How to Write an Essay for Kids?

Guide for writing influential Essays for kids with easy to understand instructions and compelling tips. This article includes 6 powerful steps and 7 incredible tips for helping you to write better essays for kids.

Talking your first essay may seem daunting but if you follow these simple steps, you will find that it is not all that hard to accomplish. Writing an essay for kids is the next step in academic life after learning how to put together sensible paragraphs. It gives students a chance to pull their thoughts and ideas together and put them down on paper in a lengthier way than they are accustomed to. It is a stepping stone to more advanced academic achievement.

What is an Essay?

Essays take many forms. They can be as simple as merely describing a person, or as complex as making arguments for and against an issue. For most young students, the first essays are about making descriptions. They get a chance to tell a story, or in some cases retell one, they are familiar with.

Essays are a great way of improving a child’s writing and reading skills. They should be encouraged in their efforts as this will be the foundation for later essay writing at both the high school and college level.

Instructions (Steps)

1. Choose a topic

Be sure to choose a topic that is familiar. Whether it is about a person they know, or a place they have visited or event their favourite story book, let a child focus on something they know well. This will make it easier for them to make descriptions and discuss.

2. Make an outline

This helps a writer to put down as many ideas as they can and come up with a framework of how the essay will play out. It is similar to coming up with a plot. The writer will be able to use the basic format of an essay to identify where specific ideas will fall. The outline does not need to be detailed. There is o need for full sentences. This is just for identifying the main ideas on which a writer will expound on in the actual essay. To do this teach main point should have sub-points.

3. Introduction

The write r will need to introduce the reader to what the essay is about here. It should be interesting enough to encourage them to read further. With essays being written by kids, there is no need to have a thesis statement. Most kids’ essays are focused on the topic which is clearly brought out on the topic. The introduction is a chance to explain a bit more on what the content of the essay will be about.

4. Main body

This is where the main ideas of the story will be brought out. The writer should follow the arrangement in the outline. The standard format is around three paragraphs for the main body. The writer should arrange their ideas to be spread as evenly as possible over the three paragraphs. The writer should state the idea in a full sentence structure and go on to use the sub-points to illustrate or back up the main point, depending on what type of essay the child is writing.

5. Conclusion

With the conclusion the child should be able to summarize what they have described or discussed through the body f work. They should not use the exact same phrases but still manage to ring out the same meaning. If there is a lesson to be learnt it should appear here and should be the obvious conclusion given the progression of the essay that far.

6. Proofread

With the first draft, the goal is to get the ideas on paper. There is no need to focus too much on spelling and grammar. After the ideas have been utilized to create the actual essay, then the writer should go over the essay to ensure tit flows well and check on the spelling and grammar. In the early years of learning, there is a lot of emphasis on grammar so do not neglect this when doing a review.

Tips

1. Learn to follow the format

Learn to follow the format. All essays follow the same basic pattern of introduction, body ad conclusion. Do not try to mix this up. With the pattern already laid out in your mind, your only responsibility will be to fill in the particulars.

2. Make use of your outline

Make use of your outline. The outline will allow you to jot down your ideas and arrange them in a sensible fashion. Do not worry about going overboard with ideas. Simply put them down. As you get down to the actual writing of the essay, you will know what ideas to explore and those you can simply leave out. It is not a must that everything you identify as a point must be included in the main article.

3. Stick to topics you are familiar with

Stick to topics you are familiar with. Depending on what grade you are in, there are always standard topics that teachers are used to reading about. Very young writers tend to begin with simple topics such as ‘My dog’ or ‘The Postman’. These are topics they are familiar with ah and can easily give good description and events to tell a story about them. If the student has been given free rein to pick a topic, stick to the ones that are easily relatable and common for that level.

4. Do not worry about spelling or grammar on your first draft

When writing the first draft of an essay the focus should be on letting the story flow naturally and bringing out the ideas detailed in the outline. After the essay has already been written, the child will then be able to go over it again and identify areas they will need to make corrections.

5. Stick to what you know

Do not attempt to use language that is very advanced for your level, especially if you are not sure about the meaning and the context in which it should be used. While it is useful to make use of a thesaurus to expound your vocabulary, it is better to learn how to use certain words by reading them in other pieces of writing. If you must do this, then have your parent have a look t your work and tell you if you have made good use of the chosen word.

6. Retelling is acceptable

Writing essays is an art that children take time to adjust to. Expounding on idea and making the entire narration coherent takes time to master. It is acceptable for children to drive their ideas from fairy tales and even movie plotlines. They will need to work with what is familiar to them before they can learn to do research and use their own imagination.

7. For teachers and parents

Be positive in your children’s’ attempts at essay writing. It is always good to give positive reinforcement when you have read the essay written. The child will be very hopeful and harsh criticism may only serve to discourage them from making any more attempts. Help them gain confidence by commending the good work and giving them helpful tips to shore up their weaknesses.

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