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Important Steps of the Essay Writing Process

Writing is a process. It can be either simple or complex, and sometimes both (depending on what kind of paper you need to compose). While the process varies between people, there are a handful of key steps that remain true for each and every paper. These steps will assist you in drafting up a high-quality for you to present readers.

The First Step: Planning

You need to figure out what you’re going to write about. Sometimes, you’ve given a specific topic or told to choose from a list (which can make things easier for you). Regardless of if your topic is assigned or you are allowed to choose freely, you need to be sure to pick something that interests you; you also need to make sure that your topic has adequate resources that you can look up if and when you need to.

The Second Step: Prewriting

Once you’ve decided what you’ll be writing about, you’re ready to start prewriting. This is the time you’ll use to jot down important notes as you do your research, establishing the purpose of your paper (thesis). You’ll also want to identify your audience in this step and start formulating ideas about what you’ll be writing based on your research. For a lot of people, this is the most time-consuming part of the process.

The Third Step: Writing

Once you’ve determined what you’ll be writing about and narrowed it down to a specific topic, it’s time to start writing. You want to arrange your paragraphs in order of value and importance. Be sure to use the strongest evidence you have first, and then slowly work your way down to the weakest of your supporting points. All of the information you present in the “body” of the essay should be relevant to the subject and seek to enlighten your readers. Make sure that your writing flows from each paragraph, creating a strong sense of cohesion and organization.

The Fourth Step: Revising, Editing, & Proofreading

Just because you wrote a conclusion doesn’t mean your essay is finished. The final step of the essay writing process involves going back and looking over your work, revising, editing, and proofreading it; you need to refine your work. This isn’t something you should do immediately after you finish writing it. Take some time after so that you can approach it with fresh eyes.