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Every essay begins long before you type the first sentence. The students who find assignments least stressful are rarely the ones who write fastest; they are the ones who break the task into stages and give each stage proper attention. What follows is a five-step approach you can apply to almost any undergraduate assignment, whether it is a 1,500-word critical review or a 4,000-word research project. Work through the steps in order and you will always know what to do next.

Step 1: Work out exactly what you are being asked

Before you read another word about the topic, read the question three times. Most lost marks come from answering a slightly different question from the one that was set, so it is worth being pedantic here.

Look closely for the command word. "Discuss", "compare", "evaluate" and "critically assess" each demand something different. A question that asks you to evaluate wants a judgement supported by evidence; one that asks you to compare wants sustained analysis of similarities and differences, not two separate descriptions placed side by side.

• Underline the command word and note what it actually requires of you.
• Identify the boundaries of the topic — what is in scope, and just as importantly, what is not.
• Check your module handbook or marking rubric for the weight given to argument, evidence, structure and referencing.
• Note the word count, deadline and any formatting requirements.

Now rewrite the question in your own words in a single sentence. If you cannot do this, you have not understood it yet. That is the moment to email your tutor or raise it in a seminar — not the night before the deadline.

Step 2: Gather evidence and take notes you can use

Start with your reading list, then follow the references that keep appearing in the sources you trust. Library databases and subject guides will take you further than a general search, and your subject librarian can save you hours if you ask.

As you read, take notes that will still make sense in three weeks' time. Record the full reference and page number for every quotation, statistic or idea you might use, even if you are not sure yet whether it will make the final draft.

• Write the author's argument in your own words, then add your own response: do you agree, and why?
• Group notes by theme rather than by source, so you can see where your sources agree and where they conflict.
• Keep a running list of references as you go. Reconstructing them later is tedious and error-prone.

Step 3: Turn your notes into a plan

An essay plan is not a luxury; it is the difference between a coherent argument and a summary of everything you happened to read. Begin by writing your answer to the question in one sentence. That sentence is your thesis, and everything else in the essay should serve it.

Next, list the four to six main points that build your case. Put them in the most persuasive order, then give each one a paragraph. For a 2,000-word essay, roughly 250 to 350 words per main point leaves sensible room for your introduction and conclusion.

Write a topic sentence for each paragraph — a single line stating what that paragraph will argue. If a paragraph has no clear topic sentence, it probably has no clear job, and your reader will notice.

Step 4: Write a rough first draft

The word "rough" is doing real work here. A first draft is for getting the argument down, not for perfect prose. Trying to polish every sentence as you write is the most common reason students run out of time.

Follow your plan and write the body paragraphs first. Each one should make a claim, support it with evidence, and explain how that evidence advances your argument. If you get stuck, leave a marker such as [add example here] and keep moving.

Write the introduction last. It is far easier once you know what the essay actually says. End with a conclusion that answers the question directly and states what follows from your argument — no new evidence, no fresh sources, just a clear arrival at your destination.

Step 5: Edit, check and proofread

Leave as much time as you can between drafting and editing. Even a few hours will help you read what is on the page rather than what you meant to write.

• Re-read the question and check that every paragraph is doing something towards answering it.
• Read the introduction and conclusion together — they should make the same promise and keep it.
• Check that every source cited in the text appears in your reference list, and that the referencing style is consistent throughout.
• Proofread for the errors that spellcheck misses: their and there, its and it's, and the apostrophes in plural decades.
• Read your work aloud, or use your device's read-aloud function, to catch clunky sentences.
• Confirm your word count, file format and submission details well before the deadline.

None of these steps takes very long on its own. Together they turn a daunting assignment into a series of manageable tasks — and a manageable task is one you can start today rather than the week it is due.