The following guidelines will help you master some of the most elementary features of a basic college essay. Like most things in life, an essay needs a game plan. The game plan outlined at the bottom of this page should result in a successful five-paragraph essay. If you're planning a longer essay, you simply need to expand the components of this game plan. As I've often told students, my dissertation was an expanded five-paragraph essay.
Some students find outlines contricting.
If you're one of those students, consider constructing an outline after you draft your essay. That way you can determine if your drafted essay actually has a game plan.