When you’re facing an essay exam at the end of the semester, it can be tempting to call up an essay service to write your term paper or dissertation for you. Though using an essay service can seem like an easy way to get out of putting in the hours required to succeed academically, it’s actually not that effective and will hurt your grades in the long run. If you’re looking for real ways to help students ace their exams, pay attention to these seven tips instead of reaching for the phone book.
Planning the Structure
Always plan the structure of your essay before you start writing. Begin with a topic sentence, then outline the points you want to make and how they fit together. What do you want your readers to take away from your paper? This is because a structured essay is easier for readers to understand, remember and respond to. If you are thinking about structuring your essays in this way: Introduction: Body: Conclusion, think again! Make sure that your introduction gives your reader an idea of what the paper will be about; it should also include a hook that will get them interested in reading more. The body should contain at least three paragraphs on the topic; each paragraph should have its own specific focus. Finally, don’t forget about conclusions!
Coming Up with Ideas
Come up with a thesis statement and some key points. Highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your argument, provide supporting examples and evidence, and end with a conclusion that summarises the main point of your essay. This may sound like a lot, but writing an effective essay is more about following this format than it is about having an original idea or being able to write eloquently.
Clarifying the Concepts
When it comes to essays, clarity is king. Some of the most common mistakes that students make are either being too vague or overly complicated. These mistakes can lead to a less than stellar grade on the paper, which in turn will affect your final grade. The best way to ensure that you don’t make these errors is by using clear language and avoiding making assumptions about what the reader knows.
Adding Depth
The most important tip for essay writing is organising the ideas. Make sure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence. Try using the 5-paragraph essay format: introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphs should be limited to one topic per paragraph. The introduction should state the topic of your paper, include an overview of what you will be discussing in the paper, and give some examples or reasons why this topic is important.
Analysing the Arguments and Conclusion
Analysing the conclusion and the arguments in an essay is a skill that can be developed over time. Students should read the entire essay carefully, trying to identify what the author’s concluding point is. If they are unable to understand it from reading it once, then they should go back and reread it until they have a clear understanding of what the author has concluded. They should also analyse how well each of the arguments supports this conclusion.
Editing and Proofreading
When you’re reviewing your writing, it’s important to pay attention not only to the content, but also how it reads. While spelling and grammar mistakes are more obvious and can be addressed with a quick spell check or online grammar checker, there are some other types of errors that can be harder to detect. A good editing technique is to read through your work aloud. If it sounds wrong when spoken, it will most likely be incorrect in print.
Get feedback and Advice You can ask your professors for feedback on your essays, but also try to get feedback from peers who are in different courses. Be aware of the biases that come with asking professors for feedback, because they may be more likely to give you more constructive criticism if you’re doing well in their course. Finally, make sure you know how the essay is graded before you write it. Most assignments are worth 20% of the grade and essays are worth at least 20%.
