academic writing
How to Write an Academic Essay in Humanities: A Step-by-Step Guide from an Actual Student
May 29, 2025
Written by Anastassia Walford
The exam period is coming up, and you’re probably buried under a pile of essays due in just a few weeks. Trust me, I’ve been there. As a student myself, I’m always juggling between assignments and writing a few papers that need to be done by the end of the month. Plus, in the humanities, grading can sometimes feel a bit subjective (I’ve felt confused too), and it’s hard to know exactly what your professors are looking for (the famous advice being “Figure it out …”). But don’t worry! It might feel overwhelming now, but once you’ve learned the 'essay recipe,' you can follow it for all your papers!
In this blog you will find a step-by-step guide on how to write an academic essay in Humanities, designed to help you improve your grades and establish a consistent structure. While the content may vary depending on your course and interests, this approach will give you a solid framework to follow.
Step 1: How do I start
Let’s start with the basics: when you’re writing an essay in the humanities—or honestly, any kind of essay—it’s really important to go through a drafting stage. If you jump into writing without a clear idea of what you want to say, it’s going to be a struggle. So before you start writing, take some time to brainstorm. Think about any ideas that come to mind: what you might want to include in your essay, and also what you probably won’t focus on. Start thinking about your research question, what gap you might be exploring, the context of your topic, and which authors or sources your work will rely on.
From there, take all those messy ideas and turn them into a first outline. This is where you plan what you’ll talk about, how your points will connect, and how your overall argument or story will take shape. Only after that should you move on to actually writing the essay. Side note, this is what works best for me. Some people prefer to write straight into the essay, and that’s totally fine too. Others might write the body first and save the introduction for last. Personally, I like to work in order (introduction - body - conclusion), as it gives me a sense of direction, so I don’t end up going off-topic. This is why you should figure out what feels right for you.
Also, just so you know, the structure I’ll be showing you is based on how things are done at my university. There are some common elements in most humanities essays, but it’s a good idea to check what your university expects. For example, some require footnotes for references, while others want them at the end of the paper.
With all that said, let’s get into the actual structure of a humanities essay and break it down step by step.
Step 2: How to write an introduction
Introductions in essays are crucial because they set the tone for the rest of your paper. Professors can often determine the quality of your work based on the introduction alone. If it doesn’t follow a clear structure, you might lose valuable points, even if the ideas you present in the body of your paper are solid and compelling. To help you ensure your introduction includes all the necessary elements, here’s a reliable structure you can follow.
Hook Sentence
A good introduction should always start with a hook. This is how you will captivate the attention of your readers:
Start with an engaging statement or question to grab the reader's attention.
This could be a thought-provoking quote, a striking fact, or a rhetorical question related to your topic.
The goal is to draw the reader in and make them interested in the essay.
For example: “Free will is an illusion.”
Context
After your hook sentence, you should immediately provide the context for your statement and, by extension, your paper. Don’t wait until the body of your essay to offer some background. While you can expand on it later, the context in your introduction should be brief but enough to keep the reader engaged. Think of it as taking the reader's hand and guiding them through your thought process:
Provide background information to set the scene for your essay.
Introduce the broader topic or issue your paper addresses.
Explain why this topic is important or relevant in the field of Humanities.
For example: “The debate over free will dates back to the Middle Ages, where philosophers discussed whether the freedom to choose is genuine or illusory. Some argued it was an illusion, while others defended its existence. Today, this debate still continues to be relevant in contemporary philosophy, especially with advancements in science. [...]”
Theme
This is particularly important for argumentative essays, such as in philosophy. When discussing an author's work, you should always state the theme after providing the context. Essentially, the theme is the central idea or main subject the author is exploring, or what your essay will focus on. It’s important to outline this so the reader knows exactly what the discussion will revolve around.
Clearly define the specific theme or subject of your essay.
Narrow the focus from the broader context to your main topic.
This allows the reader to grasp the particular aspect of the topic you're focusing on.
Example: “In his article, X says that free will doesn't exist because everything we do is determined by the laws of nature and our past experiences. He believes our choices are not completely free, as they are influenced by factors we can’t control.”
Research Question
Now that you’ve introduced the theme of your essay, you need to state your research question or thesis statement. This part is very important: it’s the core of your essay. It helps to guide your readers and keeps your writing focused. It also explains why you chose your topic and what you want to explore. In an argumentative essay, your goal is to question or challenge an idea, and your thesis statement shows what you’re trying to prove or discuss through your research.
An article from Flatpage provides a clear explanation of how to craft a strong research question:
Clarity: ensure your thesis statement is clear, concise, and specific. It should be easy to understand and leave no room for confusion, giving your readers a clear sense of the argument you will make.
Debatable: a strong thesis statement should present an argument that can be debated. It shouldn’t be a universally accepted fact, but rather a claim you will defend with evidence and analysis (you should not be able to answer by yes or no).
Relevance: make sure your thesis statement is closely tied to the topic of your essay. It should address the main question or issue you plan to explore.
Scope: be mindful of your thesis’s scope. It should be broad enough to allow for meaningful discussion and analysis, but not so broad that it becomes too difficult to handle.
Example: “If our choices are shaped by past events and external influences, how can we still be held morally responsible for them, since it seems we're not entirely free to make our own decisions?”
→ If you're interested in learning more about how to create a strong thesis statement, check out these blogs:
The Basics of Thesis Writing: How to Develop a Strong Thesis Statement
The Role of AI in Strengthening Research Questions: Tips for Students
Outline
Finally, the outline provides a summary of what you plan to cover in your essay. You can create a draft outline at the start of your writing process to help organise your ideas, but it’s a good idea to revise it once you've completed the body of your paper.
Briefly explain how your essay will be structured.
Provide a roadmap of the sections and key arguments that will be developed.
This helps the reader understand the structure of your essay and what to expect.
Example: “First, we will discuss X and its relevance. Next, we will examine counterargument Y and its impact on the debate. Finally, we will explore Z, as it could provide a potential answer to the question.”
Step 3: How to develop the body of your essay
Writing the body of your essay is generally easier than the introduction, as you have more flexibility in both structure and content. However, here are some tips to keep it organised and effectively support your argument.
1. Headings
Headings organise your essay into clear sections, making it easier for readers to follow your argument. Use them to separate key points, but avoid overusing them. They should be clear, concise, and directly related to the content that follows.
2. Paragraphs
Each paragraph should focus on one main idea, starting with a topic sentence. Develop the idea with evidence and analysis, then conclude by linking it back to your overall argument. This keeps your writing organised and easy to follow. Also, aim for paragraphs that are long enough to fully develop your point but not too long either.
3. Transitional Words
Transitional words are essential for maintaining the flow of your essay and show the relationship between different points. Some examples can be "however," "in addition," "on the other hand," and "therefore." These transitions prevent your essay from feeling like a series of disconnected thoughts.
4. Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is the first sentence of your paragraph, and it should introduce the main idea you will discuss. It should clearly state what the paragraph will be about, giving the reader an idea of what to expect in the following sentences.
5. Mini Introductions and Mini Conclusions
Each paragraph should have a mini-introduction and mini-conclusion. The mini-introduction presents the idea, while the mini-conclusion reinforces the point and connects it back to your argument. These help the reader follow your argument smoothly.
6. Evidence and Support
The strength of your argument depends on the evidence you provide. Make sure to back up your points with relevant examples and quotes from reliable sources and authors. Be sure to explain how your evidence relates to your point, and avoid simply dropping a quote or fact without context.
→ All these citations will then be listed in a bibliography. If you'd like to learn more about this topic, check out these blogs:
How to Write an Annotated Bibliography: Format, Examples, and Expert Tips
Top 10 Free Reliable Citation Generator Tools for Students & Researchers in 2025
Step 4: How to conclude your essay
Just like your introduction, the conclusion is one of the most important parts of your essay. In Humanities, you’re not always expected to offer a definitive, final answer: often, the thinking and insights gained through the process of exploration are enough on their own.
Here’s what your conclusion should include to ensure your essay is strong from start to finish:
A summary of your main points.
A restatement of your research question.
A final thought or reflection: you should avoid mere repetition and instead, provide a broader perspective or suggest implications of your findings.
You can also conclude your work with an open question that directly engages with the reader.
Last comments
Writing a strong academic essay in the Humanities can be challenging, particularly when professors themselves are unclear about what they expect. I’ve had multiple conversations with instructors, asking for concrete examples of successful essays, only to hear the familiar line: “There’s no single model—every essay is unique to the student.”
While that may be true to some extent, I realised that there is still an underlying structure that strong essays tend to follow. It’s not a rigid template, but a guideline that can be adapted to fit your topic. Once I began to recognise and apply this structure, my writing improved—and so did my grades. Despite the ambiguity often surrounding essay assignments, understanding this implicit structure makes a significant difference.
With regular practice and attention to detail, you'll learn how to write high-quality academic essays that meet university standards and highlight your critical thinking and communication skills.
Good luck!