How to Write a Strong Essay

June 9, 2023 byConnections Academy

3 min to read

Whether it’s pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard—writing essays can be overwhelming! Where do we start? How do we organize our ideas to frame a cohesive argument or viewpoint and learn to write essays?

How to Write a Great Essay

Check out our Super Simple Sandwich Outline for a video and essay outline made by our very own Connections Academy teacher to get started with your essay.
Now that you have your essay outline, it’s time to practice essay mastery. Watch this video below to teach your child basic concepts of what to include in every paragraph of their essay – from introduction paragraphs, body paragraphs, to those pesky conclusion paragraphs!
Keep practicing. The more your student writes essays using these essay tips, the soon they will be a master essayist in no time.

Essay Writing Tips: Hot Buttered Toast and TEAS

This lesson, titled “Organizing Paragraphs,” provides essay writing tips to help you learn how to write a strong essay by mastering your essay flow, organizing your paragraphs, and helping you make sure all your arguments and viewpoints are covered.

Introduction Paragraphs: Hot Buttered Toast (HBT)

To write an enticing and enjoyable introduction paragraph, we use the acronym HBT—or Hot Buttered Toast.

Hook: How are you going to get the reader’s attention so they keep reading? This could be a startling statistic, a statement that others can easily relate to, or an interesting anecdote or personal experience.

Background: Teach the reader a little about your topic. This gives them a sense of what you will be discussing to keep them interested.

Thesis: Tell the reader your central message. This summarizes what you hope to prove throughout your essay.

Body Paragraphs: TEAS

To write a great body paragraph, we use the acronym TEAS.

Topic: Use the first sentence to tell the reader what this paragraph will be about.

Example: Give the reader some evidence that supports what was introduced in your topic sentence.

Analysis: Explain to the reader how that evidence is important.

Summary: Summarize your paragraph and tie it back to your thesis or central message.

Learning how to write a high school essay and mastering those skills today can have long-lasting benefits in the future.

Writing doesn’t just stop being a useful skill just because you’ve graduated high school. Even outside of academics, clear and concise writing is valuable in the workplace, when communicating with friends and family, and even to help you better express yourself and understand the world.

High school essay writing is a critical skill to master in English Language Arts class and is a part of the Connections Academy virtual school curriculum. If your student, whether enrolled with us or in another school format, is struggling with English, check out these study tips that make tough subjects easier to learn.