Brainstorm for ideas on your topic. Write down your thoughts, talk with classmates and review your notes. Think of different ideas on how to approach your topic and pick the strongest one.
Develop a thesis statement. A thesis statement is one or two sentences that summarizes the ideas presented in your essay. Your thesis may change as you research your topic and explore new ideas.
Create an outline for your essay. Your outline should include ideas for the introduction, body and conclusion of your essay. Before you start writing, your outline may be vague, but it will help you organize your ideas and guide your research.
Conduct research on your topic. Research for academic essays should support your thesis statement. The evidence should further prove your thesis statement and your essay as a whole. Use reputable resources like academic journals, books, dissertations and government documents when researching your topic. Research can be done through the Internet, but the website must be credible. Research any counter-arguments to your thesis, so you can address them in your essay.
Record the title, author, page numbers, year and publisher of any sources you consult for your essay. You may need further information on your sources, depending on the citation style you use in your essay. Having a prepared list of sources will be invaluable when you start writing. You must cite the research used in your essay to avoid plagiarism.
Understand the practical requirements of the essay. Your instructor should provide some basic guidelines for formatting your essay. Practical requirements like margin size, font style, page or word length may vary by instructor. Prepare your document before writing so you don't forget to format your essay before submission.