Writing an Essay
What is an essay?
An essay is a composition on a given subject. It is a connected piece of writing consisting of general paragraphs each having a bearing on the subject on hand. It is an attempt to deal with the subject in a somewhat informal and personal manner. In other words, an essay is an attempt to express one's own views or personal standpoint on a given topic.
The topic or the subject can be treated in a number of ways, but the unity of the subject is to be maintained throughout. Moreover, it is not the length that matters. What matters is the thought expressed in correct and idiomatic English. A good essay therefore must hold the reader's attention from the beginning to the end. In order to achieve this aim, our views on the subject should take an orderly form so that the essay is a readable and enjoyable piece of writing.
Qualities of a good essay
a) Relevance and coherence:
All thoughts expressed in an essay should have a relevant bearing on the main or central theme. No irrelevant idea or detail, however good it may appear, should be incorporated in an essay. Since a good essay reflects a writer's personality, it is but necessary that coherence in ideas should also be maintained from the beginning to the end so that the essay is a balanced piece of writing. Too many lines should not be devoted to one idea at the expense of other ideas. An essay must show balance in the attention that is paid to different ideas in accordance with their relative importance.
b) Proportion:
A good essay is a well worded, well-planned, and well-thought-out piece of writing. This needs a selection of the most appropriate way to put the right words and thoughts in the right manner within a given framework or scale. Planning should therefore precede writing so that the essay will look wholesome and well proportioned from all angles.
c) Arrangement:
Every essay has a definite structure - a beginning (called introduction), a body (which contains the main idea), and a conclusion. A good essay, therefore, consists of paragraphs in which the subject matter is arranged according to the universally acknowledged structure. Points should be arranged in a logical order and repetition should be avoided.
How to write a good essay
Every essay depends on two things: subject matter and language. No one can write an essay without proper material - ideas based on reading, observation, and experience. A wise selection of such ideas will make a piece of writing readable and enjoyable. Language is the vehicle of thought. In order to express our thoughts in an appropriate language, we need a rich vocabulary and good command of the language. This can be achieved through simple and clear language.
