Many people find essay writing a daunting task, but it can be pretty easy.

1. Format

• Typed- use a processor in a computer like Microsoft word.
• Spacing- double-space your work
• Font size- the standard size is 12-point
• Font style- standard font, Times New Roman.

2. Structure of the Essay

You can divide your script into three parts:

• Introduction

You will introduce your topic and give your thesis statement in one single paragraph. Introduce your topic in the first paragraph, which should guide the reader and give a clear map of the paper. Secondly, give your thesis statement, which is the main point of the essay. Be sure to make it crystal and on-topic. You should do this in one or two sentences at the end of the first paragraph.

• Body

The body houses several paragraphs that support your thesis statement with reason, evidence, and justification. Every paragraph in the body section must have a topic sentence, which is the point you are attempting to get through in the paragraph. It comes first before other sentences in the paragraphs.

• Summary

The summary section is a recap, normally short, of what you are in the essay. You can sum up the body section here in support of the thesis statement. The summary section is normally one paragraph long.

3. General Writing Tips

• Think and Discuss

Before you begin writing, familiarize yourself with content and material. When you get an assignment from your instructor, think about the topic you will use.

• Rough Drafts and Editing

Jot down rough drafts beforehand. It may help you see your ideas more clearly. Have breaks in between when editing. Have a repeat of this process until it gets completed.

• Review/comments

When you get done with your draft, you can give it to someone to look for errors and provide you with the necessary feedback. Many educators urge students to turn in their papers early for comments.

• Style and Punctuation

In general, the paper should illuminate a solid writing process. Try and avoid spelling, punctuation, grammar, tense, and vocabulary errors at all costs. Examples are:

Have punctuation inside quotation marks

1. Place the parenthetical citation after the quotations
2. Make an introduction of quotes
3. Make it a habit of spelling out numbers in your essay.
4. Keep away from the use of abbreviations or notations that are not formal.
5. Write crisp and have a consideration of your readers.

Most common grammar mistakes you should avoid

1. Misusing i.e. and e.g.
2. Having ‘if’ in place of ‘whether’
3. ‘there’ and ‘their’ confusion
4. Verb misconnection
5. Writing with an accent.
6. Proper plural of possessive of names
7. Using semi-colons improperly
8. Having a confusion between ‘then’ and ‘than’.
9. Confusing between its and it’s

Writing guidelines that are humorous

1. Proofread your work to check on mistakes
2. Don’t use sentence fragments
3. Do not write rhetorical questions
4. Avoid using the passive voice
5. Use exclamation marks only when it is necessary
6. Stick to the point. Be more specific
7. Do not use bad grammar
8. Use the apostrophe appropriately
9. Avoid the use of vernacular and archaic languages

4. Citations and References

If your essay involves research, or you quote somebody, you need to mention and cite the sources. There are many citing and reference styles. They are; MLA, Chicago, APA.