Are you struggling to write your essays? You are not alone. Academic writing is designed to test your ability to write, think, research, and solve problems. It may require a lot of time and effort to improve your academic writing as you need to learn and practice more.
The following are 9 tips that can help you understand how to improve essay writing.
Table of Contents
1. Make an Outline – Analyze and Organize Your Essay
A good writer begins with an outline. When you start writing an essay, it is advisable to make an outline first, as it allows you to organize and structure your ideas throughout the process of writing. An outline will help you save time and improve your ability to write a good essay.
Never write a paper from your head when there is no outline in place, or you will make a lot of errors and be forced to modify again and again.
The organization is key to the success of any essay. You should have some kind of system that will allow you to prioritize ideas and thoughts that are more important than others. That way, your readers can grasp your message easily without having to read through bulky paragraphs which might cause them to lose interest in what you’re trying to say.
2. Research Your Topic
It is mandatory to research your topic thoroughly. When writing an argumentative essay, you need reliable proof to prove that a certain claim is true. The evidence needs to be very clear and straightforward.
You also have to understand the point of view of different authors who have written on your chosen topic before. You should read their works and understand the arguments they make about your topic. You can also find useful information on reliable websites or other sources that will help you gather enough evidence to support the claims made in the essay.
3. Use Evidence and Sources Effectively
Your essay needs to have facts that can prove what you are trying to say. Make sure that the facts you use are relevant and based on evidence.
When reading an argument, think about how valid it is and if there are any weak points that need to be corrected. Strong arguments depend on strong evidence, so make sure your facts are 100% accurate.
The sources you use must be credible enough to offer reliable proof of any claims you might make in your essay. Look at them carefully provided in your essay. Does these evidence provide solid proof to support your point?
4. Writing an Introduction
An introduction plays a vital role in any essay, as it serves as the first impression. It determines how people will embrace your paper. The introduction should be attention-grabbing, clear, specific, and concise. The introduction of your essay should contain the most important ideas you want to cover in your paper.
5. Improve Your Grammar and Style
Grammar and style are the backbones of academic writing. No matter what topic you are writing about, good grammar and an appropriate style will give your essay a professional touch.
Good grammar is a result of practice and learning from mistakes. It’s all about being aware of how language works in different situations. If you know where to place commas, semicolons, colons, question marks, periods, quotation marks, and apostrophes, you will have fewer problems with grammar.
When reading your essay, readers will read from top to bottom and from left to right. All parts of an article should also adhere to the same style and grammar rules.
6. Choose Words Clear and Specific
You should also be clear and specific. For instance, instead of using complicated words, you can use simpler words to get your message across. Also, avoid using long sentences and writing full paragraphs when it’s not necessary.
7. Use Formal Language
It is recommended to stay formal when writing an essay. You should avoid slang or informal vocabulary that can cause discord between you and the reader. If you use more casual language, the reader might feel as if they are not engaged enough in what you’re trying to say because it will be hard for them to grasp your message.
8. Write a Conclusion
A conclusion is an important part of any essay. It tells the reader what to expect or what not to expect. You must make sure that your conclusion is strong and can answer your research question.
Your conclusion should be kind of a summary, but it should also show the reader that you have read carefully all evidence provided in the essay, that you are familiar with the most important points, and can make use of them to offer your own perspective.
9. Do the Final Edit
When you have already finished writing your essay, before submitting the final draft to your professor, it is important to do one last edit and proofread for grammar mistakes or punctuation problems. Poor writing will affect your grade, and make sure that the flow of your essay is in an understandable manner to your outline.
Final Thought
Writing an essay is a complex process that should be approached in a responsible and disciplined manner, especially if you want to achieve success at university or get accepted into a good college. Hope the above tips can give you some useful tips on improving your writing skills.
