Determine exactly what your professor wants you to write about. No use writing a detailed critique about a feminist novel if your professor only requires a reflection paper.
Determine the technical specifications of your essay such as font size, font type and margins. Substantial deductions can be given if you submit your work in the wrong format. It can even be grounds for total rejection.
Try to access already written works from people who have previously studied under your professor. Take note of their style of writing and its impact on the given grade. Record any comments your professor made.
Start by gathering all relevant references for your essay such as books, articles, research papers and Internet sources.
Scan through all of your references and determine which of these will contribute substantially to your essay.
Go back to the particular references you have chosen and read them thoroughly and critically.
Take note of all the important points and facts given by your references and determine how you can use and incorporate them into your essay.
Determine the important points in your essay and their supporting arguments.
Determine how you can make use of the facts from your research in supporting your arguments.
Arrange all your main points and arguments according to how you wish to present them.
Determine how you will write about the different points of your essay and how you will go about presenting your insights and your data.
Start writing your essay, making note of the plan you have previously created.
Keep on writing and exhaust all ideas before taking a break.
Continue writing until you finish your first draft. Congratulations, you have just completed the hardest part of writing an essay. Now it is just a matter of proofing and editing what you have written.