Essay
Writing Tips
Importance of Essay Writing Skills
Essays are
a vital part of many college admission and scholarship applications. A well-written, thoughtful essay will strengthen
an application, result in a more favorable ranking, and provide
greater opportunities in terms of scholarships and college options. Therefore,
it is to your advantage to hone your essay writing skills. The
information and web resources below provide helpful tips for writing
an effective essay.
Essay Writing Tips
- Allow plenty
of time to complete college applications and their corresponding
essays. It is important to start the process
well in advance of the deadline to ensure you have adequate time
to produce a quality essay. There are many different types
of essay questions. Some will be simple and direct. Others
will be time-consuming and require considerable reflection and
thought.
- Begin with
a prewriting exercise. Jot down your thoughts
and ideas related to the essay question. Don’t judge
your ideas at this point, simply jot them down.
- Review your
prewriting ideas. Now is the time to be selective
about your ideas and carefully consider how you can use them
in your essay. Group common thoughts and ideas together. Organize
your ideas in a logical order and create an outline.
- Write a
draft based on your outline. Stick to the topic. Write
clear and logical statements. Give examples if appropriate. Be
sure to include an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- The introduction
should pique the reader’s interest,
present the reader with an idea of the essay’s content,
and lead into the main idea.
- The body
represents the “meat” of the essay. It
should state your main point and provide evidence to support
your main point.
- The conclusion
summarizes your main point or position.
- Edit your
draft until you have a good “final” draft. Review & make
corrections. Pay special attention to grammar, spelling,
punctuation, word usage, and sentence structure. Watch
for overused words; use a thesaurus to find alternative words
with the same meaning. Make sure your essay clearly answers
the question.
- Have someone
else read your final draft to check for errors and provide
feedback. Revise as needed. When incorporating
other people’s suggestions be careful -- make certain your
essay reflects your ideas, your personality,
and your voice.
- Set your
essay aside for a few days before your final edit. This
will allow you to approach your essay with fresh eyes. Read
the essay out loud to make sure it flows. Carefully proofread
for missed errors.
- Once your
final copy is prepared proofread it again.
- Good work! You are ready to submit your essay with confidence,
pride, and satisfaction!
Web Resources for Essay Writing
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