How to Write an Essay Fast

If you are writing a complex essay, you want to have sufficient time to prepare, and you might even need more than one whole day of work. Sometimes, however, you’ll have less than an hour to compose a refined essay. Consider your exams as an example. There, you’ll have roughly 45 to 90 minutes to get things done. To be able to write an essay fast, you’ll require some proper training and a solid strategy. And in case you did not manage to practice your speed writing skills sufficiently, don’t fret either. Since the real key to success is smart meticulous planning.

Here are various straightforward essay writing guidelines and tips that will help you navigate this daunting task. Before you proceed to these steps, let’s summarize that the most crucial aspects of quick essay writing are detailed planning, as mentioned, keeping track of time, and staying relevant to the topic.

Planning Phase

What is the required time to complete your essay? If you’re provided just 30 minutes, spend 10 minutes on an outline, 15 minutes on actual writing, and 5 minutes on revising. Basically, you should use the following proportion for every amount of time given: work on a structure for at least one-fifth of your time, then dedicate at least half of it to shaping the body. And, of course, remember the critical necessity of a revision.

Read Your Essay Question Carefully and Answer It

This is one of the most important steps. Poorly understanding the question at the start will certainly force you to revisit it at some point when you should be, according to the initial plan, focused on the writing itself. Find a proper answer in your mind. Thus, you’ll have a good starting point idea. In case starting becomes a problem and takes more than the allotted portion of time, try brainstorming: simply write down everything that comes to mind. Then, you’ll be able to select ideas that best fit the essay’s needs.

Do Research

Do some research if you need: straight-up search for the most specific facts – it is that basic. Look for the main concepts that you’ll apply to your essay. Be aware that you don’t have time to think about your entire piece, so make sure you are brief and succinct when conducting your study.

Spend One-Fifth of Your Time on Outline

Begin with the most uncomplicated structure: split your essay into five paragraphs (introduction, conclusion, and three body paragraphs). Each section should include a key point, supporting evidence, concluding sentences, and a clear transition to the subsequent paragraph. Your introduction almost always requires a proper thesis statement. Make sure that every paragraph’s main, “central” sentence is linked to that thesis. At this point, a rough draft is all you need. Polish and finalize sentences later.

Key Sentences for Each Paragraph are the Essay’s Basis

You’ve already prepared them on the outlining stage. Now, ensure you’ve got strong, precise sentences that do not require more editing. In general, you shouldn’t spend more than 5 minutes on this.

Make the Introduction and Conclusion Solid

You have already written your thesis statement in the introduction. It would help if you wrote the hook that precedes it. Something like a quote, a surprising fact, or some other statistical data relevant to the subject. Remember to provide a transition to the essay’s body at the end of the introduction section. In the concluding paragraph, you should restate the thesis statement and connect it to the evidence you provide in your body paragraphs. Ideally, the conclusion should enhance the paper by providing a wider perspective.

Use Around Half of Your Time for Writing the Rest of the Content

It is now time to write your supporting arguments and present evidence for your main points. Then, you’ll open and close each paragraph and correctly connect all the elements of your essay. This is the primary part of your work that will take at least 40-50% of your time. There’s no reason to spend more.

Revision (5-10 Minutes)

This is an essential step, and you must always have enough time for it. When revising, pay closer attention to the general structure, thesis statement, and main sentences. After that, check to see if all the information within your text is logically and adequately linked. Finally, make sure you don’t have any lexical, contextual, grammar, or punctuation issues, or typos. That’s it! Your essay is now ready.

The author

Daniel Howard

Daniel channels life into writing by masterfully using the power of words. He is our unstoppable blogger who spends the majority of his time writing exciting articles for StudyCrumb's blog (click here to read more). A true expert in journalism, he's joined our platform to assist students in writing essays that will enjoy readers' success. As a writer, Daniel has made significant progress since writing his first piece. The initial process of making a catchy concept out of thin air, capturing all the supporting details, doing numerous interviews, and putting together an impressive article within a tight deadline was a serious task. However, it was his enthusiasm and determination that led him to amazing career accomplishments. Now, Daniel is here to give his advice on proper writing in a compelling way.