How to Write an Essay?

Step-by-step Essay Writing Guide from ABANG ZACK

Step ! C"oosing #our $referab%e Essay &opi'

When you are given a number of essay topics to choose from, for instance, in SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia), you should study each of the essay topics carefully. For your information, SPM nglish !!!" #ontinuous Writing consists of five essay $uestions. SPM candidates are re$uired to choose one of the essay topics and %rite a composition of at least &'( %ords. )he essay topics given may be descriptive , narrative or others. When choosing your preferable essay topic, you should repeatedly as* yourself +,m confident of %riting this topic./ #hoose the one that you have complete confidence of %riting it. 0ou %ill possibly %rite a poor essay or run out of points if you lac* confidence in yourself. 1uring e2amination, choose an essay topic that you have interest in it or it sounds familiar to you. For practice purpose, choose any topics that you %ould li*e to try %riting it. -t can be the topic that you have no interest in or even the one that you dare not %rite during e2amination3 0ou may gain confidence as you do more practices. ,fter you have chosen your preferable essay topic, you can no% proceed to the ne2t step4 5rainstorm -deas for 0our ssay.

Step (! Brainstorming )deas for #our Essay

6o%, you have to brainstorm ideas related to the essay topic you have chosen previously. When you are brainstorming ideas, there is only one rule to adhere4 no idea is ruled out during the period of thebrainstorming. ,s %ith brainstorming, do not reject anything at this stage. 7rammar or spelling is not important during brainstorming. 1o not %aste your time correcting grammar or spelling errors. )here are three methods to brainstorm ideas4

#reate a 8ist 1ra% a Mind Map ,s* and ,ns%er Wh9$uestions

Create a *ist )his method is simple and effective. ,ll you need to do is to create a list of %ords and short sentences related to the essay topic chosen. 2ample4 Essay &opi'! &"e Ad+antages and ,isad+antages of t"e )nternet mail is cheaper Pornographic 2plicit content S*ype : free online call -nternet messenger li*e -#;, MS6 messenger, 0ahoo Messenger <irus =ac*er -nternet =ac*ing >nline 5an*ing 5log ... ()he list goes on and on until you really run out of ideas) ,raw a -ind -ap 0ou can choose from a variety of mind maps to dra%. )hen, you should %rite the points on the mind map. 1o not %aste your time dra%ing a comple2 mind map3 , simple mind map %ill loo* li*e this.

?sing mind map, all your points are grouped together neatly for easy reference. Mind map is highly recommended for reflective essays andfactual essays. As. and Answer W"-/uestions ,s* yourself as much as possible Wh9$uestions related to the essay topic chosen. )his

%riting method is suitable for descriptive essays, narrative essays and reports. Essay &opi'! A Hit-and-run A''ident When it happens. =o% it happens. Why it occurs. What is the brand of the hit9and9run car. Where it happens. Who is the victim. ,ns%ers to these $uestions are the points for your essay. ,fter you have finished brainstorming ideas, you can proceed to the ne2t step4 >rgani@e and >utline 0our ssay.

Step 0! 1rgani2ing and 1ut%ining #our Essay

-n this step, you are going to organi@e the points %hich you have brainstormed in the previous step. First and foremost, you have to decide %hich of the points is suitable for your %ell9chosen essay topic. #ancel the unsuitable points carefully. )hen, number the remaining points according to their importance. )he most important point is numbered ! follo%ed by points numbered A, &, B... >utline 0our ssay >utline your essay so that you *no% e2actly %hat *ind of essay you %ill produce later. )his step also ma*es sure that you %ill not be running out of points in the middle of your %riting process. 0our can plan your essay outline li*e this4 ssay )opic4 )he ,dvantages and 1isadvantages of the -nternet -ntroduction4 -ntroduces the increasing use of -nternet in the modern society. 5ody4 )hree paragraphs on the advantages and t%o paragraphs on the disadvantages of the -nternet. #onclusion4 #oncludes the pros and cons of the -nternet depend on the users and their use of the -nternet.

Step 3! Writing )ntrodu'tion4 Body and Con'%usion

Introduction

, good introduction %ill surely give the reader a good impression. )here are several types of introduction to start your essay4 1efinition 9 ,ccording to the nglish dictionary, -nternet is a computer system that allo%s millions of computer users around the %orld to e2change informationC ;uestion 9 1o you *no% that the invention of the -nternet has revolutioni@ed the business %orld. What are the pros and cons of the -nternet. C Fact 9 , recent survey on the -nternet suggested that more than D( per cent of the users receive spam emails dailyC 1ialogue 9 +Son, can you please help me to pay the bills online./ )he use of the -nternet benefits not only the -nternet9literates but also the illiterate onesC ;uotation 9 6o man is an island. veryone needs friends in his lifeC Body 6o% you need not %orry about running out of points, so you can focus on paragraphing. , good paragraphing is essential for a good essay. -nclude only one topic sentence %hich contains one main idea in one paragraph. Support the topic sentence %ith some elaborations, e2amples and further details or information. 0ou should %rite your essay until you have nothing to %rite anymore. 5e specific in your essay and avoid generali@ation. , too general sentence is hard to support your topic sentence. Maintain the right tone and coherence in your essay. -f a piece of %riting is coherent, it is easy to understand because it is clear and reasonable. ?se logical connectors to join sentences and maintain coherence. =ere is a list of useful logical connectors4 &o add anot"er re%ated point! and, also, too, besides, as well, in addition (to), furthermore &o add a simi%ar point! similarly &o 'onne't two statements or p"rases w"en t"e se'ond one adds somet"ing different or seems surprising after t"e first one! but, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, yet, whereas, while, except &o s"ow 'onne'tion between a'tions and 'onse/uen'es! so, therefore, so that, as a result, consequently, then, thus W"en a parti'u%ar fa't does not pre+ent somet"ing from "appening! although, though, in spite of, despite Conclusion nd your conclusion carefully and clearly. 1o not give the reader a vague idea about the essay topic you have just %ritten. 1o not end your essay li*e this4 )here are some advantages and disadvantages of the -nternet. 0ou can include your point of vie% or your thoughts on the essay topic in the conclusion of your essay. )ry to start your conclusion %ith one of these %ords4 -n conclusion, -n a nut shell, So, Personally

Step 5! $roofreading and 6ina% Editing #our Essay

,fter you have %ritten your essay, you should proofread the essay in order to correct any mista*es in it. Eead through your %ell9%ritten essay and chec* for gross errors and first draft slips. dit your essay %here necessary. Eeplace some of the poor %ords %ith vocabulary. Poor %ords include non9specific %ords %hich convey a too general idea to the readers. For instance, the %ord FhappyG, FsadG, FsayG, F%al*G C

Specific Words The more specific words for happy - cheerful, content, pleased, be tic led, gloat, gleeful! The more specific words for sad - upset, miserable, de"ected, wistful, mournful! The more specific words for say - recommend, urge, blame, accuse, compliment, whisper, mumble! The more specific words for wal - stroll, hi e, tre , wander, roam, prowl! Effective Writer #ongratulations3 0ou have finally completed your essay lessons3 0ou donGt have to be a professional %riter to %rite a good essay. 5y follo%ing the free essay %riting guide by 7ood ssays, you are no% an effective %riter3