An essay is a focused piece of writing that explores, argues or explains a particular topic. It is a form of creative writing that needs to have a purpose and an audience in mind. Essays are often used by art, design or media students for assignments involving critical analysis of a specific object, film, painting or other work. They are also a common way to test the ability of writers to present their ideas in an ordered and logical manner.

As with any other type of academic writing, the key to success with essays is in the preparation and planning. There are a number of ways to approach the process and different methods will suit different people, but all should be based around the central concept of working out how an essay is going to develop, with clear plans for how each paragraph supports the argument you are making in the overall essay.

A good essay should grab the reader’s attention and keep it, drawing them into the ideas presented and influencing their thinking. To achieve this the introduction of an essay must be well planned to create a hook for readers that will engage them and encourage them to continue reading.

Once you have the reader’s attention your essay should move on to a strong thesis statement that is clearly one-sentence explanation of your position. It should also include a mini-outline that previews the examples you will use to support your position in the rest of the essay. This will help the reader understand your direction from the outset and allows them to prepare for what is coming next.

The body of an essay consists of the main points you are making in response to the question or task. This is where the bulk of your writing will be and it is important to plan well so that all your points fit together logically and make an argument that answers the question.

You should include your research findings in the body of the essay to show that you have a thorough understanding of the subject and the broader context that your arguments are situated within. This will show that you are able to make informed, well-considered and evidenced based decisions in your essay writing.

The final part of an essay is the conclusion. A good conclusion should tie everything together and be the climax of the essay, the bit that is all the other bits have been leading up to. It is a good idea to end your essay with a call to action, something that the reader might want to take up or pursue further. This should be based on your evidence and conclusions and be backed up with references, sources and links to further information. Having someone else read your essay before you submit it is always a good idea. They can catch errors that you have missed and point out places where the essay might be unclear or difficult to follow.