How to Write Better for your College Essays
No matter the degree you will have to write an essay at some point. While essays may not be every assignment you have, knowing how to write the best college essay can give you a huge advantage in any written assignment.
Start Your Essays Early
It may be a pain, but giving yourself time to figure out your thesis statement, find sources, write the essay, and then edit it is the best writing advice anyone can give.
You may get an okay grade on a rushed assignment, but your best writing will always come from taking the time to piece together the essay.
The more you rush, the more potential there is for grammar or spelling mistakes, citing errors, and holes in your argument.
Plan It Out
Anyone who says that they just start writing and piece it together, and it works out for them, is a very special and lucky breed of people. For the rest of us, we need to plan.
This starts with your thesis statement; your one-line explanation of why this essay is being written. You need a thesis statement for any essay you write, whether it is 500 or 50,000 words.
Once you know your stance on the topic, then you need the body of your essay or your ‘proof’ that you are right. Make sure you know what each paragraph will be arguing and how it contributes to your thesis statement.
An essay is a building of an argument. Think of planning it less as a straight line of progression and more of a thought-web. Everything contributes to proving your thesis statement correct.
The planning stage is where you decide what sort of sources you need to find to build your case.
Find Your Sources
Sources may range from a single book that you’re quoting in your essay to multiple primary and secondary sources, but the idea is the same. Find as much information as you can and read it thoroughly to see what supports your thesis statement.
Sources are how you prove yourself in your essay and are what an essay stands on. You can write a beautiful essay but if you make claims you can’t support then it falls apart.
Don’t take your sources out of context. This is a huge mistake that new students will make. If you can’t support your claim without doctored data then maybe you need to change your thesis statement.
Edit
The best way to write better is to edit. Hindsight is one of the most useful tools you have when writing.
After writing an essay let it sit for a day or so before you go back and edit it, this will give you fresh eyes to see what you need to change.
Writing and rewriting are the only surefire ways to better your craft so letting yourself do multiple edits will make a world of difference in your essays.
Looking to study effectively? This video will help you take great notes online using Google Docs!
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