Academic writing is the combination of an argument and an idea for incorporating the analysis, evidence, and interpretation. Students may lack this skill and become easily frustrated. In this blog, you will find easy and practical tips to write an essay professionally.
Writing an essay for the first time can be a daunting experience. Do you want to have some tips for writing a compelling essay that can also boost your grades? You may not taught about writing an essay in college or university. You learn these skills as you experience them. This guide is your friendly, step-by-step guide that will make your essay writing manageable and enjoyable.
Why Writing An Essay Is Hard For Some Students?
Some of the students find it challenging to write an essay, and they often put it off. Those who tackle it may find it difficult to format the sentence so that it sounds like a decent stance on the assigned subject. The reasons students struggle to write an essay are:
- They may scroll through social media.
- You don’t want to do much work.
- You want to get an A grade instead of good remarks.
- You are trying to write what your teacher will like.
The most important reasons we find it difficult to write an essay are rewards, teacher approval, high grades, or just avoiding plagiarism. Focusing on the external approval will only make your writing harder instead of making it fun.
Step-by-Step Process to Write an Essay
Writing an essay is easier than everyone makes it out to be. You often think about “how to write my essay”, but you just need to follow an effective outline, a thought, and a critical flow of thinking. Essay writing is a step-by-step procedure, and following each step will ensure the effectiveness of the content. Below are the five crucial moves.
1. Understand the Prompt and Preparation
Before stepping towards the writing, you should understand your assignment first to not go off the topic. Analyze the prompt your teacher has given you, like compare, discuss, or evaluate. Choose the topic that best fits the assignment requirement and is also of your interest.
- Brainstorm the topic
- Generate new ideas
- Find credible sources relevant to your topic.
2. Make a Strong Outline
It is time to outline the blueprint essay that ensures a logical flow of arguments. First, write a thesis statement that is the central single-line argument of your essay. Organize your outline in three main parts: Introduction, Main Body, and Conclusion. Structure and add the pieces of the arguments, and set them in the parts where they fit best.
3. Draft an Essay
Write down your ideas in a single flow as they comes in your mind. Don’t care about the perfection of the essay.
- Introduction: This section sets the tone of your essay and grab reader’s interest. It contains 10-20% of the text. The introduction of an essay includes:
- The hook
- Background of the topic
- Thesis statement
- Outline of the body paragraphs.
- Body Paragraphs: This section develops new ideas, makes arguments to support the thesis statements, and provides evidence. It contains 60-80% part of the essay. The main body should be composed of paragraphs to give the essay structure, and each paragraph should contain one main idea.
- Conclusion: The final paragraph of the essay is the conclusion, which is 15% of the text. It shows why your argument matters and ties the main ideas and points of your overall essay. It provides an impactful and memorable sentence with a final lasting impression.
| Features | Introduction | Main Body | Conclusion |
| Purpose | Set context and engage readers | Uses evidence to prove the thesis | Summarize the essay and provide closure |
| Content | Hook, context, thesis statement | Evidence analysis, topic sentences. | Synthesis of points, final thoughts |
| Part (%) | 10-20% | 60-80% | 15% |
4. Revise For Structure and Content
Ensure to follow a logical order, and each one of them should support the thesis. Each argument should be supported by facts, citations, and examples. Use transition words in your paragraphs and sentences to connect them, like (however, similarly, etc.)
5. Edit and Proofread
After revising the structure, it is time to proofread and edit an essay to correct spelling mistakes, grammar issues, and sentence structure. Ensure to follow formatting guidelines, including the
- Fonts
- Spacing
- Margins
- Reference style (APA, MLA, etc.).
Read your essay loudly to catch awkward phrasing and errors.
Mistakes to Avoid When Writing an Essay
A little mistake in your essay can cause a bigger disruption in your academic performance. Whether you are writing your essay on your own or getting help from essay writing services, you need to ensure that your essay is free from all mistakes. Here are the common pitfalls that you need to avoid.
● Lack of Thesis Statement
Your essay must include a clear main idea and a thesis statement to guide the focus. Not having a clear thesis statement can lead to a lack of focus, and it will confuse the reader about what you are trying to convey in your essay.
● Overuse of Passive Voices
Passive voice often makes it difficult to understand the main point and information in your essay. It makes your writing complicated. Ensure to use only the active voice, with a maximum of 5% passive voice.
● Ignoring the Prompt
Ignoring or not reading the prompt carefully can lead to irrelevant content and lower grades. Consider your prompt while crafting an essay, and answer the specific questions and address the topic.
● Spelling and Grammatical Errors
Students often make the same grammatical and spelling mistakes continuously, even after writing for years. It can distract readers and undermine your credibility. Proofread your essay multiple times to remove these errors.
● Poor Organization and Structure
Poor organization and structure are among the most common mistakes students make. Even a well-written essay can confuse the readers without the proper structure. Craft a proper structure and organize it while creating an outline.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to write a good thesis statement?
A thesis statement is a direct answer to the topic of the essay that is specific and arguable. It provides a roadmap to write the entire content of the essay.
2. What is the difference between editing and revising?
Editing is the correction and improvement of grammar, spelling errors, and punctuation marks, while revising focuses on improving the structure, logic, and argument of the content.
3. How can I avoid plagiarism in my essay?
While taking notes, ensure to note the sources and use quotation marks for the exact quoted text. Integrate in-text citation for paraphrased and quoted material.
Key Takeaway
Hope this guide will be helpful to you, whether you are a 13-year-old school-going student or a college or university student looking for help writing an essay. Crafting an essay is not as hard as we think it is, and we can do it. Everything is possible, just give your best and accept your grade to improve it in the future.
Understand your prompt carefully and choose a topic aligned with it. Make a strong outline to organize the structure, and write your first draft in a flowing style. Revise it to ensure the structure and logic accuracy. Must proofread and edit your essay in the end to refine and polish the final version of the essay. Ensure to avoid the common pitfalls; the lack of a thesis statement is the first. Don’t overuse the passive voice or avoid poor structure and organization. Ensure to correct the spelling and grammatical mistakes, and don’t ignore the prompt, as it can lead to lower grades.
