writing an essay tips for bac students

There are many ways to write an essay. However, the standard essay form follows the same basic patterns as discussed in this 'how to'.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 30 minutes

Here's How:

1. Select the topic of your essay.
2. Choose the central idea, or thesis, of      your essay. For example: Information technology has revolutionized the way      we work.
3. Outline your essay into introductory, body      and summary paragraphs.
4. The introductory paragraph begins with an      interesting sentence. For example: Home workers have grown from 150,000 to      over 12 million in the past 5 years thanks to the wonders of the computer.     
5. After this first sentence, add your thesis      statement from above.
6. Use one sentence to introduce every body      paragraph to follow. For example: The Internet has made this possible by      extending the office into the home.
7. Finish the introductory paragraph with a      short summary or goal statement. For example: Technological innovation has      thus made the traditional workplace obsolete.
8. In each of the body paragraphs (usually      two or three) the ideas first presented in the introductory paragraph are      developed.
9. Develop your body paragraphs by giving      detailed information and examples. For example: When the Internet was      first introduced it was used primarily by scientists, now it is common in      every classroom.
10. Body paragraphs should develop the central      idea and finish with a summary of that idea. There should be at least two      examples or facts in each body paragraph to support the central idea.
11. The summary paragraph summarizes your      essay and is often a reverse of the introductory paragrah.
12. Begin the summary paragrah by quickly      restating the principal ideas of your body paragraphs. For example: The      Internet in the home, benefits and ease of use of modern computer systems...
13. The penultimate sentence should restate      your basic thesis of the essay. For example: We have now passed from the      industrial revolution to the information revolution.
14. Your final statement can be a future      prediction based on what you have shown in the essay. For example: The      next step: The complete disappearance of the workplace.

Tips:

1. Use strong verbs and avoid modals to state      your opinion. It is better to write: The workplace has evolved than The      workplace seems to have evolved
2. Do not apologize for what you are saying. An      essay is about your opinion.
3. Do not translate from your mother tongue. It      will quickly get you into trouble!