For many students, the thought of writing an essay can be as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist. First there is the dilemma of selecting the topic, then developing supporting arguments, body paragraphs, a strong conclusion and finally, proofreading.
Unfortunately, teachers won’t be removing essay writing from their curriculum anytime soon. Therefore, I’ve put together a list of tips to make essay writing a smoother, and perhaps more enjoyable experience.
1. Write something completely unrelated to get started
This may seem weird, but to help get you in the writing mind-set try sending an e-mail to a friend or writing a letter. This will help to get your creative juices flowing and relieve some of the stress of your task at hand.
2. Talk it out
It often helps to discuss the topic of your essay with a friend or family member. Share your topic, main ideas, supporting statements and reasoning with someone else and ask for their feedback. This will get you on the right track and help you verbalize how you want to structure your essay.
3. Just start writing
Whether you prefer typing or handwriting, just start writing. Don’t worry about proper grammar or sentence structure, simply focus on the ideas. Keeping your mind open and focused on the topic of the essay will help you to better express your thoughts and ease into the writing process.
4. Spend time on your topic and thesis statement
The topic and thesis statement are the most important components of your essay, as they set the tone for what is to come. Make sure that you are interested in the topic selected and find an angle that you can strongly support. If you have no interest in what you are writing, it will definitely show.
5. Proofread and then proofread again
Nothing is worse than spending hours on the perfect essay, only to lose major points due to grammar, spelling or typographical errors. Try reading your essay aloud to yourself and listen for awkward sentences. Also get a second or third pair of eyes (maybe a tutor?) to look through your work.
6. Keep it simple
An essay full of fluffy imagery and fancy vocabulary words can sometimes get in the way of the main point and actually hurt the strength of your writing. Unless the assignment calls for this kind of writing, try to stick to the basics.
7. Have fun with it
Writing is all about expressing yourself, your ideas, thoughts or feelings. Everyone has a different writing style – or voice – so have fun developing your own. Check out Rising Stars’ Writing Skills Success course if you need help finding your voice.
Additionally, consider finding a writing mentor. Even if you have no interest in pursuing a college degree in English, communicating clearly through writing is essential in all degree and career fields.
Not sure where to find a writing mentor? Check out GlobalScholar’s selection of instant, scheduled and homework help English tutors.
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