How To Write An Essay

Writing an essay for PTE Academic / IELTS can be easy if one’s concepts are clear. In the following article, you will find a step by step guide on how to write an essay.

You can be asked to write an essay based on these given questions-

• Give your opinion
• Discuss disadvantages and advantages
• Problems or causes and solutions for it.

The writing style for these essays differ slightly, but all of these follow the same standard format.

Before starting the essay, it is necessary to keep these points in mind:

• Read the question asked carefully. You should know what you have been asked to discuss.
• Plan the essay ahead. Go over the points you want to discuss.
• You’ve only a certain amount of time to complete it. Take a few minutes to plan and then proceed accordingly.
• Be precise. Don’t waste your time in adding unnecessary information.
• Use examples instead of explanations. It also makes an essay presentable.
• Keep the language simple, using lucrative words just takes more time.

FORMAT OF THE ESSAY

An essay regardless of the question follows the same basic format.

For example, take this question

In the past few years, the cases of capital punishment have brought the issue of human rights of the guilty to the public. Though it has been criticised by many human rights organisation, it continues to be used as a punishment in several nations. Should the government do away with the death penalty?  Give reasons and examples.

INTRODUCTION

=> An introduction should be short, precise and clear. It shouldn’t be more than 3-4 lines.

=> Your stand on the issue should be mentioned (only in opinion articles, in others, just provide a short description.)

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about Capital Punishment:

Capital punishment also called death penalty is when a state sentences an individual for a crime that is considered serious according to its laws. Though every human should have the right to live, it can be argued that serious offences should be punished in accordance with the crime, which sometimes deserves capital punishment.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

=> This is the most important part of the essay. Divide it into at least 2-3 paragraphs.

=> Start each essay with a topic sentence. The topic sentence is the main point of the paragraph; the controlling idea. Then, proceed to explain and give examples.

=> Every paragraph should be connected to the one before. Make sure to keep the essay in flow.

Para 1: Begin with a topic sentence. Discuss the topic in detail and provide the arguments of the critics.

Capital punishment is the right of the state to take away the life of the guilty. Critics of this punishment argue that every person has the right to live and no one, not even the state should have the right to take it away. Only nature and no man can exercise this right.

Para 2: This is the paragraph where you begin to start providing arguments for your stand on the issue.

Nevertheless, capital punishment is a justifiable punishment. From an economic point of view, the taxes of the citizens should not be wasted on providing for a criminal whose mere existence is a threat to the society.Socially, these people do not add any value to the society and reforming them isn’t an option.

Para 3: Continue with the flow of the paragraph before and give the last argument.

In addition, capital punishment acts a deterrent to heinous crimes and is an apt punishment for the crime. Pardoning a serious crime sends a wrong message to the criminals encouraging them. Also, the pacificist judgement might aggrieve the victim or the society for not giving the deserved punishment.

CONCLUSION

=> This is the final paragraph of the essay. Keep it short and precise.

=> Sum up in this paragraph by rephrasing the argument you made in the introduction – present it differently, do not copy word by word.

=> Do not add any new points or arguments.

In conclusion, capital punishment is a necessary punishment in a nation in the case of heinous crimes. The positives of this punishment outweigh the negatives. For maintaining law and order, it is necessary to prevent crime and give justice to the victim.

Aman