How do you Write an "A+" English Paper or Essay: Outline and Procedure

There are many ways to write a paper that will get you an "A" grade, but if you are experiencing writer's block or need to get this paper done quickly, you will need to stick to the basic structure of an essay. To write a solid essay, you must have a clear thesis statement with supporting arguments, an outline and a general understanding of the topic you are writing about. This article will help you to outline, write and proofread your essay so you can get the "A" you deserve.

Read the following instructions to begin writing your essay, or skip to the part that interests you. Here are the ABC steps to writing an "A" paper:

A. Research

B. Outline

C. Write and Edit

If you are going to write an interesting, unique essay, you will need to do research. A literature essay requires the writer to do the following things before writing a word:

1. Read all Required Materials or Subject Text
You have to read all of the required materials so that you can invent a clear thesis. While you are reading, take notes. If you are using your own copy of the book or you have printed it from your computer, take notes directly on the page and underline important quotes. If I am crunched for time, I will type the important quotes into a word document as I read. Doing this will help you collect evidence to use in the body of your essay.

2. Invent a Thesis Statement
Since you have finished reading the subject text of your essay and have collected quotes that you will use in your analysis, you have a general idea of the major themes in the work. Pick one and try to invent an argument around it. For example, the barrio is a theme in Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street . I used this theme to argue that the environment of the main character directly influences her desire to change and escape in this article. If you have trouble coming up with a thesis, move on to step 3 and return to this step afterward.

3. Research and Read Supporting Material
If you know of any other books, articles or essays that support your thesis or argue against it. You should do the same with these materials that you did with the main text: underline, annotate and collect quotes from these texts.

4. Organize your Research
Now that you have collected quotes from the materials and have invented a thesis statement, you should now organize your quotes in a manner that will support your thesis and also flow nicely. You will need to delete quotes that are irrelevant. Do not get attached to your quotes. Having too much evidence that doesn't directly support your thesis can cause your essay to seem muddy and all-over-the place, making your thesis statement seem far-fetched.

You may think outlines are overrated, but if you followed the steps in the Research section, you are already halfway there. You have organized your quotes, invented a thesis and now you have to fill in the blanks. The following is an example of a well-structured essay outline that will help you to shape your paper.

Introduction (Optional)
If you are writing an article on a text that has a significant amount of historical background that directly relates to your essay, you may want to add an introductory paragraph. This paragraph is also helpful when constructing an essay that you want to start of with a clever anecdote, you may add this paragraph. Make sure you do not make this sound like a thesis statement or create a prominent speculation that could be mistaken for an argument.

Thesis Paragraph
This paragraph will communicate the major reason for composing this essay. You want to follow this general format for the thesis paragraph:

• Topic: Specify the book/text you are going to analyze and what it does. (Example: Sandra Cisneros' novel, The House on Mango Street follows the life of Esperanza, a young girl living in the barrio.)
• Thesis: Here you will put your thesis statement. (Example: Esperanza's desire to escape the barrio is a direct result of seeing the outcomes of other womens' lives.) You can use phrases like, "This essay will examine," "The following pages will illustrate why/how," to introduce your paper.
• Supporting/Opposing Points for Thesis: Here you will elaborate and give the reader a reason for why your thesis is arguable. (Example: Other women in the barrio including Aunt Lupe, Elba and Becky have not been able to escape the barrio and therefore have remained the same for years.)

Body Paragraphs (Write Three or More before Conclusion)

• Topic Sentence: Every paragraph needs a topic sentence that introduces the idea you will cover in this paragraph. It should be clear and to-the-point. A good format to start constructing a good topic sentence is by first stating your thesis and describing one instance in which this proves to be true.
• Evidence: You will put one of the quotes you collected in the middle of the paragraph. Make sure to cite them correctly using quotation marks and the appropriate footnote/parenthetical notes.
• Mini-conclusion: This means that you will want to state a reworded topic sentence to close the paragraph and lead into the next. You can do this by explaining why your quote was significant and also by introducing the next topic.

Conclusion
The conclusion is where you wrap-up your ideas. Restate your thesis and your supporting topic sentences. (This doesn't mean copy them word-for-word; you want to reword in a clear and concise manner if you want that "A".) Make sure that you add a concluding sentence that either prompts further questions/analyses or proves your thesis.

Now that you have made a clear outline and have constructed what appears to be an essay, you will need to re-read it and edit your text. First read the paper to make sure it makes sense. You may proofread while doing this, but if there is a big change you need to make, annotate it and continue reading the rest of your essay. Next, you will want to add sentences in between paragraphs and sentences that do not transition well. These will make your paper seem like it is naturally written, not choppy or fragmented. If you need help with editing, read the following articles:

You have now written a complete, structured essay and as long as your thesis and supporting evidence is solid, you should get an A! Good luck and if you have any questions, you may contact me by clicking on my profile.