Essays are an integral part of your college experience, but they can be intimidating to write if you’ve never done it before. At your university’s library, you can find hundreds of books about essay-writing and thousands of websites dedicated to the topic. Don’t worry though; with just these seven tips, you’ll be able to write all of your future essays in no time at all and be a proper research paper writer!
1) Brainstorm
Brainstorming is a simple, effective way of coming up with ideas and organizing your thoughts. To brainstorm effectively, think about what you want your essay to be about and list the things that come to mind. For example: Sometimes, brainstorming can be difficult because it is hard to remember all the ideas that pop into your head. If you find yourself running out of steam, take a break and go do something else for 10-15 minutes before returning. You will be surprised how many more ideas surface during this time! It also helps to talk through your thoughts with someone or write them down in order to help the process along.
2) Do your research
Doing your research is one of the most important parts of writing an essay. Not only does it provide you with the opportunity to find facts and evidence, but it also gives you a better understanding of the topic you’re writing about. When you know more about what you’re talking about, it will be easier for you to develop your argument and avoid getting lost in irrelevant information. It’s important not just when conducting research, but while reading other people’s essays too. If you come across a passage that contradicts your position or doesn’t address a particular point, make note of it so that you can address those concerns in your own essay.
3) Create an outline
An outline will give you an idea of what each paragraph should cover and which order you want them in. When you’re finished, this will help make sure that your essay is organized and easy to read. The following is a sample outline: *What are the most important parts of an essay? *Where should I place the thesis? *How many paragraphs should I have? *Should I use headings or subheadings in my essay? *What is the point of a conclusion paragraph?
4) Write a catchy introduction
An introduction is the first impression your reader will get of you and your essay. Your opening sentence should tell them who you are, what you want to say, and why it matters. It’s also important to make a promise that you’ll deliver on in the rest of your essay. You might ask an interesting question, offer a provocative point-of-view, or provide an anecdote that sets up your argument or captures their attention.
5) Develop your arguments
Develop your arguments, state your opinion, and back it up with evidence. Remember that it is not enough to state what you think – you need to give the reader a reason why they should agree with you. To do this, use facts, statistics, research findings and real-life examples to support your argument. Make sure to cite all sources of information so that readers know where you got the information from.
6) Write a strong conclusion
Your conclusion is just as important as your introduction. Here are some of the things you need to consider when writing a strong conclusion: What is the thesis of my paper? -What are my main points? -Do I have any other points that need to be discussed or elaborated on? -How does this essay tie into the coursework I am studying in college? -Is there anything else that needs to be said about my topic?
After finishing these questions, it should be clear what needs to go into the conclusion.
7) Edit and proofread
Proofread your work. It’s the best way to catch any errors that you may have missed. Do this by reading your essay out loud and trying to catch any errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When you find an error, fix it and then re-read the passage out loud again. You’ll likely find more mistakes after doing this a few times over. If you’re still not satisfied with how your writing sounds, ask someone else to proofread it for you.