Thinking Out Loud (But on Paper): Why You Should Write Essays

Productivity /

Why Bother Writing Essays?

If you want to think better and be a better communicator, try writing an essay. You see, most of the time we think we understand something—but if we tried to explain it clearly, we’d freeze. That’s where the magic of writing comes in. It forces clarity. It reveals gaps. It builds order out of the mental noise. It also forces you to be a better communicator, because you have to be clear, coherent and concentrated. Michel de Montaigne, the guy who invented essays, called them essais—tries, attempts. He wasn’t writing because he already knew the answer. He was writing to find out. This idea is surprisingly practical. Whether you’re in tech, coaching, business, or just trying to make sense of life—writing is a tool. A surprisingly powerful one.

When you write, you’re forced to think. You can’t hide behind vagueness or drift from one half-formed idea to another. You have to say something clear. Clear writing reflects clear thinking. And if you can’t write it down in your own words, then you probably don’t get it yet.

From Highlighting to Understanding

Most of us underline things when reading. But it doesn’t help much. It only feels like learning. What helps is this: stop. Look away. Try to explain what you just read. Then write that down in your own words. This turns your reading into understanding. The CL Cambridge guide strongly discourages highlighting—it doesn’t support deep learning. Instead, write summaries. Rewrite ideas. Ask questions.

This is also the foundation of the Feynman Technique. Richard Feynman, a Nobel-winning physicist, believed that if you can’t explain something simply, you don’t really understand it. His method was to write out explanations of concepts as if teaching them to someone else. If he got stuck, that revealed a gap in his understanding. Then he’d go back, relearn, and rewrite until he could explain it clearly.

Essays work the same way: they reveal what you do and don’t understand—and give you a method to fix that.

How to start

You don’t need to sound smart. Start naturally and let your thought flow freely. Write them down. Re-structure and enhance later. If you have an idea, think if there are any sources you can support it. This can help you to realize if it has rational basis. Search for data that can support or contradict it.  Essays can be personal, messy, funny, even angry. They’re just your thoughts in progress. 

Before you start ask yourself: What am I curious about? What confuses me? What’s a question I’ve never tried to answer seriously? Start with questions. Use the essay to try to answer them. Don’t pretend to know the truth already.

A Practice, Not a Product

Writing essays this way isn’t about getting published. It’s about making your thinking visible. You don’t need to write books, just a short essay can be sufficient. A good practice is to write “mini-essays”. They’re small attempts to understand one idea. You can do them in a notebook, in Notion, in a Google Doc, wherever.

Over time, they help you:

  • Clarify your thinking

  • Spot gaps in your knowledge

  • Become more articulate

  • Develop original ideas

The Oxford and Cambridge guides both emphasize this: essays are for working out your ideas. Don’t start with conclusions. Explore.

How to Structure an Essay (and Your Thinking)

Structure is where the real magic happens. Without it, your writing floats. With it, it walks, builds, and delivers. Here’s how to think about structure practically:

  1. Three-Part Foundation: Introduction, Body, Conclusion
    • Introduction: Pose a problem, ask a question, or make a bold statement that your essay will explore. You show how you interpret the question or task. You might challenge a common assumption or redefine the topic. Not only that, but you can introduce key terms or frameworks, briefly reference the social or theoretical context, or hint at how you’ll approach your response. A strong introduction outlines the journey ahead—and explains why the topic is worth walking through.
    • Body: Think of the body of your essay as a clear trail you’re building for someone else to walk down—someone who may be encountering your topic for the very first time. Your task here is twofold: first, to fulfil the promises you made in the introduction, and second, to support the conclusions you’re moving toward. Each paragraph should not only make a point but help the reader connect that point to the broader structure of your argument.
    • Conclusion: A strong conclusion does more than just wrap things up—it distills the whole essay into a final, powerful insight. Think of it as placing a pin at the end of the journey. You want to summarize the main argument and key points, but also reflect on their meaning and importance. Why does your conclusion matter in the bigger picture? Briefly revisit the essential aspects of your reasoning and highlight what stands out most. Show how your essay addressed the original question or problem posed at the beginning. Importantly, avoid common pitfalls: don’t introduce new information, go off-topic with emotional appeals, or simply copy the introduction. Instead, bring the entire thing into focus and leave your reader with something clear, thoughtful, and satisfying.
  2. Paragraphs as Units of Thought
    • Aim for at least 10 sentences or 100 words per paragraph. That’s not a rule, but a target.
    • Each paragraph should:
      1. Make a point.
      2. Support the point with reasoning.
      3. Illustrate with an example or idea.
      4. Explain why it matters.
      5. Link to the overall question.
      6. Transition to the next thought.
  3. Outline Before You Write
    • This is your thinking scaffold on which you build. Think about it.  If one point gets complex, break it into smaller outlines. Keep logically connected.
    • Example of a scaffold:
      • Topic: What is capitalism?
        • How has capitalism been defined?
          • Author 1,2,…
        • When and where did it develop?
        • What are its historical precursors?
        • Advantages (e.g., wealth generation, innovation)
        • Disadvantages (e.g., inequality, external costs)
        • Alternatives (e.g., socialism, fascism)
        • Possible future directions

Production and Editing 

When you start, first just, produce. Write long, rough, and open. Then you can edit. Make it sharper and cleaner. You can improve your style. 

As you write and revise your paragraphs, keep in mind three qualities that will sharpen your thinking and help your writing clearly:
  • Coherence means that every sentence should follow logically from the one before. Imagine someone is walking through your argument. Don’t make them jump or guess what comes next—lead them.
  • Clarity asks whether your reader would understand your point without needing to be in your head. What makes sense to you might still be confusing on the page. Use simple language and direct structure. Don’t try to impress—try to be understood.
  • Concentration is about staying on point. Is this sentence helping your argument? Is this idea relevant here—or does it belong elsewhere? Cut what you don’t need.  Remove all unnecessary sentences. It is hard, but do not rumble. It makes the essay murky and long. Try to really think of each sentence, if they are necessary. Cut, cut, cut!

Try It

Here’s your invitation:

  • Take 20 minutes.
  • Pick one idea you are interested in.
  • Write a mini-essay.
  • Follow the structure.

Conclusion: Why Bother Writing Essays?

A good essay doesn’t just express thought—it creates it. Writing pushes you to confront what you really know what you assume, and what still doesn’t make sense. It’s a method for making your mind sharper and being a stronger communicator. If you want to think better, write. Then rewrite. That’s how clarity is made.

You don’t have to show anyone. You’re doing it for you. Montaigne wrote to understand himself. You can too.

 

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