Ideas. Write down the key points, arguments, or examples you want to include in your essay. Don't get too caught up in the details during this step. Just try to write down all the big ideas you want to get across. Your main argument or theme will likely emerge as you think about it. The points you will emphasize in each paragraph. Using the list of points you noted, identify the main arguments you will make in your essay. These will be your body sections. For example, in an argumentative essay explaining why your campus needs to install more water fountains, you might highlight points such as: Have a clear structure. Think about this as you plan: your essay is like an argument or speech. It should have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question. Start with the basics It is best to choose a few major points that will become your main paragraphs. An essay outline is a way to plan the structure of your essay before you start writing. In just a few minutes, this video will show you how to organize your: Choose one of the things you wrote, turn your paper over, and write it at the top of your paper, like this: This is your discussion thread, or a discussion thread. potential discussion: Under what you wrote, - you can connect to this. These will serve as pearls for your essay. Interactive example of a narrative essay. An example of a short narrative essay, answering the question “Write about an experience in which you learned something about yourself,” is shown below. Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works. Narrative essay example.Topic. If you are not assigned a topic, you will need to choose your own. Choose a topic that you can explain sufficiently in about five paragraphs. Once you have chosen a general topic, narrow it down to the specific topic you will cover in your essay.