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How To Write Better Essays: Advice for Students

how to write better essays
Writing essays is a common assignment for students of all academic levels. As the years progress in your academic career you will find that certain tips are useful regardless of the type of paper that you are required to write. The only thing that may change is the specific parameters for the essay, which will include subject matter, length, and whether or not you have to do a research.

Another thing that occurs over the years is you will strive to improve on the last essay written. If you are like many students, you can get comfortable in a particular writing style that will leave each of your papers rather similar. The following are some tips that you can use to create a solid base for all your writings as well as keep your writing style fresh.

Basic Essay Tips

The following tips are helpful for all essay-writing assignments:

  • Topic Choice. All essays start with choosing a topic unless your professor assigns you something specific. Select a topic that is not too broad, that inspires you, and something that you can analyze or effectively comment on throughout the course of your essay.
  • Create an Outline. The initial outline is a way to organize your thoughts and the direction in which you want to take your essay. A bubble diagram also works. Place the main thought in the center of your paper in a circle and make branches with your different thoughts. This will help with any research required.
  • Thesis Statement. Write an effective thesis statement that will let your reader(s) know your topic and the purpose of your essay.
  • Do Research. Do any research if required to help add credibility to your essay.
  • Write Your Essay. Create a new outline to organize your thoughts or use the previous one. Start writing your essay being sure not to stray from your train of thought. Your paper will have three parts: the introduction, which will include your thesis, the body, and the conclusion. All sections should flow together.
  • Proofread. The final step to the essay writing process is to proofread it to check for grammatical and spelling errors. If citations are made, it is essential to ensure they are done properly and that your works cited page is also completed. Lastly, be careful never to plagiarize anything you take from your specified resources.

By following the above steps, you will be on your way to writing a well-formatted essay that will impress your professors.

Keeping Your Essay Writing Fresh

When you write many essays, it is very easy to be stuck in a rut of sorts. You get comfortable writing a certain way and since you are making either good or high marks you wonder why fix something that obviously is not broken. The answer is simple: if you are stuck in that mentality you will never evolve your writing style, which could lead to even higher marks than previously earned. The following are some things that you can do to keep your writing style fresh so your essays do not get stale and boring:

  • Read Other Essays. Reading in general is helpful when it comes to developing a writing style. When you read a broad range of essays from different people, you can enhance or fine-tune your own writing. One way to read essays from other people is to form a study group. This way you and the other members of the group can read a plethora of essay topics, in different styles of writing.
  • Avoid Simplistic Language. One of the problems you can fall into when writing your paper is using simplistic words frequently. One of the biggest mistakes people do is overuse words such as “use.” Engage the reader more by switching up your language and using words like “however,” “moreover,” and “furthermore.” Following this small step will improve your quality of writing as well as add a bit of clarity to the point you want to make.
  • Enhance Your Vocabulary. Building your vocabulary is one of the best ways to express exactly what you are trying to say in any essay that you write. You can learn to use a thesaurus when writing your essays to look for words for replacing the more simplistic words you may depend on. Additionally, subscribing to an email program that offers you a ‘word for the day’ is another excellent way to build your vocabulary.

Writing essays is something that you do not need to fear as a student. By following the above basic tips on writing and keeping the way you write fresh and new, you can continue to create excellent essays for all of your classes.