1. Invention:  argument(s), content, ideas, thesis

 Most broadly, "invention" names the process of thinking things up and thinking them through in the planning stage of writing.  Once you have a general topic for your essay, you might begin by generating a list of ideas and examples, but an essay must be more than an amalgamation of lists.  Consider the issues at stake with respect to your topic, and work to develop a valid argument about those issues.  What new perspective can you offer?  A valid argument does not merely offer an obvious perspective with which every reader will agree--why bother to make it in that case?  A strong argument will very likely have strong counter-arguments:  anticipate those counter arguments, and use them in your planning stage to help clarify your ideas and define your own position.

2. Arrangement:  organization, development, sequence

 You may be familiar with the standard five-part essay (introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion).  That is one way to write an essay.  But it is not the only way.  However you decide to organize your thoughts, your essay should be based on a logical sequence of ideas and examples, with adequate and appropriate links between them.  Push to develop convincing connections and smooth transitions.  Introductions and conclusions, in my experience, are often the most difficult sections to write.  It might help to think of your opening paragraph as the place to define the terms and parameters of your argument, the place to give your reader the necessary background information with which to understand--and be persuaded by--the argument that follows.  Similarly, rather than thinking of your final paragraph as a place merely to summarize what your essay has already demonstrated, use it to suggest further implications.  What is the next logical step to your argument?  What larger--but still related--issues does your discussion raise?

3. Style:  diction, syntax, sentences, grammar, punctuation, spelling

 However strong an essay's ideas may be, awkward phrasings and technical weaknesses will detract from its overall success.  Issues of grammar, punctuation, and spelling are self-explanatory, but I would like to call your attention to sentence structure and diction.  As you write, work for variety in your sentence patterns:  for example, offset a series of long, complex sentences with a short, simple sentence.  Choose one strong, vivid verb over a string of modifiers,.  In particular, avoid passive constructions, any form of the verb "to be", vague language, expletives (e.g., "there is" / "there are"), and ambiguous pronouns (e.g., floating "it"s, "this"es, and "that"s).  Use the spellcheck on your wordprocessor; use the grammar checker, but cautiously: most aren't very good yet, but they can at least help you find where you've left out a word.

4. Delivery:  appearance

 Essays should be word-processed and double-spaced, and they should have reasonable margins and font.  Essays should be appropriately titled ("Essay #1" is not an appropriate title...).  Follow the MLA format guidelines, which are spelled out in the Bedford handbook.  Basically, this means that all quotations should be followed by a parenthetical page number citation and you should have a bibliography.  (NB:  If you quote a current newspaper or magazine article, please submit a copy of it with your essay.)