What makes a good essay? Many students are trying too hard to come up with the best possible one.
In most cases, though, it’s a dreaded task that leads to procrastination, unnecessary worries, and leaving it for the last moment which brings additional stress.
To ease your writing, here are some basic rules to follow, but which will make the process way faster and more enjoyable:
1. Stay on topic.
The very first step is to understand the question.
Unfortunately, too many students rush through this as they want to start writing and complete the assignment as soon as possible. This approach is wrong for a few reasons.
First, if you don’t take your time to think the question through, you might create content that isn’t relevant. Not staying on topic itself is a factor that will lead to a lower grade.
Then, you’d want to make sure you understand the topic.
Another important thing to consider before you begin the work is the type of the essay. Sometimes, the teacher doesn’t specify that, so it’s something you’ll need to figure out yourself.
Give it a day to let the topic sink in and decide on the type of assignment you’ll be completing before you get to the next stage. This will make sure you don’t end up spending hours to create something that doesn’t even answer the basic requirements.
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2. A good outline will save you time.
The next step to writing a good college essay is to brainstorm ideas for an outline. Again, don’t be in a hurry. This is crucial to having written a successful essay in the end.
Start with the general points you’ll make together with their headings. Then, niche down until you know exactly what each paragraph of your essay will be about.
A good outline helps you organize your thoughts and make sure you don’t miss anything important. What’s more, it’s something you need to do just once. From then on, it’s all about following the essay outline.
3. Save your focus for the writing part.
How you structure your day is crucial to how successful your essay will be. You should dedicate a whole day to it and nothing else. That means waking up early to kickstart the day, eating energetic food and keeping your focus until it’s time to sit down and write.
Such creative work is done best in the morning as there are fewer distractions, your mind is clear, and you still have all your willpower. Set your alarm for earlier and have your outline ready.
Then, you’ll simply need to get to writing. Don’t think about editing while you do that as that itself is yet another distraction. Simply focus on typing each paragraph and reaching your word count.
4. Leave the introduction and conclusion for later.
Another common mistake with essay writing is that students start with the introduction. While it is indeed before the main part in your outline, that doesn’t mean it’s the most effective way to do it.
A good introduction is key to grabbing the reader’s attention, introducing them to the topic you’ll be covering and making sure they want to read more. But you must first be aware of what the body consists of so these two align with each other.
A conclusion, on the other hand, should simply summarize the body of the essay so it makes sense to leave it for last. Sum up all the points you made, together with the big ideas. Be careful not to make it too long. A few sentences are usually enough.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Your assignment might be for class, but it can also play a big role in your final grade. It’s even more serious when you’re writing a college admission essay. That’s why you can use the help of an expert, be it to add the final touches, to proofread and edit your work, or to help with the writing process.
Luckily, there are plenty of places online to not just get qualified custom writing help, but to get it done quickly and at a good price. CustomWritings is one such option.
Are you ready to take a different approach for your next essay and make sure it’s relevant, well-organized and clear?