There may or may not be options to choose from. If you are given a specific topic, think about the type of essay you want to write. You can write a typical overview or a detailed analysis.
You need to structure your ideas before you start writing the essay. Brainstorm and put the ideas that come to your mind on a paper and try to create links between the ideas where necessary.
After getting done with the outline, you need to devise a thesis statement for your essay. The thesis statement expresses the viewpoint you are going to prove in the body of the essay.
It is the first and the most important paragraph of your essay. The main goal of an introductory paragraph is to engage the reader and increase his interest. The first sentence of the introductory paragraph should catch the reader’s eye.
The body of the essay contains the arguments and information. Every main idea is to be discussed separately. Each paragraph of the essay explains only one main idea.
The conclusion is the last paragraph of the essay. It also deserves special attention. The conclusion is the last paragraph the reader reads, hence it creates the last impression.
A paragraph is simply a group of sentences that explains or justifies an idea. For an essay, it is mostly recommended that the writer should only discuss one idea in a paragraph.
First, always revise your essay for possible improvements. Look for points that need more details, unwanted diction, spelling or grammatical mistakes, etc. Revision might also help you find structural problems.