If you have decided to start a personal or brand blog, you may find yourself with a dilemma: You haven’t written anything like a blog since you were in high school. Well, in a way that’s lucky because writing a good blog entry isn’t really that different from writing a good high school essay. Before you get blogging, let’s review some principles of good essay writing that you may have forgotten in the years since you graduated.
Always Include a Thesis Statement
A good persuasive essay starts with a strong thesis statement and so should your blogs. Here is an example. When you write a blog, include a one sentence thesis in the first paragraph like:
“A good persuasive essay starts with a strong thesis statement and so should your blogs.”
A Stool Stands Better With at Least Three Legs
Once you have your thesis, it’s important to include at least three factual points that support that thesis. Think of your blog as a stool. If a stool has one leg, you can sit on it, but it’s a precarious balancing act. If it has two legs, it’s a little better but still wobbly, bit if it has three (or even better, four) it will be stable. Three factual points that prove your thesis is the minimum number your blog should include.
Address Possible Criticism
A good essay should take into consideration possible criticism of the thesis and factual points. Include at least one paragraph (possibly two) that acknowledges, and addresses possible criticisms.
Include a Good Closing Paragraph
A good closing paragraph answers the point you brought up in your initial thesis. It summarizes what you’ve said, and includes at least one sentence that addresses whether or not you believe you’ve proven your point over the course of your essay.
BONUS:
Don’t start your closing paragraphs with the phrase “in conclusion.” It’s overused.
When you’re finished writing a blog, here are 10 things to look out for when you are editing.
