If you do a search on the definition of essay, you may find hundreds of definitions and as many or more exemptions to make each of those definitions a suspect. For example, one definition says that an essay is always written in prose. Before you look twice at that definition you may come across an information that Alexander Pope of the eighteenth century, happened to have authored two great ‘essays’ in verse. You continue your research and capture another ‘good’ one that says- succinctness defines quality of an essay. Very soon, you may discover two essays (‘An Essay Concerning Human Understanding’ by John Locke and ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’ by Thomas Malthus) each is voluminous enough to give a knockout punch to your definition.

Hence, the moral of the story is that it is easier to write an essay than defining it. Hence let us discuss the tips and tricks to do the former than trekking in the quicksand of definitions! Whether the essay is of academic or general nature, curriculum-based or inspiration-driven, the simple formula to write a good readable essay is as follows.

1. Create a Catchy Title

It does not matter, whether the topic is decided by you or given to you. But before moving ahead, decide on a title. Working on an essay with a name is any day better than an anonymous one. You may change the name before completing the write-up. It doesn’t matter. But make it catchy enough to bring people in.

2. Collect information

Gather as much information that may include facts, quotations and references about the topic within the time available to you and make yourself an expert, if you are not already one.

3. Organize Them in to an Outline

Pick and choose from the information collected, and sort them based on their appropriateness to be used in introduction, main body and conclusion.

4. Write an Introduction

The introduction is the creative trap you set for the reader so that he read the essay completely. Introduction must contain a bird’s eye-view of your essay in brief.

5. Divide the Main Body to Paragraphs

Here you must portray each point you have organized in to the outline, in separate paragraphs. Arrange them in their logical order to keep the flow from paragraph to paragraph smooth.

6. A Great Conclusion

Exit with grace. A good and apt quote may become handy if you cannot outdo it with your own line that the reader will remember for a while.

7. Now, Read, Edit, Read, Edit …

Now, we have come to the most important step. Make the essay readable and more readable by proofreading and editing. Continue editing until you become proud of your creation!