There is hardly any student, who was not assigned to write an essay.
It is a very popular kind of assignment that is preferred by many tutors and professors as homework. They are asked to be written for college admission and various writing contests.
The essay is an incredibly interesting task that is always different. All this is due to a variety of essay types and topics they explore. Most of the essay types have a similar structure so many steps you go through writing your paper will be similar. Let us look at a common writing guide for completion of a really efficient paper.
When you receive a task to write essays, you must be ready to pass through several important stages:
1. Make a detailed research of the given topic
The modern world has dramatically eased the research process as now students can go not only to the library but look through the online materials, newspapers, magazines without leaving their home. But, it is important to mention that only credible sources are worth researching.
Having come across some useful information you can take notes and suitable citations in the right format and references. Don’t put aside information that disapproves your basic viewpoint, as you can prove in your essay your justice offering outweighing evidence and facts.
2. Make an analysis of A-grade essays
A good example can teach you some suitable techniques and approaches how to present your idea from a more favorable side. You can also analyze the structure of the paper, resources used there, the way how to present evidence in a very logical manner etc.
3. Think of your personal ideas that back up the topic of the essay
A thorough research will undoubtedly bring about some interesting arguments worth mentioning in your essay, but it can’t be structured only on their basis. It is important to insert your original ideas to make an essay exclusive.
It is advisable to brainstorm the essay topic in a different atmosphere. That can be helpful for ideas formulations. List them on a sheet of paper to add them to an essay then.
4. Compose a thesis statement
Each academic paper has to include a thesis statement and essay is not an exception. To write a custom thesis you should choose the strongest idea or several of them with the most persuasive evidence and formulate the statement summarizing them. It should be focused on your topic and ideas you are going to present.
5. Make an outline
A good plan is a half of the way to success. To create an effective outline you are advised to make up topic sentences for each of the ideas with a bulleted list of evidence below (usually three pieces for each idea).
6. Essay body writing
Every essay must have a standard structure if there are no other instructions. That is why the main body of your paper is to be written at first. Start with freewriting for the thoughts to flow on the paper and later you will make them more accurate. Avoid general phrases and personal pronouns to support facts. Don’t use “I” statements such as “I think.” Likewise, avoid the personal pronouns “you,” “we,” “my,” “your” or “our”. Simply stating your argument with supporting facts makes you sound much more authoritative [1].
7. A catching title and introduction formulating
The title is the first thing readers see before they start reading an essay so the more attractive it is, the more desire he will have to start reading. Catch the reader with a brilliant title and use a formula of an inverted pyramid to write an efficient introduction. That means that you had better start with the broad description and then gradually you will narrow to the thesis statement.
8. Compose an essay conclusion
Make up a summary of the main points and repackage the thesis statement in the conclusion. The evidence you offer would draw readers to a rather logical conclusion while the last sentence must be memorable and inspiring.
Having written the first draft, it is important to revise your paper to give it a perfect look.
1. Read the essay again in a day or two
Two days will be enough for you to clear your mind and have a fresher look at the essay. Return to it and re-read it at least two times.
2. Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes
Pay attention to quotation marks, citation marking, commas, dashes and apostrophes and especially bibliography.
3. Look through stylistic mistakes
Dictionary is the main helper to consult when you check the vocabulary. Avoid using unfamiliar, repetitive words. Opt for clear and fluent language, focus on the verbs as they communicate all the actions. Use a definite number of descriptive words.
4. Check the essay for plagiarism
An excellent essay is a unique essay, so a check for plagiarism is a very important stage. Cases of unintentional plagiarism are rather often, so take care of yourself to avoid unjust accusations.
5. Try to use formal writing
Colloquial language is not suitable for official and academic essays. That is why avoid contractions, abbreviations, and dialectal words.
6. Make an analysis of your essay flow
To make an essay coherent it is important to add good connections between sentences. Opt for suitable connections that would show a sequence of events, cause and effect relationships, similar ideas etc.
7. Try to be brief and specific
It is always better to express your opinion briefly than add too much water. Cut off not specific information for an essay to be persuasive.
8. Listen to your essay when it is read aloud by someone
This procedure is very useful to realize if there is a good flow of the text and your message is perceptible.
9. Make any changes in the sentences arrangement if necessary
Rearrangement of sentences can help you to make the text more appealing to the reader.
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