2. The word "essay" comes from the French essai, a try
or attempt. The essay is an attempt to communicate
information, opinion, or feeling, and usually it
presents an argument about a topic. In the university
context, an essay is an exercise that gives the student
an opportunity to explore and clarify thoughts about
a subject. In the larger world the essay appears in
newspapers as opinion articles, editorials, reviews,
and the more thorough commentary on news.
ESSAY WRITING
3. TIPS OF ESSAY WRITING
• Read the essay question
carefully
• Finish any necessary reading or
research as background to the essay
• Brainstorm ideas in response to the
question
• Develop a thesis
• Write a plan for the response
• Write the introduction
• Write the essay conclusion