process is a three

stage approach to planning and creating a college essay. These stages are known

as prewriting, writing, and revising. If a student follows this process, she

will write a good paper.

The first stage of the writing process is called prewriting. There are

five prewriting techniques that help writers to understand the topic and purpose

of the writing assignment and limit the topic to a manageable and appropriate

idea. The techniques are brainstorming, freewriting, diagramming, making a list,

and preparing an outline. In brainstorming, you generate ideas for you writing.

A writer might view a film and discuss or write their impressions, write a list

of ideas for an essay, or discuss a topic with a group of students. You might

ask yourself some questions such as What? Why? When? Where? How? and Who? In

freewriting, you write non-stop about a subject for a certain amount of time.

Spelling or punctuation, mistakes, and finding exact words do not matter. It

helps you to get a clearer picture of what you are trying you say. Diagramming

is helpful for people who think in a visual way. You can put your idea in a

circle or block and branch off examples or other ideas pertaining to it. The

fourth technique is making a list. You list as many items you can that has a

relation to your topic. Your goal is to make details and to gather as much

material as possible so you have something to start with when you go to write

your paper. The last technique is preparing an outline. The thesis statement

is clearly stated on the outline and a specific outline format is followed.

Outlining gives you a sense of organization and allows you to see quickly if you

have enough support for your ideas. After the writer is done prewriting, she

moves on to the next step.

The second stage for the writing process is called writing. In the

writing phase, you make decisions about developing and organizing your ideas

into writing and discover what you know about the subject. Insights gained from

the prewriting phase help shape ideas into meaning for yourself and others. The

writer may prepare a rough draft, focusing on the purpose of the writing and

choosing a suitable form for a specific audience. You need a thesis to work

with first. The thesis will be your guide while you write your essay.