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Ace any essay topic with this beginner-friendly guide
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Writing an essay is an important basic skill that you will need to succeed in high school, college, and beyond. While the exact requirements of any essay will vary depending on the teacher and assignment, most high school essays follow the same basic structure. By presenting a well-written five-paragraph essay with a strong thesis statement, you can successfully write an essay for any high school class or topic!
Writing in a High School Essay Format
Decide on and research a topic, then create your essay outline. Write an introduction that states your argument with a thesis statement, then support the thesis statement with evidence in your three main body paragraphs. Finally, restate your thesis and summarize your argument in your concluding paragraph.
Steps
Section 1 of 6:
Writing a High School Essay: The Preparation Stage
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Choose an essay style and topic if you haven’t already been assigned one. Check the specific criteria for your essay as provided by your teacher. Your teacher may have already told you what type of essay you need to write, as well as what topics you’re able to choose from. Once you come up with a topic and essay format, make sure you know the required length and deadline for your assignment and go to your teacher with any outstanding questions.
- While most high school essays follow a similar format, different requirements are needed for different types of essays —such as a persuasive, expository, narrative, or descriptive essay. [1] X Research source
- If you need help coming up with a topic , brainstorm or search for subjects related to your assignment’s focus.
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Do preliminary research on your essay’s topic. Look through primary and secondary sources that are related to your chosen topic. Take notes and look for connections between the different pieces of information that you find. Organize and save this information so you can revisit it once you start writing your five-paragraph essay . [2] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
- Eventually, the sources you find in your research will be the evidence to back up the main point of your essay.
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Create an arguable thesis statement for your essay. The thesis statement summarizes the main idea or argument of your essay, and it’s needed to both guide your writing and help the reader understand your essay. Use the research and knowledge you have on your topic to come up with a thesis statement. Write the thesis in one clear and concise sentence, and make sure your point is arguable and not just a general thought or idea. [3] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
- For example, the statement “Elephants are used to perform in circuses” does not offer an arguable point—this statement just presents a fact.
- Instead, you may try a thesis statement like “Elephants should not be kept in the circus since they are mistreated.” Since people may reasonably agree or disagree with this statement, you’ll be able to find supporting arguments for and against it to use in your essay.
- Keep in mind that some types of essay writing may not require an argument, such as a narrative essay. However, the standard high school essay structure typically requires a thesis statement.
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Make an outline for the paragraphs in your essay. Write an outline to plan out the overall structure and content of your essay. Your specific outline will depend on the type of essay that you’re writing, but most high school essays include a five-paragraph structure with an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. An essay outline that fits this general format might look something like this: [4] X Research source
- Introduction Paragraph
Hook:
Thesis Statement: - Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence:
Supporting Evidence #1:
Supporting Evidence #2:
Supporting Evidence #3: - Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence:
Supporting Evidence #1:
Supporting Evidence #2:
Supporting Evidence #3: - Body Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence:
Supporting Evidence #1:
Supporting Evidence #2:
Supporting Evidence #3: - Conclusion
- Introduction Paragraph
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Find reliable sources that support your argument. Avoid using personal blogs or websites that are biased. Instead, look for scholarly articles, lab research, or general news sources for the most accurate information. Find books published by large publishers that support your arguments as well. [5] X Research source
- Talk to your school’s librarian for direction on specific books or databases you could use to find your information.
- Many schools offer access to online databases like EBSCO or JSTOR where you can find reliable information. If you need help, consult with your teacher.
- Wikipedia is a great starting place for your research, but it can be edited by anyone in the world, so it’s not a reliable source. Instead, look at a related Wikipedia article’s references to find the sites where the information really came from.
- Use Google Scholar if you want to find peer-reviewed scholarly articles for your sources.
- Make sure to consider the author’s qualifications when determining source credibility . If a source does not include the author’s name, then it might not be a good option.
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Section 2 of 6:
Writing an Essay Introduction
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Write a hook that contains a relevant fact, quote, or question. An essay’s “hook” or “attention getter” draws readers in and gets them invested in your topic. Use a shocking statistic, quote, or hypothetical question in the first sentence of your intro to get the reader thinking about your subject. Then, use the attention getter to segue into the main topic of your essay. [6] X Research source
- However, make sure that your hook is both accurate and related to the subject of your essay.
- Example : Gender inequality has been an inescapable fact of life for as long as history can remember.
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Provide background and context for your topic. In the next couple sentences of the introduction, give the reader context that they need in order to understand your essay’s argument. Depending on the subject and style of your essay, this may involve providing background knowledge, defining important academic terms, or explaining any controversy or debate that surrounds your subject. This section should only be 2-3 sentences long—you’ll elaborate in the body paragraphs of your essay.
- Example: Women have been seen as inferior, and have been treated as such, for centuries. But to respond to such sexist ideas and treatment, the modern feminist movement arose. Feminism has become a prevalent theme in all forms of art, including literature. Feminist criticism examines works of literature in order to analyze their portrayal of the sexes.
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Introduce your thesis in one sentence. Write your thesis statement in a clear and concise way at the end of your introduction—typically the last or second-to-last sentence. Make sure that your thesis statement clearly expresses your point of view to the reader and connects to all major points in your essay. [7] X Research source
- Example: In John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums,” the lens of feminist criticism provides insight into how the issue of gender inequality affects the main protagonist, Elisa Allen.
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For a longer essay, include an overview of your essay at the end of the intro. End the introduction by briefly describing what information you’re providing through the essay to support your thesis. You might mention the topic sentences of each of your body paragraphs and how they’ll guide the reader to your conclusion. [8] X Research source
- Mapping out this structure for the reader helps them know exactly what you’re discussing and what they should expect from the rest of your essay.
- However, this structural preview in the introductory paragraph is typically only included in longer, more advanced essays. If you’re not sure about including this segment, double-check with your teacher. When in doubt, leave it out and end the intro with your thesis.
- Example: This paper begins by exploring the limitations placed on Elisa due to her gender, then goes on to discuss the ways in which Steinbeck showcases Elisa’s struggles through symbolism and other literary devices. Finally, this essay will explore the modern-day parallels of Elisa’s story and the continuing ramifications of gender inequality.
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Example Introductory Paragraphs
William Shakespeare’s classic drama Othello centers around the two conflicting characters of scheming, manipulative Iago and the honorable, but oftentimes faithless, Othello. Both Othello and Iago use many of the same literary devices and much of the same figurative language to express not only their opinions of those around them, but also their general conceptions of the workings of the universe on a more spiritual level. Despite the fact that these men are completely opposite in character, Iago commands such persuasive powers that he literally starts to affect Othello’s thinking, altering the figures of speech he uses and his perceptions of those close to him.
Gender inequality has been an inescapable fact of life for as long as history can remember. Women have been seen as inferior, and have been treated as such, for centuries. But to respond to such sexist ideas and treatment, the modern feminist movement arose. Feminism has become a prevalent theme in all forms of art, including literature. Feminist criticism examines works of literature in order to analyze their portrayal of the sexes. In John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums,” the lens of feminist criticism provides insight into how the issue of gender inequality affects the main protagonist, Elisa Allen. This paper begins by exploring the limitations placed on Elisa due to her gender, then goes on to discuss the ways in which Steinbeck showcases Elisa’s struggles through symbolism and other literary devices. Finally, this essay will explore the modern-day parallels of Elisa’s story and the continuing ramifications of gender inequality.
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Section 3 of 6:
Writing Body Paragraphs
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Determine how long your body paragraphs should be. The length of your essay’s body text depends on the type of essay you’re writing. As a rule, the body of your essay should comprise about 60-80% of your essay. Most commonly, a high school essay will feature three body paragraphs. However, a more advanced research paper may have body paragraphs that fill up 8-10 pages.
- Check with your teacher if you’re not sure how many paragraphs should be in the body of your essay.
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Include a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and analysis in each paragraph. Remember that each sentence within the body paragraph must support its topic sentence, and each topic sentence must support your thesis statement. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and relates directly back to your thesis. Then, write a few sentences with 2-3 pieces of evidence or quotes to support your topic sentence. Conclude the paragraph with your own interpretation of the evidence you’ve presented. [9] X Research source
- Don’t assume your reader will make the connection between your info and the thesis of your paper. Analysis also gives you a chance to include your own thoughts and interpretation of the facts you provide.
- Unless you’re writing a personal essay, avoid the use of “I” statements since this could make your essay look less professional.
- When quoting or paraphrasing specific pieces of information or evidence, don’t forget to cite your sources in-text based on the format required for your paper. [10] X Research source Many high school essays are written in MLA or APA style. Ask your teacher what format they want you to follow if it’s not specified.
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Use transitional phrases between each of your body paragraphs. To ensure that your readers can smoothly move between your body paragraphs, use words or phrases to relate the paragraphs to one another. This will make it so your essay doesn’t seem disjointed and will keep your points succinct. [11] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
- For example, if your body paragraphs discuss similar points in a different way, you can use phrases like “in the same way,” “similarly,” and “just as” to start other body paragraphs.
- If you are posing different points, try phrases like “in spite of,” “in contrast,” or “however” to transition.
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Example Body Paragraphs
Act I of Othello closes with Iago giving a soliloquy introducing his plan to make Othello lose faith in his wife. He concludes this speech by saying “Hell and night/Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light,” comparing Othello and Desdemona’s marriage to a “monster birth,” while equating himself and his deceptions to Satan. Iago hates that he must play an innocent underling in his own plot, but at the same time he realizes that the easiest method to achieve his goals is to hide his true intentions under a cloak of innocence.
Trip Fontaine is another character negatively affected by the pressures to assimilate to American culture. Trip is a classmate of the Lisbon girls and fulfills the role of golden boy at their high school, after his emergence “from baby fat to the delight of girls and women alike.” Trip is constantly courted by girls and his young life fulfills every stereotype for the definition of the teenage American Dream. However, Trip’s later life is spent in detox and rehab, living off “the last of his ex-wife’s savings.” Trip is the definition of an American teen heartthrob, yet his need to conform to and maintain this image leads him down the path of drugs and alcohol, ending in a life riddled with addiction and disease (48). His eventual fate depicts the price that one must pay for living the idealized young American life.
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Writing Techniques Cheat Sheet
Community Q&A
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QuestionApproximately how long will it take to write a 1600 word essay using APA style?Community Answer4-5 days depending on how long you work on it each day. If you concentrate it might only take you 3 days.
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QuestionHow do I make a conclusion for my essay sound natural?Community AnswerTry adding a sentence that leaves the reader with a lingering thought.
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QuestionIf it's a mandatory essay and I'm really not into it what should I do?Community AnswerJust force yourself to write the essay. Because it's mandatory, it will be part of your mark. Give yourself plenty of time because it will likely take longer. But try to find something interesting about the topic to focus on.
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Tips
- Your teacher should have provided you with a rubric, so use that as your final guide to make sure your essay is meeting all of the criteria for this assignment.Thanks
- If you have writer's block, take a break for a few minutes, stretch, get a snack, and come back to your essay.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/types-of-essays/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
- ↑ https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/rrambo/eng1001/outline.htm
- ↑ https://guides.libs.uga.edu/reliability
- ↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/20-compelling-hook-examples-for-essays.html
- ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
- ↑ https://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/five_par.htm
- ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paragraphs/topicsentences
- ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paragraphs/topicsentences
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
- ↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/conclusion
- ↑ https://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
- ↑ https://www.csueastbay.edu/scaa/files/docs/student-handouts/expository-essay.pdf
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/historical_perspectives_on_argumentation/toulmin_argument.html
- ↑ https://gallaudet.edu/student-success/tutorial-center/english-center/writing/resources-for-writing-different-types-of-essays/guide-to-different-kinds-of-essays/
- ↑ https://gallaudet.edu/student-success/tutorial-center/english-center/writing/resources-for-writing-different-types-of-essays/guide-to-different-kinds-of-essays/
About This Article
Article Summary
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Writing good essays is an important skill to have in high school, and you can write a good one by planning it out and organizing it well. Before you start, do some research on your topic so you can come up with a strong, specific thesis statement, which is essentially the main argument of your essay. For instance, your thesis might be something like, “Elephants should not be kept in the circus because they are mistreated.” Once you have your thesis, outline the paragraphs for your essay. You should have an introduction that includes your thesis, at least 3 body paragraphs that explain your main points, and a conclusion paragraph. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph. As you write your main points, make sure to include evidence and quotes from your research to back it up. To learn how to revise your paper, read more from our Writing co-author!
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