Essay Writing Guides
Everything you need to plan, structure and write an essay yourself, from the first idea to the final proofread. Start with the step-by-step guide, then use the specialised guides for your essay type.
Updated 21 October 2026 · EssayWriting.com editorial team
Compare and Contrast Essay
Block vs point-by-point structure, outline and topic ideas.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
How to write a rhetorical analysis essay: SOAPSTone, ethos, pathos and logos, a thesis formula,
Expository Essay
How to write an expository essay: what it is, the main types (definition, process, cause and ef
Narrative Essay
How to write a narrative essay: choosing a story, narrative structure, show-don’t-tell techniqu
Persuasive Essay
How to write a persuasive essay: choosing a position, persuasive techniques, a five-paragraph o
Null vs Alternative Hypothesis
Definitions, notation, examples and how to write hypotheses for a paper.
Proofreading vs Editing
What each stage fixes, when to do it, and checklists.
Dissertation vs Thesis
US vs UK usage, length, structure and purpose compared.
Argumentative Essay
How to write an argumentative essay: choosing a debatable claim, the Toulmin and classical stru
Annotated Bibliography
What to include, APA and MLA formats, and examples.
Essay Introduction
How to write an essay introduction: the hook, context and thesis structure, introduction exampl
Essay Conclusion
How to write a strong essay conclusion: what to include, a three-part structure, conclusion exa
Essay Hook
How to write a hook for an essay: 8 types of essay hooks with examples, which hook suits argume
Synthesis Essay
How to write a synthesis essay: what synthesis means, reading and grouping sources, writing a t
How to Paraphrase
A step-by-step paraphrasing method with examples and citation rules.
What Is Plagiarism?
Types, examples, consequences and how to avoid plagiarism.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Essay types, structure, band descriptors and practice tips.
Tone vs Mood: What Is the Difference?
Tone vs mood: tone is the author’s attitude; mood is the feeling the reader gets. Definitions, examples,…
Qualitative vs Quantitative Research: What Is the Difference?
Qualitative vs quantitative research: quantitative uses numbers and statistics to test hypotheses;…
Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning: What Is the Difference?
Inductive vs deductive reasoning: deduction moves from general premises to a certain conclusion; induction…
Independent vs Dependent Variable: What Is the Difference?
Independent vs dependent variable: the independent variable is what you change or compare; the dependent…
Essay Writing Step by Step
The full 10-step essay writing process.
Essay Outline Template
Copyable outline templates for any essay.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Formulas and examples for a strong thesis.
New to the topic? Start with our complete essay writing guide.
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