How to write an essay — House Konmus

01 / Understand the task

Identify the topic, the command word and the scope. Are you asked to discuss different views, assess a claim or argue for a position? Underline the key terms. Check whether you must use a source text and whether a word limit applies.

02 / Plan your argument

Write a provisional answer to the question: your thesis. Collect reasons, examples and a serious counterargument. Put your points in a logical order before you start writing.

Example question: Should schools start later in the morning?
Possible thesis: Schools should consider a later start because it could support students’ concentration, provided that transport and after-school activities can be organised effectively.

03 / Write your introduction

Introduce the issue, narrow it to the question and establish the direction of your argument. Avoid sweeping claims such as “Since the beginning of time…” or a memorised opening that does not fit the task.

04 / Build focused body paragraphs

Point: State one main idea in a topic sentence.
Evidence or example: Support it with relevant material. Use sources when required; never invent studies, quotations or statistics.
Explanation: Explain how the support strengthens your argument. An example cannot explain itself.
Link: Connect the point to your thesis or the next step of your reasoning.

Illustrative paragraph: A later start could make it easier for some students to participate actively in their first lesson. A student who arrives exhausted, for example, may struggle to follow a discussion. Giving students a more workable morning routine could therefore support participation. Whether this benefit occurs would need to be checked against evidence and local conditions.

This example shows paragraph structure; it is not research evidence.

05 / Address a counterargument

Present an opposing view fairly. Then explain whether it limits your claim, can be answered or requires a compromise.

Admittedly, a later start could complicate school transport. However, this is a reason to examine local timetables carefully rather than to reject the idea without investigation.

06 / Bring the argument to a conclusion

Answer the question in the light of your discussion. Weigh your strongest considerations and show why your conclusion follows. Do not introduce a new major argument or merely repeat the introduction.

07 / Revise with purpose

Does every paragraph help answer the actual question?
Is my position clear and appropriately qualified?
Have I explained my evidence and considered a counterargument?
Do linking expressions show the real relationship between ideas?
Have I checked vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation?
Have I followed the instructions for sources, quotations and length?

Useful language

Adding: Furthermore … / Another consideration is …
Contrasting: However … / Whereas …
Conceding: Although … / Admittedly …
Explaining: This suggests that … / This matters because …
Concluding: On balance … / For these reasons …

Choose expressions for their meaning. More connectors do not automatically make a better essay.

The number of paragraphs depends on the task and the length of your argument. A fixed five-paragraph structure is a possible starting point, not a universal rule.

Check your work against the assessment criteria →