3-5 paragraphs long, total of about 2 pages
Structure: Intro, Body, Conclusion
States ONE clear opinion, and maintains that opinion throughout the whole essay
Only argues one (1) side of the opinion, not both
All paragraphs relate to the main idea and are clearly divided with either indents or blank lines
Paragraphs all have a topic sentence and a concluding sentence
Use transition words to link between paragraphs
Tone is appropriate for an adult audience
No major issues with spelling or grammar
Planning is the most important step. If you take the time to plan at the beginning, you can avoid lots of missteps when you're actually writing your essay (and save yourself a lot of time!)
Use the PEE model for body paragraphs: Point, Example, Explain
State your point
Give an example
Explain why your example proves your opinion/your point
Make sure your paragraphs are clearly separated. If you're not sure if your indents are big enough, skip lines.