It provides hints and tips for writing a good academic essay

1. How to write an
Academic Essay

2. Decisions…
• Your essay should have an argument that will be developed throughtout the paper.
• Formulate a question that you will seek to answer later in your essay.
• What are you going to write about?
• What type of essay are you going to write?
 A review?
 A report?
 A document study?
 An argumentative essay?

3. It may be helpful to write an Essay Outline.
Start by:
• Doing research.
• Gathering ideas.
• Taking down notes.
How can you collect information? Use index cards
Use the computer
Use the circle method

4. The Thesis Statement
• It is a sentence that expresses the general idea of your essay.
• It generally comes at the end of the introduction, though there is no rigid
rule about its position.
• It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to be explained and
supported by further discussion.
• All paragraphs should relate to the thesis statement.

5. Introduction.
• Identifies your topic.
• Provides the context.
• Engages the reader’s interest.

6. The introduction
may include statistics that illustrate the problem you will address later.
a quotation from an expert.
a misperception your thesis will argue against.
background information that will make the essay easier to
be understood.
personal experiences that will exemplify your reason for
choosing the topic.
a definition if there is a term unfamiliar to the reader.

7. AVOID:
• dictionary definitions.
• repeating the assignment specifications using the professor’s wording.
• giving details and explanations you will include later.

8. What’s a Paragraph?
• A group of sentences that support ONE central idea.
• Each paragraph should contribute to the development of the argument
introduced in the thesis statement.
• The central IDEA of the paragraph is expressed in the Topic Sentence.

9. TOPIC SENTENCE
• Mostly placed at the beginning of the paragraph.
• It introduces a TOPIC and its CONTROLLING IDEA.
Theme or subject
that will be
developed
What you want to
say about the Topic

10. What comes after the Topic Sentence?
• The rest of the sentences will demonstrate the idea introduced in the topic
sentence.
HOW? You can provide:
• examples
• details
• reasons
• quotations
• personal experiences and more!

11. Transition.
• The use of CONNECTORS will help guide the reader throughout
The sentences within a
paragraph
The paragraphs within
the essay

12. After writing your paragraph check:
Does it show
UNITY?
Is it clearly
related to the
THESIS?
Does it show
COHERENCE?
Is it well-
developed?

13. Conclusion.
• A strong conclusion will provide a sense of closure to the essay.

14. Good for good conclusions:
• You may include a summary of your points but IN FRESH LANGUAGE.
• Including critical thinking.
• Leave the reader with something to think about.
• Length of the conclusion should reflect length of the essay.

15. • Recommend a specific course of action
• Use an expert’s opinion to give more emphasis to your concluding thoughts.
• Return to the anecdote, example or experience mentioned in the
introduction.

16. Never underestimate the power of revising.
• Once you have finished, remember:
Good revision and editing can transform
a mediocre first draft into an excellent final paper.

17. Ask yourself the following questions:
• Have you fulfilled the intention of the assignment?
• Have you written the genre you were asked for?
• Have you given adequate evidence for your argument?

18. Pay attention to organization:
• Did you include an introduction and a conclusion?
• Do all your paragraphs contribute to the development of
the thesis statement?
• Have you drawn connections between all the sections of
your essay?

19. Finally…
• Check SPELLING
• Check GRAMMAR
• Check VOCABULARY is adequate for the given
GENRE

20. Don’t forget:
• To include a cover page
• To number the pages
• To double-space the text
• Use a standard font in twelve-point size
• Put the reference list or bibliography on a separate page at the end.
• Staple your pages.

21. Bibliography
• Writing Advice. University of Toronto. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/general/
• Professor Silber, A. (1987, revised 1995). Some General Advice on Academic Essay-Writing. Retrieved from
https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/general/general-advice/
• Dr. Procter, M. Understanding Essay Topics: A Checklist. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/general/essay-topics/
• Plotnick, J. Organizing an Essay. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/organizing/
• Dr. Procter, M. Using Thesis Statements https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/thesis-statements/
• Freedman, L. and Plotnick, J. Introductions and Conclusions. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/intros-and-
conclusions/
• Dr Procter, M. and Visvis, V. Paragraphs. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/paragraphs/
• Hall, J. and Plotnick, J. Using Topic Sentences. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/topic-sentences/
• Dr. Procter, M. Revising and Editing. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/revising/revising-and-editing/