Essay writing is indeed a challenge for EFL learners because it requires the activation and coordination of conceptualization and composition strategies on particular issues. As a result, this study looked into how ten first-year Chinese EFL students conceptualized their essay outlines and used composing strategies in essay writing.Data elicitation and analysis were quantitatively and qualitatively drawn from task-based writing instructions, YouTube videos, composition strategy taxonomies, argumentative and non-argumentative essays, learner logs, questionnaires, interviews, and observation. The findings revealed that the subjects built their conceptualization upon and employed almost all composing strategies in the pre-existing instructions to think about their outline and write their essays. Practically, this study lends support to innovative approaches and skillsets for teaching Chinese EFL undergraduates in EFL contexts effectively and acceptably.