If you Goggle “how to write better essays,” you will get about 174 million results in 0.58 seconds. Most of these results will not benefit you. This is because the internet has a plethora of substandard essay writing advice. As such, finding the advice you need when writing essays becomes tricky and arduous.
If you need practical tips on how to write good essays, do not fret. Our academic experts have curated a list of 8 tips that will help you become better at essay writing. Read on to discover how with the right tips, you can draft persuasive essays that always hit the mark.
1. Expand Your Vocabulary and Use it well
A good vocabulary will enable you to express your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Concise sentences are characteristics of all great essays. This is because readers do not like long and rambling sentences that have little meaning. You do not have to write long sentences when you can express your points in half the number of words.
To communicate in a clear and concise manner, use accurate and effective vocabulary. You should never rest on your accolade when it comes to vocabulary. Vocabulary is something that you need to work on daily. This is because there are new words that surface each day that could help you express a point better.
To expand your vocabulary, you can:
● Read books from different genres and use a dictionary to look up words that you do not know
● Learn suffixes, roots, and prefixes
● Use a thesaurus to find substitutes for words that you overuse in your writing
2. Choose a Topic
After determining what your essay entails, you will be more able to pick a relevant topic. Start by brainstorming. Take a seat, relax, and start jotting down ideas. Narrow your focus and pick a topic that relates to the content of your essay. Do not choose a topic only because it is interesting but has nothing to do with your essay. Your reader will not appreciate this.
If you find it difficult to create an interesting topic, worry not. Not all students find it easy to come up with a captivating essay topic. You can buy custom essays from essay writing service and get help from skilled writers. Skilled writers know what subject professors look for in essays. And as such, they can create an interesting topic for you that will match your essay.
3. Create an Outline
You can use a simple outline. At the top of your page, write down your topic. Divide your essay into three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. If you are writing a five-paragraph essay, have an introduction, three to four main ideas, and a conclusion. Leave some space under each idea whereby you will list down smaller ideas that support your main ideas. Sample Outline
Introduction
● Opening sentence
● Thesis statement
Body
● Provide statistics
● Background on the subject
● Research on the topic from peer-reviewed journals
● Relevant data
Conclusion
● Reiterate your thesis statement
● Sum up your main points
● Include a call to action
4. Draft Your Essay: Create a Clear Thesis Statement
Now that your topic and outline are complete, it is time to start writing. One of the good ways to start an essay is by creating a clear thesis statement. Your thesis will tell your reader what to expect from your paper. To create a relevant thesis, read through your outline. Your thesis should state the main argument of your paper. Your thesis should also carry a response to the problem. Your thesis statement should be in your introduction. Ensure that you refer to it various times in the body of your essay. Also, ensure that you reiterate it in your conclusion.
5. Edit Your First Draft
Before deciding that your first draft is a finished essay, proofread and edit it. Go over the structure of your essay and ensure that you have used the appropriate format. Position your strongest ideas and arguments at the first and last paragraphs of the body of the essay. You can fix the other points in the middle of the body paragraphs.
Go through your essay to ensure that the sentences make sense and the paragraphs flow well into each other. Check the punctuation, spelling, and grammar and make necessary adjustments. Delete any irrelevant or wordy sections. Make sure that you meet the word count.
Proofreading and editing your essay is no easy task. You can seek essay writing help online and get help with proofreading and editing. At times, you can be too invested in your paper and miss out some errors you have made. A fresh pair of eyes can help you tweak your paper better than you can.
6. Punctuation, Syntax, and Tone of Voice
Effective punctuation allows you to convey your arguments in a persuasive manner. The last thing a professor wants is to read an essay that is awash with poor grammar. Further, your reader should not have to read a sentence several times to understand it.
When writing an essay, use a confident tone of voice. This will show your reader that you know what you are talking about. Write in the active instead of the passive voice. Writing in the active voice makes your essay more compelling. The passive voice makes your essay dull and drains the life out of your sentences.
Use sophisticated sentences in your essay; it makes you sound intelligent. Make your sentences easy for readers to understand. Do not try to flex your intellectual muscles by using words that are unfamiliar to you. Keep it simple and use a range of interesting syntax.
7. Take Break
When you work on the same assignment for a long time, you can lose your objectivity. At times essayists get caught up in their writing or rush to finish an essay only to get it out of the way. This is dangerous because powering through a piece of writing can affect the quality of your paper.
One of the most important tips for essay writers is taking a break. Taking a break allows you to come back to your work with a new perspective and a fresh mind. At times, when you review your work after taking a break, you might bring new ideas to your paper.
If you feel tired or feel as if you are forcing the writing process, it is time to take a break. Have a nap, watch a movie, or take a walk. Give your mind some time to rest. This will allow you to come back to your work with a new focus. You may even feel encouraged to scrap what you were writing and start anew.
8. Write in an Academic Manner
As a student, your writing serves as a window to your ideas and thoughts. Thus, you must write in an academic manner. Use quotations and do not over-paraphrase because your reader cannot distinguish other people’s thoughts from your own.
Academic writing is formal. So when writing your essay, avoid similes and colloquial expressions. Give facts and figures in a precise manner. Make your stance on a particular subject clear. Do not change your mind about your stance in the middle of your paper. This will take away from an otherwise stellar essay.
Conclusion
If you had no idea how to start an essay or how to write a short essay, we are confident that now you are in the know. We hope that these tips will help you become a better writer and make the writing process more enjoyable. Implement them into your writing and watch as you become a pro at writing persuasive essays.