English as a Second Language (ESL) essays can involve a variety of topics. ESL classes exist for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Essays for elementary ESL classes likely will require less research and consist of fewer pages.

Read the essay assignment and ask your teacher to clarify anything that is confusing. For example, if you have to write about a favorite thing, ask your teacher if you can write about your native country or a sport that you enjoy playing. You can write an amazing article and receive a low grade because you wrote about the wrong topic.

Prepare appropriately for the assignment. Brainstorm about different approaches. If the essay is about a book or a movie, then read the book or watch the movie before you write. Avoid taking shortcuts, like reading someone else's book report instead of reading the book yourself.

Outline the essay, briefly describing what each paragraph will discuss. For instance, if you are writing a creative essay about an imaginary princess, then paragraph one might discuss the setting and provide a glimpse into the princess' life, paragraph two might explain a dilemma in her life, and paragraph three might explain the resolution of this problem.

Write the essay and make sure that your points flow logically. If you are writing about how to make a peanut butter sandwich, you must describe when to spread the peanut butter, or else your essay will not make sense.

Review the essay after you have taken a break and spent time doing something else. If you look at the essay with a fresh set of eyes, you're liable to catch more mistakes.