How to Write an Essay

July 24, 2023

by E. Tyler Graham

An Introduction to Essay Writing

Writing in our time -- in an e-time we might say -- is fraught with difficulty and confusion. Much of our days are spent sending half-baked phrases with "cutesy" emojis through our texting; many folks spend hours developing social media posts that are thinly disguised advertisements or even propaganda for oneself, another, or some political or religious organization. Attention spans decrease rapidly, and it is difficult to sustain clear and effective argument that allows for a real movement toward the truth. And because we have so much access to low-level reading, it is difficult to cultivate the skills for competent, solid writing. How, then, can one write a good essay in our day and age?

In order to write an effective essay that is readable, engaging, and relevant, it is important to follow the three-step path of (1) situate, (2) contemplate, and (3) elucidate. This essay will explain each of these three principles and then conclude with an exhortation to write.

Part 1: Situate

Writing online essays implies an audience that is usally looking for some kind of shorter or less-elaborate take on an issue. The reader will get hooked by a title and picture and then, finally, by a situation that is compelling and, at least seemingly, important. It is worth noting some clever titles and pictures in online articles that have grabbed your attention to better cultivate a prudential feel for how to best develop these skills. But even with a good one-liner and a catchy photo, you still have to have something that the reader wants to actually read. Thus, you need to situate your essay for the audience.

Your essay must be an attempt (n.b.: French essayer = to try, to attempt) to answer a relevant and important question for our time or for all time. However, you cannot assume that everyone sees the immediate importance of the issue in the same way that you do. Therefore, the first part of your essay must convince the reader that the question you are seeking to answer is, in fact, worth the time to answer.

This opening approach may seem counter-intuitive. Isn't the purpose of an essay to prove your answer to the question? Isn't an essay supposed to be focused on a thesis? Yes, that is true . . . and we will get to that in Part 2. However, we must remember that readers will not attend to the defense of our thesis if they are not convinced that the question asked in the first place is important.

Situating a question can take many different forms. Perhaps it follows from a recent event that has shocked the Church or the world. Perhaps there is a new theory that seems to be gaining traction, but it is not yet clear whether this theory is a sound one. Perhaps a fad or fashion has arisen or a meme or text has gone viral; perhaps these elements are not clearly in support of the common good. All of these possibilities can become "food for fodder" for a good question for your essay. Is this new idea, fad, fashion, practice a good idea?

Not every situation must be controversial; sometimes there are perennial truths that may need deeper underestanding from the members of Christ. For example, teachers always need to hear that their students need to know they love them; situating the essay with the narrative of a failed or succesful teaching experience could help that. And so on.

Once you situate the question, you can state your thesis and method. "I argue that . . ." "I will demonstarte this claim in the following way . . " Now it is time to defned your thesis.

Part 2: Contemplate

Contemplation is, in an ultimate sense, a direct encounter of one's soul with God. In a more acadmeic sense, we can think of it as a mediation on unchanging truths, principles that adhere always and everywhere or attach themselves to certain situations that we are examining. The contemplative part of your essay must make clear the teaching of the Chuch, the elements of right reason, and the deductions and inductions that you hold as necessary to answer the question.

An essay on Catholic classical edcuation can take any Magisterial statement, any Father of the Church, any story from a saint, any great text in classical education (Sayers, Adler, etc.), or any well-known contemporary scholar in the field as authority in an area (the Church obviously has more authority that "mere mortals" without the seal of Scripture, Traditoin and Magisterium). Meanwhile, principles of right reason flow from the natural law and can be illustrated to remind the reader of the abstractions that inhere to the problem addressed. Finally, then, draw out the syllogisms to defend your thesis; use the principles from faith and reason to show where you stand on the issue at hand.

Once these cards are on the table, you can make your exhortation to the reader.

Part 3: Elucidate

In the last part of your essay it is important to tell the reader what follows from your argument. How should a teacher, administrator, or parent act differently now that he/she has read your essay? How should the faithful think, pray, or discern in light of the case you have made? Assume that you have made your point, and exhort your reader to travel further down the road to sianthood.

Conclusion

Do not shy away from the call to write! The more we write, the clearer our thinking gets! Writing challneges us to put our thinly developed ideas and conclusions to the test. Can we really hold what we think is true? If we can write it out, we can be more convinced and be more convicincing.

To be sure, not everyone has the same talent or level of skills in writing engaging prose. But everyone can imprive. Remember: practive makes perfect! We can practice through our own writing and practice by reading good writing from others. Imitating the best helps us become the best. And in this editor's view, writing for Gravissimum is an outstanding service to the Church!