Essay Writing Tips For College Students

Editorial Team

Essay Writing Tips For College Students

Writing essays is a substantial part of a college student’s work. It takes a long time and writing skills to write a paper that guarantees a good mark.

Many students reach out to assignment services, college essay help sites, and tutors for assistance. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t learn how to be more efficient on your own and write a great essay without spending too much time on it. So, here are some tips to better your essay writing.

Choose a good topic

Whether the essay is informative or argumentative, the topic is crucial. Specifically, when the teacher doesn’t restrict the subject, every student can pick their preferred matter.

So, it’s best to choose something that doesn’t stray from your area of expertise. Moreover, it’s better to pick something interesting for you because it’ll be more pleasurable to research and write it.

Also, it’s advised to choose a topic that is specific enough to interest the reader and allow for a thesis to be made.

Figure out the objective of your essay

When writing an essay, it’s vital to remember why you’re writing it. Are you attempting to convince the reader of something, or are you simply stating the facts?

There’s a significant difference between an argumentative and an informative essay, so figuring out the objective is fundamental for your paper.

Choose your tone

After finding the objective, you might wish to figure out the tone. Some essays are more rhetorical than others, and they require fewer data. Others are best with a neutral and formal style. Therefore, the topic and objective of the essay must connect to create a tone.

For instance, if the essay is philosophical and argumentative, the tone can be more informal yet persuasive. If the report is scientific and informative, a formal and specific terminology might suit it.

Find your thesis before you do anything else

The thesis is the phrase you’re proving right. It’s the quintessence of your essay. But even if your paper isn’t necessarily about proving something, there’s always a message to convey. So, the assignment should rotate around that central idea.

For example, even if you’re writing a creative essay, figure out the moral of the story.

Keep a clear structure in mind

The most proficient way to write an essay once you have a tone and a vague thesis is to write a map. Here’s where you define the skeleton of your essay, starting from the three essential elements:

  • Introduction. Here is where the subject and thesis are presented. Towards the end, it should connect to the next part.
  • Body. Here is where the data, the logical links, and graphs show up. Also, there might be space for counter-arguments.
  • Conclusion. Here is where the thesis and arguments re-emerge. Finally, the essay is closed with a call to action (if necessary).

The map doesn’t need to be perfect, but it has to make sense. This means that the arguments should be connected as cause-consequence relations and have a clear structure.

Remember that, depending on your essay, you can include your thoughts.

Research

Arguments need proof, so researching before writing anything is imperative. In fact, most of the essay is just proof of arguments, so the evidence needs to be clear and solid.

Good research comes with excellent logical links and a solid base for your thesis. Sometimes, it’s better to start with research before you even have a thesis because the search makes it emerge.

Start from simple ideas

Try focusing on a simple idea if you wish to write a creative essay but don’t know how to start. A short sentence summarizing your thoughts or your message is enough to start. Then you can elaborate.

Here are some examples:

  • “I want to write a story about a mysterious crime on a rainy night in New York.” It can start with a description of a dark silhouette walking on a dark street in the pouring rain.
  • “The protagonist is afraid of everything.” It can start with the description of their first fear.
  • “I love the movie Pulp Fiction.” The female protagonist can inspire your story.

You can continue with short sentences and then develop them accordingly. If you’re looking for a surprise factor, you can get inspired by your own experiences or others, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Set a time and a place to work

When it comes to an essay, you should set a time and a place to do it. Find a spot that allows you to focus. A coffee shop is the best place for some people, while others prefer the library.

Also, figure out the days you can work on your essay and the exact hours you want to dedicate. If you clock yourself, you might stay focused more because you see how time is passing. Naturally, you want to use that time instead of wasting it.

Invest in writing software

In college, you’ll probably write many essays and papers. Thus, it’s crucial to have software that takes care of plagiarism, grammar errors, syntax issues, and more. So, invest in a program that helps you:

  • Check plagiarism. The essay should be 100% original. Otherwise, you might fail your class or be expelled, depending on the institution.
  • Check grammar. The worst scenario is showing up with a paper that has grammar issues. Your teacher might think you rushed your essay or don’t know how to write correctly. Moreover, they might lower your grade too.
  • Check syntax. Your sentences need to be clear and well put. Otherwise, it’s difficult to read the paper and understand it fully.
  • Check your tone. It’s key to keep the same style throughout your paper.

Final thoughts

Writing an essay is challenging, but it’s not impossible. Just make sure you do research, keep a structure, and clear the logic. Figure out your tone, objective, and thesis, then stick to them. Lastly, don’t forget to revise it.