Steps 5 - 7

Step 5: Write the introduction. Yes, I believe that most good writers do this last. The reason is that writing is a thinking process and you may have some new ideas after writing the body paragraphs. Also, you are just in a better mental state after the body is written to write the introduction. There are many cool ways to begin your introduction. My personal favorite is an anecdote (a very brief story) but you can start with a question or a quote or something shocking to get the readers attention.

Step 6: Write the conclusion. This may be the hardest task. I like to think of it as slamming the door. It is your last chance to leave the reader with your message. So it must be bold. Personally, I hate conclusions that read, "In conclusion". I much prefer conclusions that summarize the essay succinctly and then leave the reader with one last thought. If you like, you can do that in the form of a question or a quote.

Step 7: Edit. Editing is different from revision. Revision is the crafting part of your essay. It's like reshaping a sculpture. Editing is the clean up after the artwork has been done. Try to make two copies of your essay and give one to a friend, sibling or parent. Read the essay to the other person with them following along. Many of us who struggle with writing, read right passed our errors. We omit words but then add them in when reading as if they were on the paper. If you have someone following along, they can stop you at those spots so that you can clean them up. Then continue editing for spelling and punctuation. Be careful to not rely too much on grammar check. It can make some pretty big mistakes. Also, spell check is not foolproof either. I personally see no reason why, after doing some editing yourself, you shouldn't hire an editor in your family to do a final read through. I mean, that's what the pros do, don't they?

Steps 1 - 4

Writing Skills