Research your topic thoroughly. Many students attempt to begin their essays without an adequate knowledge of the topic. They often assume that they can just "wing it" without any real preparation. In reality, though, few students are able to do this. Rather than conducting the research as you go, complete your research before you start writing. Gather pertinent resources and write down a few notes on each source. A thorough knowledge of the topic will provide you with the necessary impetus to start the essay.
Brainstorm for several minutes prior to writing. After you complete your research, write down several key ideas or concepts that emerged. Create a list of other items that come to mind in relation to each idea or concept. For example, if one of the key themes in a paper on the American Civil War is "slavery," other key terms or ideas might include cotton, abolitionism and Abraham Lincoln. Free association used in this way can create the content for your essay.
Create an outline. Use the items that emerge from your brainstorming session as the basis for your outline. Select the major terms that have the most significance for your topic and use these as the major headings or subheadings in your paper. Having an outline in place will guide you through the essay writing process.
Write your thesis and introduction. With your research completed, you should have no trouble putting these together. The opening paragraph of your essay should introduce the reader to your topic and provide a summary of what the rest of the paper will contain. It should not, however, give away the entire contents of the essay. The introduction should also contain your thesis statement. This statement introduces the reader to what your essay is all about. The thesis is what your paper will attempt to argue or prove.