Writing essays is one of the most common assignments you will encounter during your studying. You need to fall in love with the process of finding all the benefits that essay writing gives you. Foremost, you learn to research the topic, introduce yourself to various perspectives, and give credit to other writers, and acknowledge their ideas. Secondly, you organize your thoughts, analyze, and elaborate your views regarding the subject, which is more effective than simply memorizing facts and dates (which is also helpful). Thirdly, you develop your academic voice, which will benefit you greatly in the future.
No one is born with perfect skills in essay writing, and it takes some time to become a real pro in this field. Here are some tips on being more professional with your writing and making an essay worth of praise.
Table of Contents
1. Thesis statement development
The thesis statement is a claim you are making and trying to defend throughout the paper. All paragraphs in the essay body will revolve around it and explore this idea, while the conclusion will provide sufficient final thoughts on the topic. The thesis statement should be located at the end of the introductory paragraph. In larger works, the thesis statement can consist of several sentences or be a separate thesis paragraph, but it is not applicable for short works, such as essays.
In some cases, you don’t need a thesis statement. For instance, if you write a narrative essay. However, the overall absence of the thesis is a red flag: it means your work doesn’t have a focus. On the other hand, the thesis statement is the result of thinking and researching the topic you’re going to explore. Before you organize the idea of your essay, you collect information and evidence, and then you can formulate the first version of your thesis, the initial idea.
2. Research
Sometimes it takes to be one step beyond the recommended literature for your essay. Of course, you already have a ton of articles and essays to read and analyze. However, if you want to have a solid argument and learn more about it, it is better to find additional resources and literature on the topic. When you learn more about the problem and introduce yourself to various perspectives, you can develop your unbiased take.
You can find a short version of the work, the analysis of it, or bullet points. However, if your instructor asks for a precise amount of cited sources, focus on suggested readings. Your first list of literature should be treated with care, but extra-step shows that you treat the subject seriously and care for in-depth research. Your professor will appreciate your attempt, nevertheless.
3. Read other people’s writing
This step may not be as obvious as others, but it is helpful to watch how others handle their writing process. You may ask your friends to provide you with their writing routine or show you the final draft they view as good essays. It is not the same as reading the literature or articles on the topic, but how others employ these materials into making an essay. You also can be a critic (but don’t be carried away by this title) to the essay. Read it thoughtfully, point out techniques you never saw before, how the essay uses arguments, does it have a consistent structure?
As you advance your understanding of the structure and put your evidence on the example of other essays, you will be able to edit better and review your essay. You may also contact essaypro.com like Essaypro to have some practical advice on writing. Indeed, some people are professionals in academic writing, and you can find the right role model anywhere if you dare to ask.
4. Practice
Practice makes it perfect. High school, college, and the university give you many opportunities to develop this skill through reading and writing. Eventually, you become a pro. However, many people expect to nail a perfect essay from the first attempt. It is the opposite of the truth. If you witness someone doing something astonishing from the first attempt, they probably had years of practice behind the scenes.
It is also essential to understand that practice is a normal process. Even essay writing is a practice of analyzing the source material and producing profound research on a problem. You can create a routine that will be more convenient for you. For instance, read the literature, then go for a walk, then have a cup of tea, and start making an outline that will turn into your first draft. Create a space where you can work without distractions, dedicate a specific amount of time for writing.
The goal of essay writing is to develop your knowledge and acknowledging the work of other people. At some point, maybe you will realize that writing is your strongest skill. Never quit trying.