When you write an essay, it can sometimes feel like hiking a mountain. It can be tricky. And you might even stop and think: Why am I doing this again? Luckily, you don’t need to. A few intelligent habits will make essay writing much less daunting for you. Here are five of them that every college student should develop.
1. Daily Writing
Running a marathon requires training, and you won’t write a brilliant A+ paper without practice. Consider writing in your journal, a blog post, or a series of Tweets – something every day, if only so your brain remembers how you do the things that matter to you. Write often. A great deal of writing is just a logical sequence of thoughts strung out in words, so the more that sequence takes shape and flexes in your muscles, the better your writing will get.
Practicing and honing the art of essay writing over time is of tremendous importance. However, there will always be cases when you don’t know how to turn. Perhaps the essay topic is too challenging, you have an impending deadline, or you simply need a second pair of eyes. It is wise to use a professional essay writing service during these times. Whether seeking advice, editing, or even helping you generate a potential model essay that shows you how to structure your essay, this can help you develop your writing work.
2. Read Regularly
Reading has the same benefits as writing, especially for various voices and purposes. More writers read crap because it’s easy. Especially when you reach the end of things and no new words flicker on the page. But if you practice osmosis, keeping up with different kinds of writing from other people, you’ll spend your nights writing with all of history and much of your present-day talking to you.
3. Plan Before You Write
Spend 10-15 minutes planning your essay before you write. Don’t sit down and figure your structure out as you write – your grammar and sentence structure might be commendable; your ability to hold to an argument will get lost. Your outline should look the following way:
- Thesis Statement: Clearly state your main argument or point.
- Main Points: List the key points that support your thesis.
- Evidence: Note what evidence you’ll use to back up each point.
- Conclusion: What conclusion are you trying to reach, and how does it relate to your thesis?
This kind of structure can help you guide your writing, stay on task and message, and avoid those mid-writing meltdowns that occur when you aren’t exactly sure where you’re going or when you’ll get there. Know where you’re going and get there all the sooner.
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4. Seek Feedback Early
Feedback early makes all the difference. Like an artist sketching a rough draft of a picture before painting it on a canvas, allow yourself to share the draft of your essay with friends, a TA, or even a professor. There is always room for improvement. Don’t let criticism get to you and prevent you from continuing your work. Getting feedback on your draft early before the essay gets too complex is better.
5. Revise, Revise, Revise
You might also think of a first draft as a draft. Drafts could be better. But that’s OK. Revising is where the magic happens. Re-write sentences. Take out words you don’t need. Make your argument more straightforward and eliminate typos.
Sharpen Your Pencils and Your Wits
The habits you adopt will make essay writing more accessible, but more importantly, they’ll make it a more enjoyable aspect of your educational journey. Everyone who’s ever written something great learned how once upon a time. With practice, so will you. Good luck!