A product of Columbia's MFA writing program, and a much-published writer, I was taught three times the theory and practice of teaching expository (essay) writing. Because I've taught and tutored essay writing for thirty-nine years, and because I'm a professional writer, I've streamlined the process to four aspects and six steps. Breaking writing an essay into four aspects and six steps lets students focus on one manageable-size thing at a time, which yields better essays.