How to Write an Essay? A Brief Appraisal

Tariq Mahmood Awan

If you have the knowledge, words will only follow. Therefore, the primary ingredient to write effectively is to amass knowledge. The knowledge will sharpen wisdom, the wisdom will sharpen imagination, and the imagination will shape the creativity inevitable for writing. Writing is all about creativity. If one is blessed with the art of creative writing, one is a pure writer. Then, essay writing is the easiest form of writing. One can easily write essays with marginal creativity and more hard work. Accordingly, essay writing requires hard work, and it can easily be grasped, unlike poetry, prose and fiction writing. 

The quotation “If you have the knowledge, words will only follow.” implies that having a deep and exhaustive understanding of a subject or topic is the key to effective communication and expression. If you have comprehensive knowledge, you can find the right words to convey your ideas and arguments clearly and convincingly. However, this quotation can also be challenged or questioned from different perspectives. One way to critically explain the quotation is to examine the assumptions and implications behind it. For example, you could ask: What does it mean to have comprehensive knowledge? Is it possible to have comprehensive knowledge of everything? How do you measure or demonstrate comprehensive knowledge? What are the sources and methods of acquiring comprehensive knowledge? How does comprehensive knowledge relate to other skills or abilities, such as creativity, logic, or persuasion? What are the benefits and drawbacks of having comprehensive knowledge? How does comprehensive knowledge affect your personal and professional development?

Another way to critically explain the quotation is to compare and contrast it with other quotations or viewpoints that express similar or opposite ideas. For example, you could compare it with the quotation, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know”, attributed to Albert Einstein, which suggests that having comprehensive knowledge is not a fixed or attainable state but rather a continuous and humble process of learning and discovery. You could also contrast it with the quotation, “Brevity is the soul of wit”, attributed to William Shakespeare, which suggests that having comprehensive knowledge is not enough to communicate effectively, but rather you need to use concise and clever words that capture the essence of your message.

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A third way to critically explain the quotation is to provide examples or evidence that support or challenge it. For example, you could provide examples of people who have comprehensive knowledge of a certain field or topic, such as experts, scholars, or authors, and analyze how they use words to express their knowledge. You could also provide examples of people who do not have comprehensive knowledge of a certain field or topic, such as beginners, learners, or critics, and analyze how they use words to explore or question their knowledge. You could also provide evidence from research or studies that show how having comprehensive knowledge affects your verbal or written skills, such as vocabulary, grammar, or style.

Therefore, having the knowledge and art of writing simultaneously is critical. I would rather suggest that there may be a combination of knowledge and writing skills. Knowledge is the foundation of writing, and skills are the structure. Accordingly, it is significant to gain knowledge through reading, imagination and creation and develop writing skills reflecting the essence of knowledge.

Writing skills are the abilities used to communicate ideas through writing in various forms. Writing skills involve understanding the purpose, audience, and structure of different types of texts and using appropriate language, tone, style, and format. Writing skills are essential for many purposes, such as academic, professional, and personal communication. Writing skills can be improved by practising different writing activities, such as generating ideas, planning, drafting, editing, and enhancing.

Then, essay writing is a skill that involves expressing your thoughts and opinions on a given topic clearly and logically. It is a common academic task that helps you to improve your writing, critical thinking, and research abilities. There are different types of essays, such as narrative, descriptive, imaginative, reflective, expository, and argumentative, each with its purpose and structure. The essay has a specific structure and coded language. It has a specific topic and a clear thesis statement that reflects your point of view or argument. It provides relevant and sufficient evidence from various sources to support your thesis and analyze other perspectives. Then, it follows a coherent structure that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It uses appropriate language, tone, style, and format for the intended audience and purpose.

It acknowledges and cites the sources of information using a consistent referencing system.

A good understanding of the topic and the question or prompt is critical to write an effective essay. An essay is always objective, dispassionate, analytical and research-oriented. A thorough research and evaluation of the available information on the topic is significant. It is also vital to have a clear plan or outline of the main ideas and arguments you want to present in your essay. The essay should have a well-written introduction that introduces the topic, provides background information, and states your thesis statement. Furthermore, it is also significant to have a well-developed body section that consists of several paragraphs, each with a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. Paras should complement each other, supporting and developing the argument.

Then, there should be a well-written conclusion and finalization of the argument that summarizes the main points of your essay, restates your thesis statement, and provides recommendations or implications where applicable. A reference list that includes all your sources in your essay will be useful.

Let it explain further in more detail!

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An objective essay is a type of academic writing that requires the writer to present a clear and unbiased perspective on a topic supported by facts and evidence. Start with the five Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. These questions can help you define the topic and scope of your essay, as well as the purpose and audience. For example, if you are writing about the effects of climate change on agriculture, you can ask yourself:

Who are the stakeholders involved? What are the main issues and challenges? When did the problem start, and how long will it last? Where are the most affected regions and crops? Why is this topic important and relevant?

Then, develop your argument with facts and logic simultaneously. Use reliable sources to support your claims and cite them properly. Avoid using personal opinions, emotions, or biases in your essay. Instead, use objective language that is factual, precise, and neutral. For example, instead of saying, “Climate change is a terrible threat to humanity”, you can say, “Climate change poses significant risks to human health, food security, and biodiversity”. Diction, phrases, and expressions should be constructive rather than destructive. 

It is critical to compare and contrast different perspectives or solutions. An objective essay should acknowledge and address the opposing views or arguments on the topic. You can use a compare-and-contrast structure to show the similarities and differences between two or more positions and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. For example, you can compare the advantages and disadvantages of organic farming versus conventional farming in terms of environmental impact, productivity, and profitability.

Analyze data and evidence critically. An objective essay should not only present facts but also interpret and evaluate them. You can use various methods of data analysis, such as statistics, graphs, charts, tables, or diagrams, to illustrate your points and support your argument. You should also explain how the data relates to your topic and what implications or conclusions can be drawn from it. For example, you can use a graph to show the correlation between temperature rise and crop yield decline over time.

Derive your opinion from the facts, data and realities. An objective essay may require you to state your own opinion on the topic at the end, but it should be based on the facts and evidence you have presented in your essay. You should not introduce new information or arguments in your conclusion but rather summarize the main points and restate your thesis statement. You should also explain why your opinion is valid and reasonable and how it contributes to the existing knowledge or debate on the topic. For example, you can say, “Based on the facts and evidence discussed in this essay, I believe that organic farming is a more sustainable and profitable way of agriculture than conventional farming in the face of climate change”.

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It is also of paramount importance to consider different perspectives and contexts. An objective essay should demonstrate your awareness and understanding of the complexity and diversity of the topic. It would help if you considered how different factors, such as historical, comparative, political, cultural, economic, or social aspects, may influence or affect the topic or the arguments you have presented. You should also acknowledge any limitations or gaps in your research or analysis and suggest possible directions for further study or improvement. For example, you can say, “This essay has focused on the effects of climate change on agriculture in developed countries, but further research is needed to explore how developing countries may cope with this challenge”.

Lastly, the words and language are critical. The language should be simple, precise and without complex sentences. Furthermore, the writer must employ direct and reported speech. The essay should contain formal, simple, but grammatically correct language.

However, the words, sentences and paragraphs must provide an aesthetical taste. The flow, rhyme, order, and arrangement should be consistent with persuasive language. Then, to execute the specific standards of essay writing, one must write them repeatedly, as practice will only transform the writing.  

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