Essays are like symptoms of an illness that you put off going to the doctor about. They start off as dull itches barely noticeable in the beginning of term, pulsate to an annoying hindrance towards the last few weeks, and then erupt into crippling, spasming, cortisol-fuelled screeching pain the night before they’re due.
If I had my own way I’d rather do a PowerPoint presentation or, better yet, a poster. But unfortunately, we’re not in elementary school anymore. As a senior student in English Literature and Creative Writing, I’ve developed some tried-and-true techniques that will hopefully help all of you out there cursed with a paper this semester:
1. Start early. Well, sort of.
Don’t start too early. Get an idea of what the class is like first. What themes does the professor like to discuss? What’s the “core idea” of the class?
Pay attention in class. Class is research. Make note of what the professor is trying to teach you, the kind of ideas they’re trying to express. Figure out what they’re looking for in your term paper.
2. Choose your topic wisely, and by wisely I mean creatively.
Essays are usually very open. Even if a professor gives you a set of topics, chances are they will accept an original thesis if you propose it or if you’d like to add a twist to a given topic.
This is good and bad. Professors love it when you write about something new. It’s easy to write about a topic with ten papers already dedicated to it so you only have to regurgitate what scholars have said in different words. But, to write a Kick-Ass Essay, you need to be original.
Pick something that hasn’t been said, or pick an angle to an existing topic that hasn’t been explored. Personally, I love picking small aspects of a text often overlooked and then doing close reading on those. Lastly, pick something you like to a reasonable extent; it’ll show in your essay if you care about your topic.
3. Make a loose schedule.
I like to consider myself a free being. I have a very messy desk (and I’m proud of it), and I hate schedules.
But having at least a wee bit of discipline in essay-writing goes a long way.
My rule is usually one week for research, one week for writing. Define your own schedule. In my experience I do like having ample time to consolidate research, meditate on my topic, and write a little bit each day rather than cram everything in one night.
Cramming works for some people, but if you plan to cram, be aware of risks. Emergencies can—and will—happen. You can get sick, or realize you really really really need a book that’s been lent out, or realize two hours before the essay is due that your topic is crap and you should do it over if you want a respectable grade.
4. If you’re writing about a text, start with a quote.
Some of the best works of literature have the catchiest of first lines. Starting with a quote is catchy shows you are focused, that you are dedicated to your text, and are not beating around the bush but want to dive straight in. And it just looks sophisticated and legit.
5. Don’t be fancy. Strive for clarity. Clarity is fancy.
We like to be pretentious geeks in university. And yeah, sometimes it’s fun to appropriate Virginia Woolf’s voice in your fancy intellectual university essay. I sure wanted to do that in first year.
But the point of writing is not to be erudite and posh, the point is to get your point across. The clearer and simpler you get your point across, the more it’ll seem like you understand the topic. Plus, professors have PhDs; they can smell pretension when they see it.
Clarity is the true mark of an educated voice.
6. Architect your essay.
Going off of clarity, structure is your friend. That whole 5-by-5, introduction-body paragraph x3-conclusion thing you learned in high school? The principle still rings true even if university essays should be more elaborate.
Use a logical sequence. Don’t bounce in around topics and beat around the bush. Some people write their ideas on sticky notes and re-arrange them to organize their essays in a tactile way. Be organized. This is a kick-ass essay, not your desk.
7. Be professional. No shoddiness.
Edit. Proofread. Rinse. Repeat. Like washing your hair before a job interview. Make sure your verbs agree with your subjects and check that your “your”s and “you’re”s are correct. You’re in uni in 2016 with SpellCheck for goodness’ sakes, not hunched over a typewriter armed with white-out. So for the love of all that is holy, use those goshdarn semicolons correctly. (Trust me, it’s sexy).