Tips for staying organized while writing an essay

You might have a lot to say for your next essay. But before you put your pen to paper, how do you organize your thoughts? Putting together an outline that transitions smoothly from one topic to another is vital for capturing your reader’s attention.

No matter what type of essay you’re writing, see how you can organize your ideas with a strong outline that will keep you on the right track.

Find your preferred way to brainstorm

Starting from a blank page can be daunting, but thankfully there are brainstorming techniques you can use to start thinking of ideas. This is the freewriting portion of organizing an essay: here, you can write down any idea that comes to mind, no matter the relevance or practicality. Take stock of everything you write down and don’t erase anything!

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Determine the type of essay you want to write

Different rhetorical paths will match the topic you want to discuss. Discover the ways you can approach a topic that will fit both the publication you’re writing for and the audience you’re trying to reach:

Argumentative: You’re comparing and contrasting both sides of an issue, ultimately taking sides at the end.
Persuasive: Closer to an opinion piece, here you’re writing with a more casual and passionate tone.
Narrative: You are telling a personal story that is based on your own experiences, which will emphasize your point.

Come up with a bulletproof thesis statement

A strong thesis statement is the foundation of your essay, and as you write, it will serve as a source of motivation for your ideas. It’s the core theme of your essay: all the notes from your previous brainstorming will ideally lead back to it. Learn to create a compelling thesis statement and use this to guide your writing. And, of course, you can always revise it if you discover new research that shifts your thinking.

“Starting from a blank page can be daunting, but thankfully there are brainstorming techniques you can use to start thinking of ideas.”

Outline your paragraphs

The most time-tested version of a piece of writing is the five-paragraph essay. Its format is based on reinforcing a strong thesis statement to your readers and creating logical arguments in three distinct paragraphs that can flow into each other—all backed up by statistics, expert quotes, and well-cited sources.

Take the notes that you have brainstormed, weigh them against the thesis statement that you just formed, and determine which ones will drive the thesis home to your readers. Determine which of these notes are worthy of a paragraph of their own: do they approach your thesis statement from a new angle, and do they offer a new perspective that still leads toward said thesis? Narrowing down your brainstorming topics will comprise your outline. It will adhere to this five-paragraph structure, which will help your ideas lead into each other.

Stay organized while you write

As you’re expanding on the ideas you’ve outlined in your paragraphs, it’s important to make sure you’re not including irrelevant information, and you’re able to craft paragraph or sentence transitions that make logical sense. And as you write, you can periodically check your writing in tools like Microsoft Editor, available both in Microsoft 365 as well as on the Edge web browser—so you can write with style and confidence.