There are several types of essays. If you don't know which one you are writing, click here to learn more.
Have you been given a topic? Click here to learn how to get from the essay question to the thesis. In a research paper, especially in social sciences, clarifying your thesis is important BEFORE you do your research. In an arts paper you need a certain familiarity with your material before you can narrow down your thoughts to a thesis but you will also need to have your thesis in mind as you gather evidence to prove it.
Getting Started
Step 1 is always to read the material. You can't write an essay about something you haven't read. As you come to understand the material, you should be closer to defining a thesis for yourself. A thesis is simply one way of explaining what you have read, or explaining how the material relates to other material. If you still don't have a thesis, click here to help you find a thesis.
Step 2 is to make some notes. This is the beginning of your outline.
If you are writing about a story or novel, what is the main plot? For each main plot area, find some evidence in the text which helps you to prove your thesis. For each quote you wish to make be prepared to write several sentences explaining how it supports your thesis. If you need to quote a long section, you need to talk a lot about it. Markers are not impressed by essays which are filled up with long quotes.
If you are writing about a poem, what is the the poet trying to convey? Is it a feeling, a comparison or an insight? You should be able to find specific words or lines that help you to establish that message.
If you are writing about a historical or sociological topic then you are going to be talking about the importance of something. You will be citing references to this thing and putting them into some kind of context (ie: proving your thesis.)
All the material (ie: specific references to the text or to critics of the text) you wish to talk about and your ideas make up your outline. Now you are ready to write. Go to the page on Structure.