Type the essay, rather than handwrite it. Use Times New Roman size 12 font, unless otherwise specified by the application. Double space the essay, and set the page margins to one or 1.25 inches. Type only on a single side of the page, and number pages to assist your readers in keeping track of loose pages.
Organize the essay by including an introduction, body and conclusion, regardless of the type of essay. For instance, if required to respond to a prompt or analyze an argument, state your thesis or argument in the first paragraph, support your claim in three to four paragraphs and reinforce your argument and tie up loose ends in the final paragraph. For a personal statement or essay on your academic and professional goals, state your purpose in the introduction, expand upon your purpose with details in following paragraphs and synthesize your statements in a final paragraph.
Focus the body of your essay by presenting only one main idea or argument per paragraph, unless ideas or arguments relate to or build upon each other. State the main idea or argument at the beginning of the paragraph in a topic sentence to alert the reader as to what to expect. Substantiate your topic sentence throughout the paragraph with sentences that provide examples, instances or facts in support.
Use a formatting style such as the Modern Language Association (MLA) or the American Psychological Association (APA) consistently. For instance, use the serial comma (per MLA), or do not use the serial comma (per APA), as long as your usage is consistent. Proofread your essay to conform to style guidelines.