Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Planning the essay
• Part 2 of 3: Writing the essay
• Part 3 of 3: Editing the essay

If you have to take your exam this year, you may be preparing to write a solid essay in a short, given time. Or you may be trying to improve your writing speed so that you can complete essay assignments faster and more efficiently. Writing a five-paragraph essay in less than 30 minutes can seem daunting, but with proper planning and time management, it is certainly achievable.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Planning the essay

1. Spend 10 minutes planning your essay. Before you start writing, do not take more than 10 minutes to write an outline for your essay. This may seem like a great deal of your precious time, but it will save you from rewriting or restructuring your essay once you start writing.
2. Study the essay question. The essay will likely be accompanied by a question, or text (such as a quote () with a question. It is important that you read the question carefully and understand what is being asked of you.
   • For example, you may be given a quote in the form of "Time has a book of judgment, on whose pages it constantly writes illustrious names." But as many times as a new name is written, an old one will disappear. Only a few remain in illuminated signs, never to be erased. " Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
   • You may then be asked a question about that text: "Are there some heroes who will be remembered forever? Or are all heroes doomed to be forgotten one day? "Plan your answer and then write an essay to explain your views on the matter. Make sure you support your position with specific points and examples. You can give personal examples or examples from read works, observations or knowledge of subjects such as history, literature and science.
3. Brainstorm about your statement. A statement will convey the points or arguments you are about to make in your document to your reader. It is basically a roadmap for your essay and should answer the question, "What is the essay about?" The statement should state an opinion and clarify your position on the subject.
   • For example, you can brainstorm the Longfellow quote by thinking about personal examples of heroes who have been forgotten or forgotten, such as family members, friends, teachers, or peers who have been heroes to yourself or others. Or you focus on a historical figure who appears to be a forgotten hero or an acclaimed hero.
   • This essay asks for two sides of the discussion, the forgotten hero and the remembered hero. Your position should discuss both sides and choose one side to argue for or against.
   • You can choose a historical figure who has encountered opposition and challenges in her life, such as the suffragette Susan B. Anthony. Anthony has struggled tirelessly for decades for the government's recognition that women have the right to vote, and has often been ridiculed by the government and people within its own organization. She is a good example of a hero who was not recognized as a pioneer until late in life, although she is now remembered as a heroine in history. In your statement, try to refer back to the assignment quote, if possible, to indicate that you have read the entire question.
   • One possible statement might be, “While Longfellow argues that heroes' names can be forgotten over time, a historical figure, Susan B. Anthony, was mocked in her life for her beliefs but is now remembered as a heroine of hers. time.'
4. Create a text outline. Create a rough outline of your essay in five paragraphs:
   • Introduction: Your first paragraph should contain a compelling first sentence and your statement. Some writers find it easier to write a temporary introduction and revise it once they are done with the essay. This ensures that the introduction is consistent with the rest of the essay.
   • Core paragraphs 1-3: Each paragraph should discuss an important point of your statement, with at least one example to support it.
   • Conclusion: This section should summarize and reformulate your main argument and thesis. You can also include your final thoughts around the essay question.

Part 2 of 3: Writing the essay

1. Take 15 minutes to write your essay. Now that you have the statement and outline, you can begin to focus on compiling the content for each section of the essay.
   • Try to spend two to three minutes on each core paragraph. Then take three minutes for your conclusion and go back to the introduction. Spend the last three minutes revising your introduction to match the tone and perspective of the rest of your essay.
2. Grab the reader's attention in your introduction. There are several ways to immerse the reader in your essay.
   • An interesting or surprising example: This could be a personal experience or a key moment in the life of the historical figure you discuss in your essay. For example, you can discuss Anthony’s childhood as a Quaker and how later in life (from the age of 26) she began to wear more common clothes and take on a growing interest in social reform.
   • A provocative quote: This could come from a source that you use for your essay or that relates to your topic. For example, you could use a famous quote from Anthony, such as, "Cautious, cautious people, who are always concerned with preserving their reputation and social status, will never bring about any reform. Those who are truly sincere must show a willingness to be all or nothing in the opinion of the rest of the world, and both in public and in private, at peak or not, profess their sympathy for despised and persecuted ideas and their champions, and bear the consequences. '
   • A Lively Anecdote: An anecdote is a very short story that carries moral or symbolic weight. Think of an anecdote that may be a poetic or powerful way to start your essay.
   • A provocative question that makes you think: Ask a question that makes your reader think and engage with your topic. For example, "Have you ever wondered how women got the right to vote in the United States?"
3. Write your three paragraphs. Focus on filling in each paragraph with at least one example of your main point. Start each paragraph with a strong argumentative point related to an substantiating example of your main point. Using an essay on Susan B. Anthony as an example:
   • Core paragraph 1: You can begin with a discussion of Anthony’s early successes. Look at the foundation of the Women's Loyal National League in 1863 by Anthony and Stanton. As the first national political women's organization in the United States, it had 5,000 members and provided a platform for women to speak up on topics such as slavery and women's suffrage.
   • Core paragraph 2: Discuss Anthony's later career with all the struggles. Look at the split in the women's movement in May 1869, with the founding of the National Woman's Suffrage Association (NWSA) by Anthony and Stanton, and the rival American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA). Note how after the Civil War, Anthony devoted her time and life to the suffrage movement, took over the leadership of the NWSA in 1890, and continued to advocate for women's rights. Anthony also remained unmarried, which gave her an advantage under the legislation, as married women were not allowed to sign official documents at the time and were dependent on their husbands for this.
   • Core paragraph 3: You can discuss Anthony's later life, including her many speeches in the United States on the need for women's suffrage and equal rights. Although Anthony died in 1906, and was unable to witness the 19th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote in the United States, her 40 years of unremitting efforts paved the way for this legal precedent and it gave women a strong sense of greater authority and equality.
4. Summarize your thoughts in your conclusion. Make your conclusion clear and to the point. Do not introduce new ideas or arguments in your conclusion. Instead, you adjust your thesis and your main points.
   • For example, you could rephrase your statement: "Throughout her life, Susan B. Anthony has sacrificed her time, energy, and personal livelihood to advocate for women's rights, showing that while many heroes are forgotten, their actions will live on in history."

Part 3 of 3: Editing the essay

1. Use the last five minutes to proofread your essay. Pay attention to spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. You can read your essay from end to beginning to check if there are any problems with spelling, as that way you will only focus on the words themselves, rather than the meaning of the sentences.
2. Think of a title for your essay. It may be easier to come up with a title for your essay when you are done. You can use a quote from the essay, a phrase or term that you often refer to in the essay, or a summary of your main point.
   • For example, an essay on Susan B. Anthony might be titled "An Unsung Heroine" or "Susan B. Anthony: An Advocate for Change".