Whether you're writing your first or your hundredth essay, learning how to organize an essay is an important skill for anyone who uses the written word to elaborate on a thesis or argument. Writing a clear and powerful essay requires careful thought, outlining and attention to sentence structure. An essential part of an essay is a thesis statement that sets the course for the rest of the written piece. Here are important strategies for organizing an essay. Part 1 of 4: Laying the Groundwork 1 Determine your writing task. How you organize your essay will also depend on what your writing task is. This is usually in the assignment or prompt. Look for keywords like “describe,” “analyze,” “discuss,” or “compare.” These will tell you what your writing “job” is -- what the essay needs to accomplish. Part 2 of 4: Getting the Basics Down 1 Write a thesis statement. Make this a unique observation, a powerful argument, an interpretation of a particular work or