Essays are common classroom assignments used to test your knowledge as well as your writing skills.

A great essay will follow some basic rules in addition to fulfilling your institutions requirements on essay writing. To many students, writing an essay can pose several challenges. As such most students end up with poor or average essays.

You can however make your average essay a great essay. This is how:

• Choose your topic wisely. Sometimes you may not have a choice about the topic as it may have been decided by the requirements but if you do, choose a topic that is simple, interesting to you and current.
• Prepare. Think about everything you will need and put things down on paper as they come to you. What type of essay is best suited to your personality, is it a persuasive, argumentative, descriptive essay etc.
• Create an outline to make your work organized and keep your audience in mind.
• Devote sufficient time to writing a great introduction and thesis statement.
• The body section should be used to present your arguments. Each paragraph should consist of one well supported idea. You should ensure a logical and a smooth transition from one idea to the other and one paragraph to the next.
• Write a conclusion that sums up your argument and calls your audience to action. Do not introduce a new idea that has not been articulated in your body paragraphs.
• Edit and proofread your work. Remove sentences that are repeated and those that do not make sense. Correct spelling mistakes, typos and grammar. You can have a friend read your work and critique it.