Choose a topic. If the topic has been assigned already by your teacher or professor, make sure you properly understand the nature of the topic. Your essay can stray completely off course if you do not understand the issue to be addressed or the question to be answered. Consult your instructor if necessary to ensure that you fully understand the nature of the assignment.
Research your topic thoroughly. Find out as much about the topic as possible. Some students think that throwing together a couple of sources and summarizing them constitutes enough research to do well on an essay. In reality, your essay should reflect the fact that you have read the source materials and have mentally digested them to the extent that you can sit down and write an essay without having to closely consult the sources while you write.
Write an informative introduction with a straightforward thesis statement. The introduction sets the stage for the rest of your essay. It should introduce the reader to the extent of your research and its importance, and it should provide a summary of what the rest of your essay will contain. Don't disclose your conclusions at this point, though.
Write the body of the essay. The body is the meat of the paper. It presents the findings of your research and the facts to support the thesis stated in your introduction. The body composes the bulk of your essay. For example, in a 10-page essay, your introduction might be one page or less, your conclusion one page or maybe just a few paragraphs, and the body of the paper at least eight pages. It should contain all of the pertinent facts and findings related to your topic.
Establish your conclusion. This must follow logically from the facts and be based directly on the content of the body of the essay. The conclusion is a chance for you to summarize your findings, explain what they mean and why they are important, and, if appropriate to the topic and the assignment, your point of view about your findings and about the topic as a whole.