Frequently asked questions about how to write an academic essay

An essay is a formal or informal writing that aims to express an opinion, educate, or present a perspective to the reader about a topic or subject. Essay writing can be an overwhelming task for students and other writers whether you are writing one for the first time, or you are a frequent writer. In this article, we will take you through all you need to know about academic essays. We will also answer the most pressing questions that come to mind when you are assigned to tackle academic essays. These questions include:

 

How do I start writing an academic essay?

How do you write a good academic essay?

How do you format an academic essay?

What are the formats of academic writing?

What is an academic Essay?

Academic essays are an important part of educational studies. They are used as an assessment tool to evaluate and develop research skills, complex ideas understanding skills, critical thinking skills, and personal opinion expression skills.

Academic writing Types

The realm of academic writing is diverse, below are some of the various types of academic writing that you may come across in your academic journey;

Research papers: these essays involve conducting an in-depth analysis and evaluation of a topic and backing it up with reliable evidence.

Explanatory essays: this kind of essay seeks to give a description or an explanation of a topic, situation, or event.

Argumentative essays: these types of essays aim to persuade the reader to believe a particular perspective or viewpoint on a topic.

Case studies: case studies examine and analyse a given problem or a situation, and offer potential recommendations or solutions.

Critique essays: they involve examining other authors’ work to give a critical assessment. It could be an essay, an article, or a book.

Literature review: this is usually an analysis and review of published work. The aim is usually to provide a summary, a critical evaluation, and a sources examination concerning the chosen area of research.

How do I start Writing an Academic Essay? Steps of Writing a Good Academic Essay

§  Choose a suitable topic

§  Brainstorm, research, gather evidence and make notes

§  Craft an outline for your essay

§  Begin with a captivating introduction

§  Develop your Body paragraphs

§  Close with a mind-provoking conclusion

§  Revise, edit and proofread your essay

§  Citations

 

 

How to write an academic essay?

  1. Choose a topic

When you reflect on the question, how do you write a good academic essay? One of the most important issues to consider is your topic. Choosing a topic for your assignment is a critical part of your essay. Apart from selecting a topic that aligns with your assignment prompts, ensure you pick a topic that interests you and one you are passionate about. Some examples of topics you may cover in an academic essay include:

Nursing academic essay topics:

  • Community health assessment  process
  • Cultural competency in public health
  • Foundations of child and family health in nursing
  • Therapeutic interventions for children

Politics academic essay topics

  • Should the state outlaw hate speech?
  • Do patterns undermine or preserve liberty?
  • Without workplace democracy, workers are not free. Discuss
  • Should you be able to sell your kidney?
  • What is the appropriate balance between security and liberty? Discuss with reference to  Judith Shklar’s ‘Liberalism of fear’

Nonetheless, you should expect your instructor to give you specific guidance on how to identify a topic to  cover depending  the course you are doing, and the assignment requirements.

  1. Brainstorm, research, and gather evidence

Conduct the necessary research required for your essay. Research allows you to explore your topic and gather evidence to support your argument or idea on a topic. Books, academic journals, or articles can be a great source for your research material. You can also rely on your school website for credible sources.

 

  1. Craft an outline for your essay

An outline helps you organize your ideas and thoughts. A well-written outline acts as a roadmap to a well-written essay. An academic essay outline normally consists of three parts, the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Below is an academic essay outline template;

 

How to write an academic essay outline?

1.       Introduction:

Brief information on the topic

Thesis statement

 

2.       Body paragraphs

1st paragraph:

Introduce your first main point

Back up your point with evidence

Explain your evidence and findings.

 

2nd paragraph:

Introduce your second main point.

Back up your point with evidence

Explain your evidence and findings.

3rd paragraph:

Introduce your third main point.

Back up your point with evidence.

Explain your evidence and findings.

 

3.       Conclusion

Revisit your thesis statement

Give an overview of the main points

End with final thoughts and recommendations.

 

 

You may also  take a look at our guide on how to cheat on IXL and how to cheat on Canvas quizzes.

  1. Begin with a captivating Introduction: How do you write an introduction for an academic essay?

The introduction is a vital part of your essay since it provides the reader with an overview and background information on your topic. It therefore gives the reader the first impression of your essay. Start with a captivating hook to grasp the attention of the reader. Don’t forget to state your main idea or argument in your thesis statement.

  1. Develop your Body paragraphs

The body of your essay seeks to support your thesis. Most short essays usually have three paragraphs; but they can have more depending on the complexity of your topic, and the length required by the instructor. Ensure your paragraphs start with a topic sentence that carries the main point, and expound on your point by providing evidence and analysis for each paragraph. Use transitional phrases to ensure a flawless transition between your paragraphs, this enhances the flow of your essay.

  1. End with a powerful conclusion: How to write an academic essay conclusion

The final part of your essay is the conclusion. Revisit your main argument and provide a summary of your main points. Close with your final thoughts on the topic. Remember that the conclusion should not carry any new ideas.

  1. Citations

Give credit to your sources on the last page of your essay. The citation style to use depends on the writing style your instructor instructed you to use in your essay. It could be APA, MLA, or Chicago format.

  1. Revise, edit, and proofread your essay

Read through your essay scanning and correcting any grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors that may arise. Finish up by revising every section to ensure your paragraphs transition effectively and your essay has a good flow.

How do you format an academic essay?

Each academic essay follows a specific structure and guidelines. Below is how to format an academic essay;

Introduction

  • Hook your readers with a captivating opening statement.
  • Provide background information on the topic.
  • Define important terms (if applicable).
  • State your main argument or idea in your thesis statement.

Body paragraphs

  • Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
  • Introduce one main idea in each paragraph.
  • Back up each of your ideas with evidence and illustrations.
  • Interpret your evidence and findings.
  • Use transitional sentences and phrases to ensure a smooth transition between your paragraphs.

Conclusion

  • Revisit your main idea as stated in your thesis.
  • Provide a summary of your main points.
  • Provide a conclusion based on the research and evidence you presented.
  • End with a thought-provoking concluding statement.
  • Provide suggestions or recommendations for future research.

References

  • Cite all the relevant sources that you used.
  • Citation style depends solely on the writing style used

One of the blogs you should read is A Guide on how to write a compare and contrast essay because you will come across it in your course work.

What are the formats of academic writing?

In writing your academic essay, you will need to add citations to  give credit to the sources of information. This is not only good practice, but it also  helps you avoid problems of academic misconduct.  Some major formats you may  use comprise MLA, Harvard, and APA. Read through our guide on how to format an  academic essay for further guidance.

Conclusion

To sum up, we can all agree that an academic essay requires proper planning, good research, and critical thinking skills. This article has equipped you with all the necessary skills to write a good academic essay that will earn you good grades. It is also our hope that we have answered the frequent questions about academic essays.

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