Have you ever sat down to write an essay and felt like this?
Take it from an English major: essays are hard. No matter what level of writing you think you have reached, papers can be difficult to crank out.
But, never fear! Just like Ben Wyatt is a constant support system to the lovely Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, he’s here to give you a few tips on how to rock your essay!
1. Do your reading, please.
Having an understanding of the concept you’re writing about can help you gather the strongest evidence to support your argument.
2. Outline your paper!
Spending the time to create an outline makes writing your essay so much easier because you have a direction to go in.
3. If you can’t type a single thing, switch mediums.
Writing by hand or talking through your ideas can help your thought process.
4. Be passionate!
Your natural writing voice will shine through when you THINK ABOUT IT.
5. Consider your counterargument.
Having a counterargument spices up your paper because it gives an alternate point of view and, when done right, it can make your argument seem more solid.
6. Flower up the language… if your paper permits.
If the essay feels lackluster, take a look at your diction. If the words seem basic, open a thesaurus or use one online to liven things up!
7. Spellcheck!
Do everyone a favor by checking your spelling and grammar.
8. Formatting your paper correctly will win you bonus points.
This includes headers, properly embedding quotes, a sophisticated font, and spacing.
9. Don’t underestimate the power of a stellar conclusion!
The typical essay goes from the general, to the specific, and back to the general. Your job as a writer is to persuade and blow your reader’s mind. Make them notice something that can’t easily be spotted. Don’t be scared to drop the mic.
Cover image source: Startup Stock Photos