Essay Writing Process

Last Updated on February 14, 2024.

When we’re writing longer essays that have three (3) or more paragraphs, we should follow the essay-writing process, which will help you choose your topic and get your ideas organized.

Onsego

Online GED Classes

Get a GED Diploma quickly.
It doesn’t matter when you left school.

Bite-size video lessons | Practice tests with explanation | GED Skill Builders

 

This essay-writing process is involving a number of steps that help you begin to think about writing your essay until you’ve proofread your final draft.

1. A successful ...  engages the reader and increases interest in the topic. A great ....  is similar to a great opening scene in a movie.
A.
B.
C.
D.

Question 1 of 2

2. A conclusion is the most important topic sentence in your essay or some other piece of writing. The conclusion states the main idea or opinion. It often indicates the principle idea or sections of the writing.

True or false?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Question 2 of 2


 

This lesson is provided by Onsego GED Prep.

Next lesson: Using Transitional Words and Phrases
This lesson is a part of our GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Guide

Video Transcription

The following are the steps of the essay-writing process that will help you with preparing for writing your essay.

The Essay Writing Process

Step 1 – Brainstorming ideas
At first, start with brainstorming ideas to identify a topic suited for your essay. To do so, you could compile a list, draw some diagrams, or just start freewriting about the things that are on your mind. Take enough time to research your topic and jot down information and ideas that you think may work well in your essay.

Step 2 – Developing a thesis
Now, by the time you’re done with brainstorming ideas and identifying a topic for the essay, think about developing a thesis that should be the main idea and main point of the essay.

Online GED Classes-Fast, Simple and Cheap

Get Your GED Diploma in 2 Months.
A Customized Plan To Help You Get Your Diploma Fast & Easy.


The thesis statement of your essay is telling the reader what exactly you’re writing about and why your readers should think it’s important. The thesis should reflect your attitude or opinion on the topic as well.

Step 3 – Creating an outline
The third step is to outline your ideas and arguments for your essay. Creating your essay’s outline, even when it’s just rough and probably will change while you’re writing, will help you determine whether the information you have to support the thesis is sufficient. It will help you with organizing all the information in the essay.

Step 4 – Writing a rough draft
By the time you’ve been working through the preliminary steps of the essay-writing process, you’ll be ready to start writing your essay’s rough draft.
Make sure to bear the general structure of essays in mind when you’re writing, and be sure to include your introduction paragraph, the body paragraphs, and then a conclusion paragraph.

Your introduction paragraph will bring your readers into your essay and get them interested in the essay’s topic, and it should include your thesis statement as well.

Your essay’s body paragraphs are providing supporting information for your thesis. Finally, your essay’s conclusion paragraph should be mirroring the introduction and remind the readers of your thesis statement and, if helpful, to finalize your essay as it reinforces its main points.

Every writer uses a process when he or she develops a piece of writing, although the specifics of those processes may vary from writer to writer.

Most writers will go by the steps in that process, as described in the list above. This writing process may be applied to practically all types of writing.

It may be helpful when creating a cover letter for employment applications, for an email or memo that must be sent around your office, or for a college essay assignment.

Also, when you’re asked to produce an in-class essay for a final or mid-term exam, if you follow this writing process, you can be sure your response is thoughtful and well-organized.