Students don’t like writing, or at least most students don’t like writing. It may be writer’s block, which many students don’t know how to overcome. It may also be the nature of writing, which is an art, being criticized by a teacher that will fill the paper with red lines and corrections.
But essay writing is an essential part of higher education.
You may have to write an essay for:
- Literature class
- Scholarships
- Other classes
Mastering essay writing is a must for all students. You can ask for essay help, but before you do, read these tips and techniques to help you get started.
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1. Always Start With The Question, Making Sure That You Fully Understand It
Essay questions are what you’ll form your entire essay around. One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is not fully understanding the question given to them. Questions will often ask for one of the following:
- Critic
- Evaluate
- Compare and contrast
- Analyze
Make sure that you read the question multiple times, finding out exactly what the essay should involve.
2. Plan Out Your Essay Well In Advance
If you want to write an essay that is great, you need to start early and plan out your essay. This can be done with deadlines, such as:
- Outline essay sections
- Research and take notes
- Write a rough draft
- Revise and finalize the first draft
- Proofread
I know that I always waited until the last minute to write essays, and it was reflected in the grades that I received.
Make a checklist of what you need to do in your essay writing process along with dates to have the process complete. If you allow yourself enough time to research, understand the question, write, revise and proofread your article, it will be a much better piece than writing the entire essay a few hours before class.
3. Refine Your Basic Skills And Writing
Essays revolve around the basic grammar and writing skills that a person learns at a young age. When you’re lacking in the basics, it will be reflective in your writing. Everyone should check-out a basic grammar, style and punctuation book from their local library.
Why? – You’ll want your essay to use proper comma usage, include well-formed sentences and make use of proper subject agreement. Using the active voice is better, and it’s also important to understand why active voice, versus passive voice, is preferred.
4. Ask Others To Read Your Essay And Provide Feedback
Do you have a friend that is known for writing amazing essays? Well, it’s time to ask your friend for a favor and to read and critique your essay. This type of feedback is invaluable because it will allow you to clean up your essay before handing it into your teacher.
A little feedback, and don’t get upset when you make errors, can go a long way in ensuring that your essay is as well-written as your teacher expects. These four tips are just the start of mastering essay writing, but if you follow them, they will have a dramatic impact on your overall grade.
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