Writing an essay can be an overwhelming task for most working students as each teacher assigns some sort of homework, and students end up having a lot of burdens. As a student, you want your essays to be brilliant enough to notch high grades. You’ll find a lot of not-so-helpful and ambiguous essay writing advice on the internet, and none of them seem to work for you practically. We have compiled some practical tips you need to ensure your writing hits the mark.
1. Understand the Question:
If you fail to understand the question properly, you will fail to write a successful essay that will bring you a good grade. You must understand whether you are asked to evaluate something, analyze a particular circumstance, compare and contrast, or evaluate the usefulness of a particular concept. The wording of the essay question will indicate how you should write the essay, and where you should focus as you research and write.
2. Plan and Schedule:
It’s essential to smartly use the available time because students usually underestimate the amount of work required to write a good essay. This may end up having sleepless nights and disappointing grades. Therefore, plan out the schedule to write an essay and set deadlines for yourself. This way, you will be ensured that you will not be left with too much work near the submission date.
3. Be Critical:
You need to demonstrate the ability of critical reasoning to make your essay stand out. It shows the evaluator that you are able to engage with theories in an academic manner. A good way to practice critical thinking is to read literature reviews in published articles – you will notice that the authors don’t only summarize previous studies but also offer a critique that leads to a gap for their own research. Moreover, you can also seek the help of an essay writing service to produce a successful essay.
4. Structure, Flow, and Focus:
The way you present your argument is as important as the argument itself. That’s why your essay should follow a logical structure. Your essay should begin with the core introduction, followed by the main body, and end up at the conclusion. A logical structure will ensure that your essay will remain focused and doesn’t stray from the question being answered. Each sentence should add value to your argument. You should also make sure that the different sections of the essay fit together in a logical order.
5. Read Widely:
Reading the relevant literature is essential before you start writing your essay. Sifting through a large amount of data is an important academic skill. Use the keywords related to your research topic when searching the databases online. When you find a relevant article, read the abstract to ensure it’s actually relevant. Once you have scrutinized a few solid articles, go through their bibliographies and make a note of who they are citing. Quoting a variety of relevant research indicates the evaluator that you have engaged with a wider literature.
6. Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Plagiarism:
Academic essay writing requires a careful balance between drawing on others’ arguments and novel argument. It’s important to understand the difference between paraphrasing and quoting. The general practice is that you should paraphrase wherever possible and quote only when necessary. Properly citing the sources also ensures that you will not be accused of plagiarizing.
