Key Takeaway: To write an essay in an hour, you’ll need to keep writing, manage your time well, create a clear outline, develop a strong thesis, focus on key points, write the body paragraphs first, and leave time for proofreading. The more you write, the faster you’ll become. Practice using these seven tips for your next essay.
Essay in an Hour: 7 Time Saving Tips
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While it’s never recommended to leave a writing assignment to the last minute, let’s face it: real life happens. And let’s not forget timed essays on midterms or finals! Sometimes there are situations where there is very little time to produce quality written essays.
If writing an essay in an hour seems impossible, don’t fear. We’ve compiled seven smart tips to help you get past the time-crunch crisis and get the essay done—in the least amount of time possible. Remember, of course, that when writing for a grade, expectations apply: grammatical and punctuation errors will not fly, and logic and organization reign.
1. Keep Writing
First and foremost, you have to be committed to actually writing. This might seem obvious, but the best way to get done is to get busy. The more you practice writing, the faster you will become. A good essay is the result of the cumulative effects of writing, which only find momentum when you put creativity into action. If you can manage to write sentences quickly, you’ll end up with a “buffer zone” of time to re-read and revise.
2. Manage Your Time from Start to Finish
Time management is extremely important when writing an essay in an hour. Without a proper plan, it’s easy to get lost in the details or spend too much time on one section. It’s your job to come to the assignment knowing “what, how, when” (and worry about the “why” later) so that you can hit the ground (or the keyboard) running.
Before you actually begin writing, take the time to carefully read the essay question or prompt, jotting down useful notes as they come to you in the process. This preparation helps clarify your thoughts and provides a roadmap for your essay. Here’s a rough structure to follow for time:
- Planning (5 minutes)
- Thesis Statement (3 minutes)
- Body Paragraphs (30 minutes)
- Introduction and Conclusion (10 minutes)
- Proofreading and Revising (5-10 minutes)
3. Develop an Outline to Stay on Track
Even though you won’t technically be writing sentences during this time, taking five minutes to develop an outline will help you organize your thoughts so you cover the important points. Here is a simple structure that you can use to guide your writing:
Introduction
- Hook or attention-grabbing statement
- Brief background information
- Thesis statement
Body Paragraphs (Aim for ~100 words each)
- Paragraph 1: Main point 1
- Supporting details or evidence
- Paragraph 2: Main point 2
- Supporting details or evidence
- Paragraph 3: Main point 3
- Supporting details or evidence
Conclusion
- Restate thesis in a new way
- Summarize main points
- Final thoughts or call to action
Dividing your outline into three sections (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) and listing the
key points you want to discuss will help you stay organized and focused.
4. Create a Clear and Concise Thesis Statement
A strong thesis statement is the backbone of your essay. It guides your writing and keeps you focused on your main argument. Your reader must be clear on your argument, so get it out early: write out exactly what the essay aims to do. Use the first three to five minutes of your allotted time to build your thesis. Once you are certain of what this essay will accomplish, it will likely unfold in a more logical sequence.
For example, a strong thesis statement for an essay about the impact of social media on mental health could be: “Social media has a detrimental impact on mental health due to increased cyberbullying, unrealistic body image standards, and decreased face-to-face interaction.” It works because it is direct and tells the reader what will be discussed in the paragraphs to come.
5. Focus on Key Points
Given the limited time, it’s important to prioritize the most critical points that support your thesis. Focus on the main arguments and provide sufficient evidence and analysis for each. Because you’ve mapped out your essay in your outline, it should be easier to focus on your key points.
Using the same example from the thesis, if one of your body paragraphs is to discuss how cyberbullying has an effect on mental health, focus on three key points: give the definition of cyberbullying, provide statistics on cyberbullying, and discuss evidence of the psychological effects of cyberbullying on victims. This will help you avoid getting sidetracked by minor details or less relevant information.
6. Save the Best for Last: Introduction and Conclusion
It can be easy to get caught up in writing your introduction and conclusion, so it’s best to save them for last. To make the most of your time, focus on writing the body paragraphs first. Once you’ve developed your main points, you can spend your remaining time writing a compelling introduction that sets the stage and a strong conclusion that ties it all together. This way, you can write them with a clear understanding of your essay’s focus.
7. Leave at Least Five Minutes for Editing
Always barter the last five minutes of your available time for editing so you can weed out distracting errors. This gives you time to read over your writing to see if it’s cohesive, flows well, covers the main points, and has a strong introduction and conclusion. Don’t forget to proofread for grammar. You can use Grammarly to catch spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and punctuation mistakes.
Writing an essay in an hour might seem like no time at all, but it is achievable. The biggest thing is making sure you are aware of your time. Effective time management will be what helps you convey your ideas clearly and concisely. Create an outline, write a concise thesis statement, focus on the key points, and just keep writing. The more often you write, the more you’ll improve your speed and accuracy. With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll be able to write your next essay with confidence—even with a tight deadline.
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