Essay Writing Tips

Learning how to write essays is important because it provides skills that you will frequently need to utilize in school, the workplace and many other endeavors. In the electronic age, many essay-writing service firms have sprouted, prompting some students to relegate their writing skills to a paid professional, much to the chagrin of teachers and parents. However, for those students who persevere and put their creative and critical thinking abilities to the test, essay writing can be a mentally stimulating and even fun experience. Your own foray into essay writing will arm you with a competitive edge over others who cannot write well on their own. Indeed, learning how to write essays well has its rewards, among them higher marks, greater probability of being shortlisted for the best jobs after graduating from university and a huge dose of personal fulfillment.

Essay writing need not be an exasperating process, if you bear some tips in mind. When you buckle down to write an essay, try to be cool and collected with your thoughts. As with other written pieces, the first paragraph or lead is very important. Once you have a clear idea of what you are going to write and where it is headed, writing the introduction should be easy enough. Write an introduction that is attention-grabbing and sets forth a clear statement leading to the thesis. Do not clutter the first paragraph with too many ideas all at once. You can employ certain techniques like a rhetorical question, or a human interest approach, or even compare and contrast, but keep it short. Remember that you are trying to captivate, and not lose, the reader.

After you have written the introduction, present a clear central idea or focus and unifying angle for every succeeding paragraph. If the essay is a literary critique/analysis, you can explore the theme of the chosen literary piece. The succeeding paragraphs, in this instance, would include the author’s objective in writing the book plus some supporting quotes from the text. Explain clearly and concisely how the text reveals the theme you chose. The body of your literary essay may also include your feelings and responses to the text about which you are writing. If the essay is a comparative analysis of two subjects and you were given time to do research about a specific topic, you should be able to have at least two good reference materials highlighting the qualities and strengths of one subject versus the other.

As you write, keep in mind that your sentences must support your main point. Unity, coherence, and correctness (in grammar, punctuation, and other elements of style) are must-haves. If you refer to ideas that are not your own, remember to give proper attribution. You would not want to be labeled a plagiarist. Schools can be strict about this.

Finally, it may be wise and nice to throw in some creativity. Reading the essays and other literary contributions of great thinkers may inspire you to start and add form and substance to your essay. Once you get the hang of writing essays from the heart and from many ideas percolating in your mind, you can be more adept and even manage to add something to make every essay you write uniquely your own.