Develop your introduction. This section should introduce your thesis, or main argument, that you will defend throughout the paper. Organize the argument in your introduction in the same manner that it will unfold in the body of your essay. Provide a brief summary of what the reader can expect to find as they read further. If your essay is an analysis of another published work, avoid summarizing this work in detail or getting caught up in plot summary. What is your question? What is your position or argument? How do you intend to support that argument? Your introduction should briefly answer these questions.
Review the organization of your introductory paragraph. You will use this as a template for organizing the body of your paper and building an organized response to the question and thesis that your introduction has put forward.
Draft an outline which you will follow as you draft your essay. This outline should follow the argument established in your introduction. The headings should follow a logical order of progression supporting your position. These headings may or may not remain in the final essay but are a helpful tool in ensuring you have provided a comprehensive and well-organized response to your essay question.
Write your conclusion. Many find it helpful to roughly draft their conclusion at this juncture as it provides a road map to where you are hoping to land with your reasoning. You may choose to leave it until last; this is a matter of personal preference.
Draft topic sentences for each of the body paragraphs that you have assigned in your outline. These topic sentences should identify clearly what will be developed in the following paragraph. They should indicate clearly the position you are developing in the paragraph below and should not refer to plot summary or summary of the object of your essay.
Put it together. Now that you have an introduction, rough draft of your conclusion and the body paragraphs or sections in between, read it through from beginning to end. Ask yourself if it flows. Is there anything missing? If you knew nothing about the topic, would you be able to follow the argument? Apply a critical lens, highlighting areas that need strengthening.
Finalize your draft. Go back to your conclusion and ensure that it is still applicable and adequately summarizes the key points of the argument you have made. You may still continue to edit your paper for spelling, grammar and sentence structure. This will ensure that poor writing habits do not detract from the analysis you have provided.