how to structure a 3000 word essay

Structure and Flow - Skills Guide

Essay structure.

• Paragraph Structure
• Creating Flow
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Introduction

What is a good structure?

A good structure to your academic work is vital to make it understandable, easy to read and engaging. An essay or report tells a story, so as any good story does, it needs a beginning, a middle and an end. It's not just the work as a whole that needs structure but your paragraphs too. This section includes guidance on how to create a good overall essay structure. For more information about creating structure for your individual paragraphs see our paragraph structure guide .

Why do I need to learn structure?

To gain good marks and fulfil the learning outcomes of your assignments, you need to demonstrate that you understand the concepts and the work that you have used to form your argument. Structure also ensures that:

• you avoid repeating yourself
• you include information that leads from one concept to another
• you show understanding of your thought process
• you don't forget a piece of information along the way

How do I use structure?

The basic structure of any academic work looks something like this:

• Title/Question
• Introduction (approx. 10% of the word count)
• Main body - development of argument (approx. 80% of the word count)
• Conclusion (approx. 10% of the word count)
• References/Bibliography

Creating sections helps you to plan how much you need to write on each area. This breaks the task down into smaller chunks.

For example:

Essay word count - 3,000 words Introduction - 300 words Main body - 2,400 words Conclusion - 300 words

If your subject has three major themes you can then break the main body down again:

Essay word count - 3,000 words Introduction - 300 words Main body - 2,400 words (theme 1 - 800 words; theme 2 - 800 words; theme 3 - 800 words) Conclusion - 300 words

This is not a precise rule; you can adjust the word counts to accommodate where more emphasis is needed or not, but it can be used to break a large word count into manageable sections.

Structure Resources

• Essay planning table
• Point, Evidence, Explain Example
• Academic Language at Level 6
• Words to Create Flow

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How to Write a 3000 word Essay in Less Than 60 Minutes

Writing a 3000 word essay in under an hour might seem impossible, especially when facing a tight deadline. However, with the right approach, it's not as daunting as it sounds. A good example of this is our guide on how to write a 1000 word essay .

This article shares 5 practical tips and strategies to help you write efficiently and effectively within a limited timeframe.

EssayPro Guide on How to Write Your Essay Faster

Our team of experts has created a how-to guide for you on how to write your essay fast. Here you go:

3000-Word Essay Structure

Let's break down the structure of a 3000-word essay so you can know exactly what to write in each section. This will help you use your time effectively and finish your assignment in one hour.

Introduction

The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay. It grabs the reader's attention and introduces the topic and main points you'll discuss. Here's how to organize it:

• Start broadly by introducing the general topic of your essay and explain why it's important.
• Provide context to help the reader understand the purpose of your essay.
• Finally, narrow down to your thesis statement, which states the main argument of your essay.

Organizing your introduction in this way will help your readers understand the main theme of your essay clearly.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence or sentences that summarize the main points of your paper and state its topic and purpose. It is usually found at the end of the introduction. Below are its different types.

Body Paragraphs

When writing your essay's body paragraphs, make sure they are clear and well-connected. Follow these steps to create cohesive and persuasive paragraphs for your 3000-word essay.

• Create a Topic Sentence : Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea you will discuss.
• Provide Supporting Evidence : After stating your topic sentence, present evidence such as facts, examples, or quotations to support your point of view.
• Offer Analysis and Interpretation : Once you've presented your evidence, explain its significance and how it relates to your thesis statement. This step allows you to demonstrate your understanding and academic perspective on the topic.
• Conclude the Paragraph : End each paragraph with a concluding sentence that summarizes the main points and transitions smoothly to the next paragraph.

The conclusion of your essay serves to remind the reader of its main points and highlight the significance of your discussion. Think of it as a reverse introduction:

• Restate Your Thesis : Start by reminding the reader of your thesis statement to reinforce the essay's purpose.
• Summarize Main Points : Recap the key points of your essay and how they support your thesis. This step brings together the main ideas discussed.
• Explain the Significance : Conclude by explaining why your argument matters and its broader implications. You can suggest how the reader can apply this knowledge.

Voice-to-Text Software

Voice-to-text software can significantly expedite essay writing by allowing users to dictate their thoughts and ideas, bypassing manual typing verbally. This technology enables a continuous writing flow, as individuals can speak their ideas naturally and conversationally without interruptions. 

For example, instead of pausing to search for the right words or phrases, users can express their thoughts fluidly, resulting in a faster and more efficient writing process. Additionally, voice-to-text software eliminates the physical strain associated with typing for extended periods, allowing users to maintain productivity and focus for longer durations.

Furthermore, voice-to-text software offers flexibility in writing environments, as users can dictate their essays from virtually anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. For instance, individuals can dictate their essays while commuting, exercising, or completing other tasks, maximizing their time and productivity.

You can use the following voice-to-text tools:

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Google Docs Voice Typing
• Microsoft Dictate
• Apple Dictation

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The Stream-of-Consciousness Writing

Stream-of-consciousness writing is a technique that involves recording thoughts as they come to mind, without filtering or censoring them. This approach can be particularly useful for writing essays in less than 60 minutes as it allows for a rapid flow of ideas and content generation. 

By bypassing the need for careful planning and organization, stream-of-consciousness writing enables writers to quickly capture their thoughts on paper and generate raw material for their essays. For example, writers can focus solely on expressing their ideas and arguments instead of worrying about sentence structure or grammar, resulting in a faster and more spontaneous writing process.

Moreover, stream-of-consciousness writing can help writers overcome writer's block and tap into their creativity more effectively. This can lead to more original and compelling essay content. For instance, writers may discover new angles or perspectives on their topic that they hadn't considered before, enriching their essays with fresh insights and perspectives.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the stream-of-consciousness technique to write an essay:

• Set a timer.
• Clear distractions.
• Choose a topic.
• Begin writing.
• Write continuously.
• Don't edit or censor.
• Keep the pen moving.
• Embrace tangents.
• Stay in the moment.
• Review and edit later.

AI Writing Tools

AI writing tools can significantly expedite the essay writing process by automating various aspects of content creation, such as generating ideas, structuring arguments, and even drafting entire paragraphs. These tools leverage advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze input data and produce coherent, contextually relevant text output. 

For example, platforms like OpenAI's GPT-3 and Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant offer features such as auto-completion, grammar and style suggestions, and even content generation based on user prompts. 

Furthermore, AI writing tools can assist writers in overcoming writer's block and generating ideas more efficiently. For instance, tools like Articoolo and QuillBot can generate article outlines or paraphrase existing text to provide inspiration and generate new content. 

Here are reliable AI essay writing tools:

• EssayPro Writing App

WARNING: While these tools can aid in content creation and idea generation, relying too heavily on them may lead to plagiarism or submitting low-quality, unoriginal work. Writers should use AI writing tools to supplement their research and writing process rather than replace critical thinking and academic rigor.

Collage Essay Method

The collage essay method is a creative approach to essay writing that involves assembling visual and textual materials into a collage to represent different aspects of the essay topic. This technique can be particularly effective in generating ideas quickly and organizing thoughts in a visually engaging manner. 

For example, imagine you're tasked with writing an essay on climate change. You could gather images, quotes, statistics, and diagrams related to climate change and arrange them on a poster board or digital canvas. The collage is a brainstorming tool to spark ideas and inspire the writing process by visually representing key concepts and arguments.

Moreover, the collage essay method encourages a nonlinear approach to essay writing, allowing writers to explore ideas from multiple perspectives and make connections between different topic elements. 

For instance, while arranging materials for the climate change collage, you might notice patterns or themes emerging that you hadn't considered before. This can lead to new insights and angles for your essay, enriching the content with diverse perspectives and supporting evidence.

Here are some useful tips for using the collage essay method for writing an essay fast:

• Gather diverse materials.
• Start with a central theme.
• Arrange materials strategically.
• Focus on visual impact.
• Incorporate text and images.
• Make connections between elements.
• Be open to unexpected insights.
• Iterate and refine as needed.

Role-Playing Scenario

The role-playing scenario method offers a fresh and engaging approach to essay writing, injecting creativity and empathy into the process. By immersing oneself in a specific role, writers can tap into their imagination and explore complex topics from various angles. 

For instance, if you're tasked with writing about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, you could adopt the perspective of a futuristic AI developer or a concerned citizen living in a world dominated by AI technology. This imaginative exercise sparks inspiration and encourages deeper reflection on the subject matter, leading to more insightful and thought-provoking essays.

Furthermore, the role-playing scenario cultivates empathy and understanding by encouraging writers to embody diverse viewpoints and experiences. Whether you're writing about climate change, social justice, or economic policy, stepping into the shoes of different characters allows you to see the world through their eyes and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex issues. 

For example, by pretending to be a climate scientist researching the effects of deforestation, you might gain a deeper appreciation for the urgency of environmental conservation efforts. This empathetic approach to essay writing fosters a greater connection with both the subject matter and the audience, resulting in essays that are not only informative but also engaging and impactful.

How to adopt the role-playing scenario technique for writing an essay:

• Choose a relevant persona.
• Research and understand their background.
• Embody the persona's mindset.
• Write from their perspective.
• Maintain consistency with the persona.
• Review and adjust as needed.
• Use insights to enrich your essay.

3000 Word Essay Example

Now that we've examined some key theoretical insights for tackling such a large essay in a short time, let's check out a practical example. This will give you a complete set of tools and tips to confidently move forward.

3000 Word Essay Topics

Here are 20 topics that should provide ample material for a 3000-word essay, allowing for deep exploration and analysis.

• The challenges and opportunities of urbanization in the 21st century.
• Should college education be free for everyone?
• The evolution of artificial intelligence and its future implications.
• How has social media influenced modern communication?
• Is the current education system preparing students for the future?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of remote work?
• The impact of climate change on global biodiversity.
• The role of renewable energy sources in combating climate change.
• How does cultural heritage influence personal identity?
• The history and significance of the women's rights movement.
• The psychological effects of prolonged social isolation.
• How has the internet changed the way we consume information?
• The rise of e-commerce and its impact on traditional retail.
• What are the ethical considerations of genetic engineering?
• The influence of ancient Greek philosophy on modern thought.
• How do political ideologies shape government policies?
• The significance of space exploration for humanity's future.
• How would you promote healthy eating habits among the obese population?
• Describe the role of art and literature in reflecting societal changes.
• What are the long-term consequences of deforestation?

There’s nothing impossible if you put an effort into it. Although 60 minutes sounds like a very limited period, a smart student can use it to produce a pretty decent essay and even have a few minutes left! So, how to write essays faster ?

The tips we gave you above do work, which thousands of students with hectic schedules have already proved. A word of warning, though – don’t rush to use tools like ChatGPT to generate an essay in 5 minutes because it’s hazardous for academic integrity. Remember – AI tools are assistants, and generated texts are to be rewritten from A to Z, which can also be done in an hour or less. If you’re awfully tired and physically can’t think or type, you better ask a professional human writer to help you. 

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Can You Write an Essay in 30 Minutes?

Can i write a 3000 word essay in 1 hour, how long does it take to write a 3000 words essay.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Howard, D. (2022, December 15). How to Write an Essay Fast . Nexus Education. https://nexus-education.com/blog-posts/how-to-write-an-essay-fast/
• 20 Top Tips for Writing an Essay in a Hurry . (2024, February 20). Oxford Royale. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/writing-essay-hurry/ ‍
• 4 Ways to Write Essays Faster – The Bookshelf . (n.d.). https://blogs.cornell.edu/learning/4-ways-to-write-essays-faster/

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Structure a 3000 Word Essay

Table of Contents

If you want your readers to read, comprehend, and appreciate your academic work, you must offer it a good structure. This article is therefore about how to structure a 3000 word essay .

When writing an essay or report, remember that you are telling a narrative and that stories have beginnings, middles, and endings. 

Paragraphs require structure just as much as the overall text. Detailed recommendations on  how to structure a 3000 word essay  in its entirety are provided below.

What Is Structure?

A structure in an essay is necessary to understand the flow of a text best . You will want to ensure you have a solid understanding of this area before tackling the paper. Structure enables you to prioritize your ideas and concepts so that your essay is well organized.

With structure, your professor will be able to understand the flow of your essay. Simply put, they will be frustrated by the thoughts and jumbled sentences of your work. Here are some other reasons for structure in an essay:

• Structure prevents non-repetition of paragraphs, words, and phrases
• You demonstrate your command of the subject matter by including transitional details that smoothly move from one idea to the next.

Quick Steps: How to Structure a 3000 Word Essay

Any scholarly paper can be broken down into its essential parts, which are:

• Title/Question
• An overview/Introduction (about 10% of total words)
• Body Paragraphs – Meat of the argument and how it was arrived at (about 80 percent).
• Conclusion (about 10% of total word count)
• References/Bibliography

By dividing your document into sections, you can estimate how much you need to write on each topic. In this way, the work is divided into manageable sections.

For instance:

Where the minimum required length of an essay is 3000 words, you should consider:

• An Overview of 300 Words
• Body Text: 2,400 Characters
• Conclusion (300 words)

If you’ve determined that there are three overarching ideas related to your topic, you can further subdivide the main body as follows:

• Introduction (300 words)
• The Body Paragraph should be around 2,400 words: (Paragraph 1 – 800 words; Paragraph 2 – 800 words; Paragraph 3 – 800 words)

This article is an approximate guideline on how to structure a 3000 word essay . You can feel free to change the word counts to emphasize the areas that need it . However, it can be useful for dividing up a lengthy piece of writing into more digestible chunks.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to Write a 3,000 Word Essay

Steps to writing a 3,000 word essay.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what does it take to get 3,000 words? Writing an essay of 3,000 words is asking a lot, especially if you are not used to essay writing or have never written anything of that magnitude before. In high school or college, these assignments are often due in just a few days, and can be a source of stress for those unprepared for the task. A 3,000 word essay averages out to 10 or more pages, typed and double-spaced. Luckily, this mammoth word count is attainable for anyone from students to experienced businessmen, if you focus, take your time and put forth your best effort.

​ Select a topic of which you already have an understanding. ​ This may seem like an obvious step, but too often writers attempt to tackle a subject that is foreign to them, simply because it seems to be easy or the popular idea. These writers zoom through a few paragraphs --- a good writer can usually piece together something out of little --- but then wind up lost in a pile of facts. If you do not know your topic, there is only so much you can say, so choose something with which you are comfortable.

​ Note: ​ If you are assigned a topic to write about, ensure that you do enough research on this topic beforehand so that you become well-acquainted with what you are writing about ​ before ​ you begin. Don't forget to collect multiple references so that you are able to create a reference list later on. Referencing your sources throughout an essay (especially if it's a research paper) is crucial for your credibility, as it shows your reader that you have done your own research and there is no plagiarism. This is often done through in-text citations.

​ Pre-write ​ ​ on your topic. ​ Prewriting is the first step of the writing process, and one in which you may spend a great deal of time. It requires you to do research and take notes, and ultimately arrange your thoughts for composing a first draft. Use a graphic organizer to sort your main ideas and supporting details of each, or complete a traditional outline. Before writing an essay, you should always have a general idea of what information will be used and in what order it will be placed.

It helps in your preliminary outline to write down a topic sentence for each paragraph in the body of your essay to get a solid idea of what you want each paragraph to be about. The intro of a good essay will often include your thesis statement, in which the main points that will be discussed throughout are clearly stated. So, if you can align these introductory main points with the topic sentences in the body paragraphs, you'll have a more organized writing process.

​ Forget about spelling and punctuation. ​ Do not try to sound brilliant on your first draft. Get your ideas down on paper and resist the urge to edit as you compose. Some writers worry so much about every little word that their ideas get trampled in a mess of perfect language, creativity is often squelched, and frustration gets the writer no closer to the word goal. Save grammar and usage for the editing stage, and just write.

​ Revise your writing after completing a first draft. ​ Once you have completed the essay, read through whatever you have written for fluency and organization. You may be attempting to reach a high number of pages, but you still need to make sure your essay is smooth. Adjust your writing as needed. Proofreading and revising is a crucial step of the academic writing process, and this is often where you can perfect your transitions in the body of the essay and ensure that you're being thorough and clear.

​ Note: ​ Have a couple peers read over your first draft; they will help you in the revision process. Upon their proofread, consider asking them the following:

• Was the essay question clearly answered?
• Do I have any grammatical errors?
• Is the essay introduction clearly stating my main points?

​ Add details with vivid, descriptive language. ​ Once you are confident in the structure, style and flow of your writing, begin to add vivid verbs and plenty of adjectives to further the maturity of your writing. More detail equals more words. Add until you think you cannot add anymore. Then take a break and revise a second time, again looking for gaps where information could be inserted.

​ Make an assessment of your word count to determine your next move. ​ Count how many words you have written at this point. If you have met your desired word count, do another proofread to correct any remaining grammar or spelling errors before publishing the final essay.

If you are within several hundred words, do further revisions to add more detail, and you should be able to slowly work up. If you still have a long way to go before reaching your word count goal, you may need to put the essay aside for a while. Go back to your prewriting research and look for another resource to supply you with enough information to get your focus moving again or broaden your topic.

Writing a 3,000 word essay can seem like a daunting task, but going through the above steps will surely aid you in the process. Upon being assigned this essay, it's helpful to start planning right away to leave yourself enough time to successfully write it and avoid procrastination. Don't make yourself pull an all-nighter for a paper that should, if done effectively, take no more than a few hours (or less) to write!

Good luck, and happy essay writing!

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• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Introduction to Prewriting (Invention)
• Invention Central: Main Idea Maps
• University of Washington Tacoma: Writing Essays
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Symptoms and Cures for Writer’s Block
• Set a goal to write a certain number of words per day, depending on how much time you have to complete the final essay. Do not be upset with yourself if you do not make the daily goal. You can always make it up the next day.
• Allow yourself to take a break between steps if you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Do not be afraid to ask someone else to read your essay and offer suggestions of what you could do to increase the word count.
• Be careful to not lose focus of your topic. Do not get so wrapped up in adding words that you forget what you were writing.
• Avoid the temptation to repeat what you have already said. Redundancy reduces your paper's effectiveness. Instead, add further examples or expand on your topic.

Writing since 2008, Marisa Hefflefinger's work has appeared on websites such as SuperGreenMe, Jennifer McColm and Character Odyssey. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English education and a Master of Arts in teaching literacy and language, and she is currently working on a Ph.D. in critical literacy and English education.

How To Write a 3000 Word Essay

Essay writing is tricky. You need years to master excellent content creation and how to integrate different sources that strengthen your main points. They should also address your thesis. It's no surprise that many students have problems writing essays that score high marks. The task is even more tedious as the word limit increases to say, 3000.

Long essays are a student's worst nightmare. Unfortunately, you cannot escape them. Every college diploma or degree involves writing a research proposal and dissertation at the end of someone's academic studies. Students frequently forget that writing a research paper is significantly harder than your average paper and postpone writing it till the last minute.

So, you may have underestimated your assignment and left the 3,000 word essay with an impending deadline pending for a while. This is not an ideal situation, but don't worry. We have you covered. Learn how to write a 3000 word essay in this comprehensive post.

Steps to Writing a 3,000 Word Essay/ Format for a 3,000 Word Essay

You may have waited too long to write your research paper. Whether it is a tight schedule or a bit of time mismanagement, you can get back on track. The first step to writing a 3000 word essay is to create an outline of your paper's structure. The outline should contain each of the items below:

• Introduction (300 words)
• Body Paragraphs (2400 words).
• Conclusion (300 words)
• References/Bibliography

You are limited to how many paragraphs you can write by word limits and a good essay has to look a certain way. There is no definite number of paragraphs for this task. While you're limited to a certain number of words, your paragraphs depend on your topic and the scope of the essay. The only set sections are your introduction and conclusion paragraphs, that is, one for each task.

We'll now expand on each of the items covered in your outline from your introduction to the reference page.

Many people underestimate the value of a good title. Take for instance, two students writing a paper on the deteriorating Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Let's call our subjects Joe and Jim.

Joe takes a dramatic approach and does some research on what the coral reef means to the world. Jim chooses to remain a bit restrained in his title and let his work do the talking. So Joe's title is "Could This Be The End of Marine Life? A Case of The Dying Great Barrier Reef." Jim goes for "Deterioration of The Great Barrier Reef in Australia." Whose title draws you in? Joe's, right? Probably so.

Joe will clearly get a lot of people wondering what all the drama is about. While Jim may have a lot of amazing facts, he failed to capture a larger audience by drawing their interest. This is the power of a title. So take care to use the right words to draw in your readers.

There's just one catch, you have to remember the audience to which you are presenting your document. Do not use quasi-informal titles in your academic paper. While creativity is part of writing, restrain yourself to what is deemed acceptable by academic standards.

2. Introduction

A good title is good, a good introduction is better! Joe from our earlier example may fumble with his introduction while Jim comes out guns blazing. The most crucial thing to remember when writing your introduction is looking at it like an outline of your paper. Make sure it sets up your argument and demonstrates what your audience should expect.

Steps to Writing a 3000 Word Essay Introduction

An essay's introduction sets the pace for the rest of the document. Human beings are highly impressionable and will stop reading your article the moment it becomes boring or monotonous. You need to make your paper as engaging as possible. There are various time-tested ways to do this.

Once you have the audience's attention, all that remains is making a convincing argument in your favor to score high grades.

• ·     Step 1: Hook your reader
• ·     Step 2: Give background information
• ·     Step 3: Present your thesis statement
• ·     Step 4: Map your essay’s structure
• ·     Step 5: Check and revise

Step 1: Hook Your Reader

The first sentence in your essay gets the ball rolling and sets the tone for the whole paper. You should spend some time working on an effective hook. Remember to steer clear of dense and long sentences. Start writing your 3000 word essay with something clear and concise. It must also be catchy to spark your reader's curiosity. Refrain yourself from using plain statements or broad claims of fact. These are the best ways to engage your audience and get their attention.

• Tell a story
• Describe a character or scene
• Share your experience
• Ask your audience a provocative question
• Piggyback on a famous person's theme or remark
• Relate the paper to a recent event
• Give your audience a compelling visual image
• State an amusing, troubling, or remarkable fact
• Point out an important element concerning the current setting or audience
• Explain your personal interest in the topic
• Vividly describe what's at stake for your audience
• Share a humorous anecdote or observation
• Tell your audience what the paper has to do with them

Now that you're well equipped with effective ways to create your introduction's first draft, it's time to put them in action. Look at your essay's title and see if you can come up with some interesting ways to hook your reader as you answer the essay prompt.

Step 2: Give background information

Your introduction must show your audience the general idea needed to understand your argument and topic. This relies on your essay's subject and might include:

• A basic outline of a debate
• Geographical, social, or historical context
• Definition of key terms
• Summary of relevant research or theories on the topic

Whether or not you want to use general information in this part is irrelevant. Just make sure it is relevant and clearly focused on your argument. Remember to refrain from giving too much detail. Save the meaty stuff for the main body. You're supposed to write a 3000 word essay. Don't use your ammo in the introduction. You'll have plenty of time to express yourself succinctly later. The amount of information you require for an effective background depends on the scope of your essay and your topic.

Step 3: Present your thesis statement

Nature channel enthusiasts know that a hunting lion will ignore any other prey on its way as it focuses on one creature. You've probably seen where we're going with this. You have to guide your readers to what you want to say about the topic. Narrow your focus using a sentence or two that sum up your general argument. Your thesis statement. This is the most important part of any paper. It is a claim that should be backed up with evidence and explanation. It is not just a statement of fact.

Your goal in writing a good and effective thesis statement is to clearly illustrate your position on a topic.

Step 4: Map your essay’s structure

One of the most important things to consider when writing your essay is the word count. A 3000 word essay will put off most readers. Most people do not have time to read your entire document. Others may not concentrate for the entire paper, missing important points in your argument. You're unlikely to face similar issues if you're writing a short paper. However, you need to signpost what your essay will cover in each section if it is one of the longer assignments you'll get.

Don't spend a lot of time signposting, keep it concise and offer your audience a clear sense of how you will argue in favor of your thesis.

Step 5: Check and revise

Your argument may shift direction or focus as you discover more ideas. It's a good idea to write your essay introduction paragraph later in the writing process. This will prevent you from rewriting it or worse still, forgetting to change it based on your key points. Such a mistake would make all the information irrelevant or jumbled up, leading to a low score. For this reason, some students prefer writing the introduction last.

Once you've written the main body and conclusion, return to your introduction and ascertain it accurately reflects the content of your essay.

The most important thing to do is checking to ensure your thesis statement matches all the information in the essay. If your argument has changed from your original direction, tweak it to accurately represent what you say later in the body paragraphs.

3.  Body Paragraphs

The body, or as we like to call it, the meat of essay writing, is where you throw the weight of your understanding on the topic. Remember that each body paragraph should present one idea. Consider these tips to boost the impact of your essay.

• Write purposefully
• Include counter arguments
• Use paragraph breaks as needed
• Check and revise

i. Write purposefully

Every body paragraph is written with one goal in mind, supporting your thesis statement. This may be in the form of detailed analysis of each topic sentence, providing background information, or providing opposing views. How many paragraphs you'll include in your essay varies depending on the scope of your essay. Remain vigilant of content that may appear as fluff. This includes irrelevant or superfluous information that could muddy your key points. A good plan for this section is to focus on the essay question. This will ensure you remain on topic and your main ideas support your thesis.

ii. Include counter arguments

If your 3000 word essay is an analytical or argumentative essay, you'll need to allocate one body paragraph to make a brief case for any dissenting arguments that could diminish the validity of your thesis. After doing this, explain to the audience why your claim is stronger. Look at your topic objectively from every angle and present facts that add credibility. Doing this will help you gain your audience's trust.

iii. Use paragraph breaks as needed

Each body paragraph should clearly convey one of your main points. A paragraph break helps you introduce new evidence, start a new topic, or contrast other ideas or points of view. You can also use paragraph breaks to give your audience a break, using it as a white space to pause after going through a long paragraph. Do not cram too much information in a single paragraph. Take advantage of paragraph breaks to control your pace of writing and build moods or feelings for your audience.

Remember to make smooth transitions from one body paragraph to another to maintain a logical flow of your arguments. You can learn more on how to seamlessly transition from one body paragraph to another by going through   samples on a professional writing service like   My Custom Essays . A 3000 word essay will take a lot of time to finish reading. Paragraph breaks are an excellent tool to structure your essay to suit your academic style of writing and give it a personal touch.

iv. Check and Revise

Proofread and review each paragraph carefully. Edit out any unnecessary or redundant words to keep your work authoritative, clear, and concise.

The bulk of your essay will take a lot of time writing and probably leave you exhausted. Especially for a 3000 word essay. It's best to go through your essay body again during the editing stage.

4.  Conclusion

The conclusion is the final paragraph in your essay and is easier to write than the other parts of your essay. It could even be fun. Still, you need to put your game face on as the paper isn't done. A strong conclusion is important to get high marks in your assignment. It has several aims.

• Tying together the main points in your essay
• Demonstrating the paper's relevance to its audience
• Impressing the reader with new revelations

You should give your audience a sense of completion and closure of your argument while simultaneously illustrating new possibilities or questions your topic raises. We'll now look at some successful steps to follow when writing your conclusion.

Steps to Writing a 3000 Word Essay Conclusion

A 3000 word essay has an intricate conclusion that synthesizes the wealth of content imbued in each page. Let's take a look at the steps you can follow to complete this section successfully.

• Synthesize your content
• Review the main points
• Demonstrate why it matters

a. Synthesize your content

The first step in writing your conclusion is returning to your thesis. You need to signal to your readers that you're winding up the essay by revisiting your overall argument. Don't summarize, synthesize. Provide your audience with a brief summary of your main points. Do not simply regurgitate information you'd written in your paper. You must also avoid restating your thesis in more detail. This section simply requires you to put all your information together. Show your audience how the main ideas you expressed and supporting information, including examples, fit together.

b. Review the main points

Next, you should recapture the main ideas expressed in the essay to support your thesis. This is a crucial part of your introduction. Summarizing each paragraph will not suffice. Consolidate your points in a way that your audience can clearly see the connections between them. This is your final chance to convince your audience of how all your paragraphs connect to form a coherent 3,000 word essay.

c. Demonstrate why it matters

Your conclusion must also have a conclusion. A complete conclusion must wind up by zooming out to a broader scope of the topic and determine the implications of your thesis. For instance, you could consider the following.

• Is it applicable to varying contexts?
• Does it improve your understanding of the topic?
• Is it related to a broader theme or debate?
• Does it elicit practical predictions or suggestions?
• Does it posit new questions that require future study?

Play the "so what" game with your friend to see if your conclusion hits the mark on each of these points. Do this once you're done with the first draft to see if you need to add more details to strengthen your essay or conclusion.

Tell your friend to ask you "why should anyone care?" or "so what?" each time you read a statement from the conclusion. Think for a while and respond to it. Here's an example of how it may go using our Joe and Jim example from earlier.

• Joe: Human beings are destroying the Great Barrier Reef at a rapid pace.
• Jim: So what?
• Joe: This is a problem because it is the largest coral reef on earth.
• Jim: Why should anyone care?
• Joe: It is important because it protects Australia's coastline and is home to thousands of marine life including six of the seven marine turtles ever recorded.

You can employ this strategy to your 3,000 word essay. Ask yourself "so what?" each time you write down an idea, beginning in your first draft. Your conclusion should focus on showing your argument's significance to your academic field. Try concluding your 3,000 word essay with a decisive sentence. This will most likely leave your audience with a lasting sense of interest in the topic.

5.  References

Despite appearing last on this list and in the essay, DO NOT start writing your references at the end. Editing your 3,000 word essay will be confusing and tiresome. It's improbable that you remember every document you sought information from. You could accidentally neglect some borrowed content, leading to accusations of plagiarism. You could also accredit the wrong author(s) to this content, also resulting in plagiarism. This is a serious offense in academic writing that could lead to implications such as suspension or expulsion.

Consult your school 's course guide and the essay prompt to have a clear view of the structure and knowledge needed to add citations and references to your paper.

How many pages is a 3000 word essay?

A 3,000 word essay is typically around 10 pages double spaced or 5 pages single spaced. Here's a breakdown:

• Single spaced, using standard 12pt Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins all around, a 3,000 word essay would be approximately 5 pages.  
• Double spaced, with the same font and margins, a 3,000 word essay would come out to roughly 10 pages.  
• Font style and size
• Use of headers/footers
• Paragraph spacing
• But in general, 3000 words will be around 5 pages single spaced or 10 pages double spaced in a standard academic essay format.  
• For assignments that specify page requirements instead of word count, a standard guideline is that 300 words equates to approximately 1 page double spaced, or 600 words equals 1 page single spaced.  
• So a 3,000 word essay could also be estimated as 5 pages single spaced or 10 pages double spaced purely based on the typical correspondence between words and pages.  

So in summary, you can expect a 3000 word essay to be approximately 10 pages double spaced or 5 pages single spaced using standard formatting. The precise page count may vary slightly but this gives you a reliable page estimate to work with when planning and structuring a 3000 word essay.

Extra Referencing Tips

Plagiarism is no joke. This is one of the most serious offenses in academic and professional writing. You could end up expelled from school or out of a job if you decide to take the easy way out and steal an author's content without synthesizing and restating it in your own words. This is not the only way to get yourself on the school's academic dishonesty committee's radar.

Plagiarism could also take shape if you fail to credit any source in your paper to its rightful author. There are several ways to avoid this issue. Let's explore these options in more detail.

• Use referencing tools
• Double check
• Understand your style
• Do not procrastinate
• Be consistent

1.Take Notes

Learning how to write a 3000 word essay takes a bit of time, doesn't it? But it is time well-spent. Your references do not count towards your word count no matter how many words they take up. However, waiting until the editing stage to structure your references is akin to shooting your foot. You need to record some details of your sources as you read. Jolt down details such as:

• The author's name
• The date of publication
• The document's title
• The publisher's information

Take note of the exact page number of a source you took a quote from if you'll use it as it is.

2. Use Referencing Tools

The internet affords you several referencing tools that could make your work easier. Browse through the web and find the best one to format and reference your 3000 word essay correctly. Here are several useful ones.

• Cite Them Right
• Citation Buttons
• Reference Building Tools
• Reference Management Software

It is important to note that while reference tools make referencing and formatting a breeze, you may find yourself in a situation that requires knowledge about your school's preferred referencing style.

We must also point out that different bodies tasked with creating and improving these styles constantly make changes to them. Browse the web for the latest iterations of your citation style. Grammatical errors may not be your downfall, formatting and referencing may be the iceberg to your Titanic!

3. Double Check

Relying purely on referencing tools is a bad idea! They may help students, but a bad reference is a bad reference. Nothing can change that. These tools often provide a machine-generated bibliography, meaning their ability is limited. In most cases, you'll find referencing tools helpful. However, your writing process should factor in time needed to double check all the information in your bibliography. Make sure it matches the research article it's supposed to reference.

Look at any essay sample from a professional academic writing service provider like   My Custom Essays . Note how you should reference any essay using varying citation styles including APA, Harvard, MLA, and Chicago/Turabian. Take note of the essay question while going through each essay sample.

4. Understand Your Style

Students find it easier to reference their papers if they begin the essay writing process by familiarizing themselves with their preferred referencing style. You can write relevant information for your citation as you create your outline. This will help you identify any mistakes even if you use a referencing tool.

5. Do Not Procrastinate

Remember that each article you get information from will be part of your references. Save yourself the trouble of gathering your ideas at the last minute and write your references as you proceed with your essay writing task. Anyone that's learnt how to write a 3000 word essay will tell you. It's definitely better to include citations as your outline materializes.

6. Be Consistent

Do not deviate from your referencing style from the moment you begin working on the task. This process also involves checking whether you have formatted your paper correctly. Is it double spaced? Are all arguments and examples in your outline and essay derived from other sources appropriately referenced to avoid plagiarism? The answer to both these questions is yes. Being consistent will help you tackle this task with relative ease and come out with a well written essay.

How To Reach the Word Count

As you can see, essay writing is not so easy. You must come up with solid ideas and arguments to support your thesis as you write your paper. Working around the limited word count allows successful writers to structure their ideas, arguments, and words appropriately. They realize that each task requires one answer. These writers use the allotted word count to make sure all arguments are properly referenced and show in-depth analysis.

The main point of writing this article is to show students how to write a 3000 word essay. They should integrate ideas and examples gained through research to complete their assignments on time. A good 3,000 word essay gives you confidence to face lesser worded papers. It also boosts your research skills. So, get a cup of Joe's and start working on your assignment today!

This process will take a toll on you. But the satisfaction of completing such a task is definitely worth it!

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How To Write A 3000 Word Essay

Updated 28 Aug 2021

It is a usual thing for any student or pupil to write a short essay. But sooner or later there comes a time when you need to handle such task as writing 3000 word paper, which is much more complicated than creating a short text. Such type of academic task does not have any specific and strict rules or requirements, but there are some traditional standards that you will have to comply with in your work.

Such task often is due in a few days. This makes it even more challenging. But in this article, we will try to understand how to write a 3000 word essay in 2 days and give you practical advice to help you succeed in writing.

How Many Paragraphs Should A Long Essay Have?

As was mentioned previously, there are no specific rules on how to write 3000 word essay, but like any other paper, it must have a proper structure and be designed in accordance with a required format. If you don’t know how many pages it should contain , here is the answer – usually, each page of the work can include about 270-300 words, which means that you will need to have a bit more than 10 pages of text . Can this number change, depending on the theme? No, it does not matter what the topic of your work is, be it “hazards of unsafe driving” or “impact of the unhealthy food on the human’s health,” the length of the page will not change.

What else to keep in mind? When writing 3000 word essay pages, you should follow a similar structure:

• Introduction – the opening part that contains the description of the topic, a summary of your ideas, and a thesis.
• The paragraph, describing the first argument .
• The paragraph with the description of the second argument .
• The paragraph with the description of the third argument ; usually, such tasks requires you to include minimum 3 arguments but there can be more if there is a need, but in any case, your arguments should also be supported by examples and facts.
• A brief conclusion that summarizes all the information provided in the text.
• The last part of your work is a list of references . You should pay special attention to this page and mention every source of information that; otherwise, you can be accused of plagiarism!

How To Write 3000 Word Essay In A Day?

To write an essay quickly, you need to have the self-organizational skills. You need to make a preliminary plan of the paper and summarize all your thoughts, ideas, arguments and facts before you start writing the text. To better understand how to write 3000 word essay, take a blank page and make a detailed outline , dividing your ideas into paragraphs and sections. Then completing the work will be much easier!

Don’t Make Typical Mistakes!

The first and main mistake of many students is a fear to ask someone how to write 3 000 words essay, remember that you should not be afraid to ask questions ! Ask your teacher, friends or parents, if you need some advice!

The second mistake is made when the student underestimates the importance of this task. With such approach, students perform the task without decent responsibility or simply download someone else’s work from the Internet. As a result, they get low grades, and their performance worsens. And the last mistake is an inability to assess your abilities, weaknesses, and strengths soberly. If you have doubts that you can handle a particular task, you should look for ways (find a good college application essay writing service ) and options to solve the problem and then you will succeed!

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7 Steps for Writing an Essay Plan

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Have you ever started writing an essay then realized you have run out of ideas to talk about?

This can make you feel deflated and you start to hate your essay!

The best way to avoid this mid-essay disaster is to plan ahead: you need to write an Essay Plan!

Essay planning is one of the most important skills I teach my students. When I have one-to-one tutorials with my students, I always send them off with an essay plan and clear goals about what to write.

Essay Planning isn’t as dull as you think. In fact, it really does only take a short amount of time and can make you feel oh so relieved that you know what you’re doing!

Here’s my 7-Step method that I encourage you to use for your next essay:

The 7-Step Guide on How to write an Essay Plan

• Figure out your Essay Topic (5 minutes)
• Gather your Sources and take Quick Notes (20 minutes)
• Brainstorm using a Mind-Map (10 minutes)
• Arrange your Topics (2 minutes)
• Write your topic Sentences (5 minutes)
• Write a No-Pressure Draft in 3 Hours (3 hours)
• Edit your Draft Once every Few Days until Submission (30 minutes)

I’ve been using this 7-Step essay planning strategy since I was in my undergraduate degree. Now, I’ve completed a PhD and written over 20 academic journal articles and dozens of blog posts using this method – and it still works!

Let’s go through my 7 steps for how to write an essay plan.

Prefer to Watch than Read? Here’s our video on writing an Essay Plan.

how to write an essay plan

1. figure out your essay topic. here’s how..

Where did your teacher provide you with your assessment details?

Find it. This is where you begin.

Now, far, far, far too many students end up writing essays that aren’t relevant to the essay question given to you by your teacher. So print out your essay question and any other advice or guidelines provided by your teacher.

Here’s some things that your assessment details page might include:

• The essay question;
• The marking criteria;
• Suggested sources to read;
• Some background information on the topic

The essay question is really important. Once you’ve printed it I want you to do one thing:

Highlight the key phrases in the essay question.

Here’s some essay questions and the key phrases you’d want to highlight:

This strategy helps you to hone in on exactly what you want to talk about. These are the key phrases you’re going to use frequently in your writing and use when you look for sources to cite in your essay!

The other top thing to look at is the marking criteria. Some teachers don’t provide this, but if they do then make sure you pay attention to the marking criteria !

Here’s an example of a marking criteria sheet:

Sample Essay Topic: Is Climate Change the Greatest Moral Challenge of our Generation?

Now, if you have a marking criteria you really need to pay attention to this. You have to make sure you’ve ticked off all the key criteria that you will be marked on. For the example above, your essay is going to have to make sure it:

• Takes a position about whether climate change is a serious challenge for human kind;
• Discusses multiple different people’s views on the topic;
• Explores examples and case studies (‘practical situations’);
• Uses referencing to back up your points.

The reason you need to be really careful to pay attention to this marking criteria is because it is your cheat sheet: it tells you what to talk about!

Step 1 only takes you five minutes and helps you to clearly clarify what you’re going to be talking about! Now your mind is tuned in and you can start doing some preliminary research.

2. Gather your Sources and take Quick Notes. Here’s how.

Now that you know what your focus is, you can start finding some information to discuss. You don’t want to just write things from the top of your head. If you want top marks, you want some deep, detailed and specific pieces of information.

Fortunately, your teacher has probably made this easy for you.

The top source for finding information will be the resources your teacher provided. These resources were hand picked by your teacher because they believed these were the best sources available our there on the topic. Here are the most common resources teachers provide:

• Lecture Slides;
• Assigned Readings.

The lecture slides are one of the best resources for you to access. Lecture slides are usually provided online for you. Download them, save them on your computer, and dig them up when it’s time to write the essay plan.

Find the lecture slides most relevant to your topic. To take the example of our climate change essay, maybe climate change is only discussed in three of the weeks in your course. Those are the three weeks’ lecture slides you want to hone-in on.

Flick through those lecture slides and take quick notes on a piece of paper – what are the most important topics and statistics that are relevant to your essay question?

Now, move on to the assigned readings . Your teacher will have selected some readings for you to do for homework through the semester. They may be eBooks, Textbooks or Journal Articles.

These assigned readings were assigned for a reason: because they have very important information to read ! Scan through them and see if there’s any more points you can add to your list of statistics and key ideas to discuss.

Next, try to find a few more sources using Google Scholar. This is a great resource for finding more academic articles that you can read to find even more details and ideas to add to your essay.

Here’s my notes that I researched for the essay question “Is Climate Change the Greatest Moral Challenge of our Generation?” As you can see, it doesn’t have to be beautiful #Studygram notes! It’s just rough notes to get all the important information down:

Once you’ve read the assigned lecture slides and readings, you should have a good preliminary list of ideas, topics, statistics and even quotes that you can use in step 3.

3. Brainstorm using a Mind-Map. Here’s how.

Do your initial notes look a little disorganized?

That’s okay. The point of Step 2 was to gather information. Now it’s time to start sorting these ideas in your mind.

The best way to organize thoughts is to create a Mind-Map. Here’s how Mind-Maps often look:

For your essay plan Mind-Map, write the essay question in the middle of the page and draw a circle around it.

Then, select the biggest and most important key ideas that you think are worth discussing in the essay. To decide on these, you might want to look back at the notes you took in Step 2.

Each key idea will take up around about 200 – 350 words (1 to 2 sentences).

Here’s a rough guide for how many key ideas you’ll want depending on your essay length:

• 1000-word essay: 3 to 4 key ideas
• 1500-word essay: 5 to 7 key ideas
• 2000-word essay: 6 to 8 key ideas
• 3000-word essay: 9 to 12 key ideas

Once you’ve selected your key ideas you can list them in a circle around the essay question, just like this:

Last, we need to add detail and depth to each key idea. So, draw more lines out from each key ideas and list:

• Two sources that you will cite for each key idea;
• A statistic or example that you will provide for each key idea;
• Any additional interesting facts for each key idea

Here’s how it might look once you’re done:

4. Arrange your Topics. Here’s how.

You’re well and truly on your way to getting your essay down on paper now.

There’s one last thing to do before you start getting words down on the manuscript that you will submit. You need to arrange your topics to decide which to write first, second, third, fourth, and last!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Start and end with your strongest points;
• Ensure the points logically flow.

To ensure your points logically flow, think about how you’re going to transition from one idea to the next . Does one key point need to be made first so that the other ones make sense?

Do two key points seem to fit next to one another? If so, make sure you list them side-by-side.

Have a play around with the order you want to discuss the ideas until you’re comfortable. Then, list them in order. Here’s my order for my Climate Change essay:

Each of these key ideas is going to turn into a paragraph or two (probably two) in the essay.

5. Write your topic Sentences in just 5 minutes. Here’s how.

All good essays have clear paragraphs that start with a topic sentence . To turn these brainstormed key points into an essay, you need to get that list you wrote in Step 5 and turn each point into a topic sentence for a paragraph.

It’s important that the first sentence of each paragraph clearly states the paragraph’s topic. Your marker is going to want to know exactly what your paragraph is about immediately. You don’t want your marker to wait until the 3 rd , 4 th or 5 th line of a paragraph before they figure out what you’re talking about in the paragraph.

So, you need to state what your key idea is in the first sentence of the paragraph.

Let’s have a go at turning each of our key ideas into a topic sentence:

6. Write a No-Pressure Essay Draft in just 3 Hours. Here’s how.

Okay, now the rubber hits the road. Let’s get writing!

When you write your first draft, don’t put pressure on yourself. Remind yourself that this is the first of several attempts at creating a great essay, so it doesn’t need to be perfect right away. The important thing is that you get words down on paper.

To write the draft, have a go at adding to each of your topic sentences to turn them into full paragraphs. Follow the information you wrote down in your notes and Mind-Map to get some great details down on paper.

Forget about the introduction and conclusion for now. You can write them last.

Let’s have a go at one together. I’m going to choose the paragraph on my key idea “Is climate change caused by humans?”

I’ve already got my first sentence and my brainstormed ideas. Let’s build on them to write a draft paragraph:

• “Most scientists believe climate change is caused by humans. In fact, according to the IPCC, over 98% of climate change scientists accept the scientific data that climate change is caused by humans (IPCC, 2018). This figure is very high, signalling overwhelming expert consensus. This consensus holds that the emission of carbon from burning of fossil fuels in the 20 th Century is trapping heat into the atmosphere. However, a minority of dissenting scientists continue to claim that this carbon build-up is mostly the fault of natural forces such as volcanoes which emit enormous amounts of carbon into the atmosphere (Bier, 2013).”

Your turn – have a go at your own draft paragraphs based on your Mind-Map for your essay topic! If you hit a rut or have some trouble, don’t forget to check out our article on how to write perfect paragraphs .

Once you’ve written all your paragraphs, make sure you write an introduction and conclusion .

Gone over the word count? Check out our article on how to reduce your word count.

7. Edit your Draft Once every Few Days until Submission. Check out this simple approach:

Okay, hopefully after your three hour essay drafting session you’ve got all your words down on paper. Congratulations!

However, we’re not done yet.

The best students finish their drafts early on so they have a good three or four weeks to come back and re-read their draft and edit it every few days.

When coming back to edit your draft , here’s a few things to look out for:

• Make sure all the paragraph and sentence structure makes sense. Feel free to change words around until things sound right. You might find that the first time you edit something it sounds great, but next time you realize it’s not as good as you thought. That’s why we do multiple rounds of edits over the course of a few weeks;
• Check for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors;
• Print out your draft and read it on paper. You notice more mistakes when you read a printed-out version;
• Work on adding any more details and academic sources from online sources like Google Scholar to increase your chance of getting a top grade. Here’s our ultimate guide on finding scholarly sources online – it might be helpful for this step!

Before you go – Here’s the Actionable Essay Plan Tips Summed up for you

Phew! That essay was tough. But with this essay plan, you can get through any essay and do a stellar job! Essay planning is a great way to ensure your essays make sense, have a clear and compelling argument, and don’t go off-topic.

I never write an essay without one.

To sum up, here are the 7 steps to essay planning one more time:

The 7-Step Guide for How to Write an Essay Plan

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
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Nice fun and concise approach to essays, thank you

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A clear, arguable thesis will tell your readers where you are going to end up, but it can also help you figure out how to get them there. Put your thesis at the top of a blank page and then make a list of the points you will need to make to argue that thesis effectively.

For example, consider this example from the thesis handout : While Sandel argues persuasively that our instinct to “remake”(54) ourselves into something ever more perfect is a problem, his belief that we can always draw a line between what is medically necessary and what makes us simply “better than well”(51) is less convincing.

To argue this thesis, the author needs to do the following:

• Show what is persuasive about Sandel’s claims about the problems with striving for perfection.
• Show what is not convincing about Sandel’s claim that we can clearly distinguish between medically necessary enhancements and other enhancements.

Once you have broken down your thesis into main claims, you can then think about what sub-claims you will need to make in order to support each of those main claims. That step might look like this:

• Evidence that Sandel provides to support this claim
• Discussion of why this evidence is convincing even in light of potential counterarguments
• Discussion of cases when medically necessary enhancement and non-medical enhancement cannot be easily distinguished
• Analysis of what those cases mean for Sandel’s argument
• Consideration of counterarguments (what Sandel might say in response to this section of your argument)

Each argument you will make in an essay will be different, but this strategy will often be a useful first step in figuring out the path of your argument.  

Strategy #2: Use subheadings, even if you remove them later  

Scientific papers generally include standard subheadings to delineate different sections of the paper, including “introduction,” “methods,” and “discussion.” Even when you are not required to use subheadings, it can be helpful to put them into an early draft to help you see what you’ve written and to begin to think about how your ideas fit together. You can do this by typing subheadings above the sections of your draft.

If you’re having trouble figuring out how your ideas fit together, try beginning with informal subheadings like these:

• Introduction  
• Explain the author’s main point  
• Show why this main point doesn’t hold up when we consider this other example  
• Explain the implications of what I’ve shown for our understanding of the author  
• Show how that changes our understanding of the topic

For longer papers, you may decide to include subheadings to guide your reader through your argument. In those cases, you would need to revise your informal subheadings to be more useful for your readers. For example, if you have initially written in something like “explain the author’s main point,” your final subheading might be something like “Sandel’s main argument” or “Sandel’s opposition to genetic enhancement.” In other cases, once you have the key pieces of your argument in place, you will be able to remove the subheadings.  

Strategy #3: Create a reverse outline from your draft  

While you may have learned to outline a paper before writing a draft, this step is often difficult because our ideas develop as we write. In some cases, it can be more helpful to write a draft in which you get all of your ideas out and then do a “reverse outline” of what you’ve already written. This doesn’t have to be formal; you can just make a list of the point in each paragraph of your draft and then ask these questions:

• Are those points in an order that makes sense to you?  
• Are there gaps in your argument?  
• Do the topic sentences of the paragraphs clearly state these main points?  
• Do you have more than one paragraph that focuses on the same point? If so, do you need both paragraphs?  
• Do you have some paragraphs that include too many points? If so, would it make more sense to split them up?  
• Do you make points near the end of the draft that would be more effective earlier in your paper?  
• Are there points missing from this draft?  
• picture_as_pdf Tips for Organizing Your Essay

Essay writing: Planning & drafting

• Introductions
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• Analysing questions
• Planning & drafting
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“Why should you make a plan for your essays? Why 'waste time' ...? Because it will pay off in the long run in terms of the relevance, organisation and clarity of your essay.” Don Shiach, How to Write Essays

An academic essay is a very specific form of writing. Its purpose is to answer the question in an organised and comprehensive manner. In order to do this, care should be taken at the planning stage so that you can be confident that you have included the most relevant material and that your reader can follow your line of argument as you make the points that lead to your conclusion.

1. Initial thoughts and reading

2. Rough planning

You should now be able to draft either a simple conclusion or a rough plan of your introduction. This is the point where you need to be deciding the key points for each of your paragraphs.

How many key points (paragraphs)?

The number of key points that you need to make to reach your conclusion will, to some extent, be dictated by the length of your essay. Academic paragraphs are usually between 200 and 300 words long (they vary more than this but it is a useful guide). With that in mind, you should be able to work out roughly how many points you need to make given the length of your essay. If we look at 3 examples:

2,000 word essay (200 for introduction, 200 for conclusion, leaves approx. 1,600 word main body) = 6-8 paragraphs (6-8 points) 3,000 word essay (300 for introduction, 300 for conclusion, leaves approx. 2,400 word main body) = 8-12 paragraphs (8-12 points) 4,500 word essay (450 for introduction, 450 for conclusion, leaves approx. 3,600 word main body) = 12-18 paragraphs (12-18 points)

The paragraphs in the longer essays will probably be grouped into themes to give your argument a bit more organisation.

Plan your key points

Now you know how many points you need, spend time deciding what they are. You can do this as a list of bullet points, a mind map, a diagram; whatever works for you.

3. Gather the information you need for your essay

We have workshops on finding quality information if you need any help and advice with this.  

4. Read and take notes   from the information you have gathered

5. Create a detailed plan of the middle section of your essay

Using the reading you have done, revisit your draft introduction/conclusion to see if you want to amend it due to your reading. Once this is done, create a plan of the middle section of your essay which is much more detailed than your original rough plan and which takes into account any changes you made to the conclusion.

Include in your plan, your main sections and arguments, in the order in which you will present them. It may be a good idea to write out in full the topic sentence of each paragraph - the sentence that makes the point that the paragraph is about. You can see from this if your essay has a natural  flow , with the general narrative (logical story leading to your conclusion) making sense.

6. Write a full draft of your essay

Many students write the middle section of the essay first. If this is your preferred method, use the detailed plan you have just created to help you do so. When you are satisfied with your middle section, tidy up the draft introduction or fill out your conclusion to add more detail.

This forms the basis of your essay. From now on you are revising and editing  it, not  writing  it.

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