Brainstorm ideas for your topic. Take time away from your desk to engage in a hobby that relaxes and exercises your mind; brainstorming hobbies for some may include walking or reading, while others may chose to play video games or watch movies. Whatever your method, write down everything that comes to mind on a scrap piece of paper no matter how silly the idea may seem at the time.
Write down the thesis of your essay based upon the topic of your choice. The thesis should clearly state your intention of the essay. Well-defined thesis statements unify the essay by providing direction for not only the audience but also the author. An adequate thesis also narrows down your topic to a specific idea. Broad thesis statements, no matter how well defined they are, can be incomprehensible to the audience.
Outline the essay. Use short sentences to briefly identify each paragraph. Note the sub-points you will discuss within each paragraph. Put your points in a logical order that advances your argument.
Introduce your essay with an attention grabbing statement. State the thesis of the paper within the introduction. Write using active verbs and positive statements. For example, "McLane leapt out of his chair and wrenched Starks' necktie, forcing Starks' face onto broken shards of coffee mug."
Draft the body paragraphs according to the outline. Use separate paragraphs for each main point of the thesis. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that informs readers of the paragraph's content. In each paragraph, support your main point with sub-points that relate to and prove your main point. Support your sub-points with evidence and speak to your audience directly.
Conclude the essay by restating the thesis and relating the final statements back to the introduction. Your conclusion should unify the entire essay and leave the audience with a clear comprehension of the material. If you have a potent idea you wish to communicate with the audience, the final paragraph is the place to put it.
Edit the essay for grammar. Spell-check and proofread for grammar mistakes such as fragmented sentences. Edit unnecessary adverbs. As a rule, if the suffix "-ly" is added to a verb, the verb was not strong enough to begin with. Replace empty adjectives such as "great" or "fun" with descriptive words that communicate specifics of the word being described. For instance: do not say, "the weather is great today," but say, "the weather is warm enough to wear shorts today." Furthermore, remove unsupported claims such as stating something is "popular" without providing evidence.
Create a works cited page according to the appropriate style for any references used in the essay. The Modern Language Association style is used for essays in humanities and liberal arts. The American Psychological Association style is used for social and behavioral sciences. Other widely used style formats include the Chicago Manual of Style and the Columbia Online Style.