students writing an essay

Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers

P LANNING, PARAGRAPHING AND POLISHING: FINE-TUNING THE PERFECT ESSAY

Essay writing is an essential skill for every student. Whether writing a particular academic essay (such as persuasive, narrative, descriptive, or expository) or a timed exam essay, the key to getting good at writing is to write. Creating opportunities for our students to engage in extended writing activities will go a long way to helping them improve their skills as scribes.

But, putting the hours in alone will not be enough to attain the highest levels in essay writing. Practice must be meaningful. Once students have a broad overview of how to structure the various types of essays, they are ready to narrow in on the minor details that will enable them to fine-tune their work as a lean vehicle of their thoughts and ideas.

In this article, we will drill down to some aspects that will assist students in taking their essay writing skills up a notch. Many ideas and activities can be integrated into broader lesson plans based on essay writing. Often, though, they will work effectively in isolation – just as athletes isolate physical movements to drill that are relevant to their sport. When these movements become second nature, they can be repeated naturally in the context of the game or in our case, the writing of the essay.

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Planning an essay

The Boys Scouts’ motto is famously ‘Be Prepared’. It’s a solid motto that can be applied to most aspects of life; essay writing is no different. Given the purpose of an essay is generally to present a logical and reasoned argument, investing time in organising arguments, ideas, and structure would seem to be time well spent.

Given that essays can take a wide range of forms and that we all have our own individual approaches to writing, it stands to reason that there will be no single best approach to the planning stage of essay writing. That said, there are several helpful hints and techniques we can share with our students to help them wrestle their ideas into a writable form. Let’s take a look at a few of the best of these:

BREAK THE QUESTION DOWN: UNDERSTAND YOUR ESSAY TOPIC.

Whether students are tackling an assignment that you have set for them in class or responding to an essay prompt in an exam situation, they should get into the habit of analyzing the nature of the task. To do this, they should unravel the question’s meaning or prompt. Students can practice this in class by responding to various essay titles, questions, and prompts, thereby gaining valuable experience breaking these down.

Have students work in groups to underline and dissect the keywords and phrases and discuss what exactly is being asked of them in the task. Are they being asked to discuss, describe, persuade, or explain? Understanding the exact nature of the task is crucial before going any further in the planning process, never mind the writing process .

BRAINSTORM AND MIND MAP WHAT YOU KNOW:

Once students have understood what the essay task asks them, they should consider what they know about the topic and, often, how they feel about it. When teaching essay writing, we so often emphasize that it is about expressing our opinions on things, but for our younger students what they think about something isn’t always obvious, even to themselves.

Brainstorming and mind-mapping what they know about a topic offers them an opportunity to uncover not just what they already know about a topic, but also gives them a chance to reveal to themselves what they think about the topic. This will help guide them in structuring their research and, later, the essay they will write . When writing an essay in an exam context, this may be the only ‘research’ the student can undertake before the writing, so practicing this will be even more important.

RESEARCH YOUR ESSAY

The previous step above should reveal to students the general direction their research will take. With the ubiquitousness of the internet, gone are the days of students relying on a single well-thumbed encyclopaedia from the school library as their sole authoritative source in their essay. If anything, the real problem for our students today is narrowing down their sources to a manageable number. Students should use the information from the previous step to help here. At this stage, it is important that they:

●      Ensure the research material is directly relevant to the essay task

●      Record in detail the sources of the information that they will use in their essay

●      Engage with the material personally by asking questions and challenging their own biases

●      Identify the key points that will be made in their essay

●      Group ideas, counterarguments, and opinions together

●      Identify the overarching argument they will make in their own essay.

Once these stages have been completed the student is ready to organise their points into a logical order.

WRITING YOUR ESSAY

There are a number of ways for students to organize their points in preparation for writing. They can use graphic organizers , post-it notes, or any number of available writing apps. The important thing for them to consider here is that their points should follow a logical progression. This progression of their argument will be expressed in the form of body paragraphs that will inform the structure of their finished essay.

The number of paragraphs contained in an essay will depend on a number of factors such as word limits, time limits, the complexity of the question etc. Regardless of the essay’s length, students should ensure their essay follows the Rule of Three in that every essay they write contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Generally speaking, essay paragraphs will focus on one main idea that is usually expressed in a topic sentence that is followed by a series of supporting sentences that bolster that main idea. The first and final sentences are of the most significance here with the first sentence of a paragraph making the point to the reader and the final sentence of the paragraph making the overall relevance to the essay’s argument crystal clear. 

Though students will most likely be familiar with the broad generic structure of essays, it is worth investing time to ensure they have a clear conception of how each part of the essay works, that is, of the exact nature of the task it performs. Let’s review:

Common Essay Structure

Introduction: Provides the reader with context for the essay. It states the broad argument that the essay will make and informs the reader of the writer’s general perspective and approach to the question.

Body Paragraphs: These are the ‘meat’ of the essay and lay out the argument stated in the introduction point by point with supporting evidence.

Conclusion: Usually, the conclusion will restate the central argument while summarising the essay’s main supporting reasons before linking everything back to the original question.

ESSAY WRITING PARAGRAPH WRITING TIPS

●      Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea

●      Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence; students should group similar ideas together to avoid incoherence

●      Paragraphs should be denoted consistently; students should choose either to indent or skip a line

●      Transition words and phrases such as alternatively , consequently , in contrast should be used to give flow and provide a bridge between paragraphs.

HOW TO EDIT AN ESSAY

Students shouldn’t expect their essays to emerge from the writing process perfectly formed. Except in exam situations and the like, thorough editing is an essential aspect in the writing process. 

Often, students struggle with this aspect of the process the most. After spending hours of effort on planning, research, and writing the first draft, students can be reluctant to go back over the same terrain they have so recently travelled. It is important at this point to give them some helpful guidelines to help them to know what to look out for. The following tips will provide just such help: 

One Piece at a Time: There is a lot to look out for in the editing process and often students overlook aspects as they try to juggle too many balls during the process. One effective strategy to combat this is for students to perform a number of rounds of editing with each focusing on a different aspect. For example, the first round could focus on content, the second round on looking out for word repetition (use a thesaurus to help here), with the third attending to spelling and grammar.

Sum It Up: When reviewing the paragraphs they have written, a good starting point is for students to read each paragraph and attempt to sum up its main point in a single line. If this is not possible, their readers will most likely have difficulty following their train of thought too and the paragraph needs to be overhauled.

Let It Breathe: When possible, encourage students to allow some time for their essay to ‘breathe’ before returning to it for editing purposes. This may require some skilful time management on the part of the student, for example, a student rush-writing the night before the deadline does not lend itself to effective editing. Fresh eyes are one of the sharpest tools in the writer’s toolbox.

Read It Aloud: This time-tested editing method is a great way for students to identify mistakes and typos in their work. We tend to read things more slowly when reading aloud giving us the time to spot errors. Also, when we read silently our minds can often fill in the gaps or gloss over the mistakes that will become apparent when we read out loud.

Phone a Friend: Peer editing is another great way to identify errors that our brains may miss when reading our own work. Encourage students to partner up for a little ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’.

Use Tech Tools: We need to ensure our students have the mental tools to edit their own work and for this they will need a good grasp of English grammar and punctuation. However, there are also a wealth of tech tools such as spellcheck and grammar checks that can offer a great once-over option to catch anything students may have missed in earlier editing rounds.

Putting the Jewels on Display: While some struggle to edit, others struggle to let go. There comes a point when it is time for students to release their work to the reader. They must learn to relinquish control after the creation is complete. This will be much easier to achieve if the student feels that they have done everything in their control to ensure their essay is representative of the best of their abilities and if they have followed the advice here, they should be confident they have done so.

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Essay Writing

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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This resource begins with a general description of essay writing and moves to a discussion of common essay genres students may encounter across the curriculum. The four genres of essays (description, narration, exposition, and argumentation) are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres, also known as the modes of discourse, have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these genres and students’ need to understand and produce these types of essays. We hope these resources will help.

The essay is a commonly assigned form of writing that every student will encounter while in academia. Therefore, it is wise for the student to become capable and comfortable with this type of writing early on in her training.

Essays can be a rewarding and challenging type of writing and are often assigned either to be done in class, which requires previous planning and practice (and a bit of creativity) on the part of the student, or as homework, which likewise demands a certain amount of preparation. Many poorly crafted essays have been produced on account of a lack of preparation and confidence. However, students can avoid the discomfort often associated with essay writing by understanding some common genres.

Before delving into its various genres, let’s begin with a basic definition of the essay.

What is an essay?

Though the word essay has come to be understood as a type of writing in Modern English, its origins provide us with some useful insights. The word comes into the English language through the French influence on Middle English; tracing it back further, we find that the French form of the word comes from the Latin verb exigere , which means "to examine, test, or (literally) to drive out." Through the excavation of this ancient word, we are able to unearth the essence of the academic essay: to encourage students to test or examine their ideas concerning a particular topic.

Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require the student to hone a number of skills such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As is evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by the student who strives to succeed at essay writing.

The purpose of an essay is to encourage students to develop ideas and concepts in their writing with the direction of little more than their own thoughts (it may be helpful to view the essay as the converse of a research paper). Therefore, essays are (by nature) concise and require clarity in purpose and direction. This means that there is no room for the student’s thoughts to wander or stray from his or her purpose; the writing must be deliberate and interesting.

This handout should help students become familiar and comfortable with the process of essay composition through the introduction of some common essay genres.

This handout includes a brief introduction to the following genres of essay writing:

• Expository essays
• Descriptive essays
• Narrative essays
• Argumentative (Persuasive) essays

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• Academic writing skills
• Academic writing

How to structure and plan an essay

This page will help you to organise and plan an academic essay by outlining clear initial stages to follow, and will introduce you to a model for organising a typical academic essay.

What is an essay? 

An essay is a focused, academic discussion of a particular question, problem or issue.

Many of you have been writing essays for years, and are probably good at it. That's great, and everything you look at here will build on and develop those skills.

But it's worth asking: are there different things expected of a university essay from those for school, college, or other contexts?

The obvious answer is yes, and it takes time and effort to learn the range of writing skills needed to produce university essays effectively.

There are all sorts of reasons why essays are common forms of assessment. They allow you to explore a problem in-depth, express yourself concisely and precisely, and debate other people's published opinions on a topic.

They're also a good warm-up for traditional forms of academic publication, such as a journal article.

Academic essays usually follow an established organisational structure that helps the writer to express their ideas clearly and the reader to follow the thread of their argument.

An essay's structure is guided by its content and argument so every essay question will pose unique structural challenges.

Planning stages

Essay writing is a process with many stages, from topic selection, planning and reading around, through to drafting, revising and proofreading.

Breaking the task down and creating a clear plan with milestones and intermediate deadlines will allow you to focus attention more fully on the writing process itself when you put your plan into action either as part of an assignment or an exam.

1. Understand the question

• Is the question open-ended or closed? If it is open-ended you will need to narrow it down. Explain how and why you have decided to limit it in the introduction to your essay, so the reader knows you appreciate the wider issues, but that you can also be selective.
• If it is a closed question, your answer must refer to and stay within the limits of the question (ie specific dates, texts, or countries).
• What can you infer from the title about the structure of the essay?

2. Brainstorm for ideas

• What you know about the topic – from lectures, reading etc
• What you don't know about the topic, but need to find out to answer the question
• Possible responses or answers to the question – any ideas about your conclusion.
• Consider using a mind map to organise your thoughts…

3. Make a plan

• Planning your essay makes it more likely that you have a coherent argument
• It enables you to work out a logical structure and an endpoint for your argument before you start writing
• It means you don't have to do this type of complex thinking at the same time as trying to find the right words to express your ideas
• It helps you to commit yourself to sticking to the point!

Have a look at this Glossary of Essay Instruction Words (PDF, 100KB) , or watch this short Study Skills Hacks video on identifying the tasks in a question to help you identify what is required.

The Hourglass essay

If you're stuck on an overall structure for your essay, try this simple model for organising a typical academic essay. An hourglass essay introduces a broad area, before narrowing the focus towards the specific question that you are answering. It finishes by placing that narrow area back into a wider context. 

Introduction: the funnel of the hourglass

Set the scene and lead your reader into your essay by introducing the broad area of interest and then narrowing towards your specific focus:

• Start broad with a hook to catch the reader's attention
• Provide some context for the hook. What does your project add to it?
• Focus on the narrow area of your essay: can you summarise it in a single sentence mission statement?

Body: the stem of the hourglass

The body of your essay should be as narrow and focused as possible. Body paragraphs will take one sub-topic at a time and provide a logical flow of ideas for your reader:

• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to tell your reader what it will cover
• Fill your paragraph with a range of supporting evidence and examples
• Finish your paragraph with a final wrapping-up sentence to summarise and/or link ahead

Conclusion: the base of the hourglass

Your chance to reinforce your key messages and go out with a bang:

• Revisit your mission statement: how have you addressed it?
• Summarise the main points of your argument or findings
• Finish with a broader scope, explaining how your topic might inform future research or practice, or where gaps remain

Have a go at using this template (google doc) to plan a structure for your essay, paying particular attention to the ways in which you have broken down the topic into sub-themes for your body paragraphs.

Come along to an Essay Structure and Planning workshop, which will outline how to analyse your essay question, discuss approaches logically structure all your ideas, help you make your introductions and conclusions more effective, and teach how to link your ideas and ensure all essay content flows logically from the introduction.

Book an Essay Structure and Planning Workshop place here

Book workshop on writing Writing Persuasive Introductions, Conclusions and Discussions and Writing Effective Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences which explore both features and linguistic structures.

More information

• Start planning early, leave your plan for a couple of days, and then come back to it. This may give you a fresh perspective.
• It is often easiest to write the introduction last, but when you are planning your essay structure make sure you have your mission statement.
• A good plan will make it much easier to write a good essay. Invest the time in making a plan that works.
• Check what your tutor wants, but it is often best to focus on one element in great detail, rather than discuss several aspects superficially.
• Make sure you allow time to proofread your work before submission!
• How to structure a paragraph
• How to paraphrase and quote
• How to write in an academic style

Use your mySkills portfolio to discover your skillset, reflect on your development, and record your progress.

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• June 2, 2022

• What is an essay? 

What makes a good essay?

Typical essay structure, 7 steps to writing a good essay, a step-by-step guide to writing a good essay.

Whether you are gearing up for your GCSE coursework submissions or looking to brush up on your A-level writing skills, we have the perfect essay-writing guide for you. 💯

Staring at a blank page before writing an essay can feel a little daunting . Where do you start? What should your introduction say? And how should you structure your arguments? They are all fair questions and we have the answers! Take the stress out of essay writing with this step-by-step guide – you’ll be typing away in no time. 👩‍💻

What is an essay?

Generally speaking, an essay designates a literary work in which the author defends a point of view or a personal conviction, using logical arguments and literary devices in order to inform and convince the reader.

So – although essays can be broadly split into four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive – an essay can simply be described as a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. 🤔

The purpose of an essay is to present a coherent argument in response to a stimulus or question and to persuade the reader that your position is credible, believable and reasonable. 👌

So, a ‘good’ essay relies on a confident writing style – it’s clear, well-substantiated, focussed, explanatory and descriptive . The structure follows a logical progression and above all, the body of the essay clearly correlates to the tile – answering the question where one has been posed. 

But, how do you go about making sure that you tick all these boxes and keep within a specified word count? Read on for the answer as well as an example essay structure to follow and a handy step-by-step guide to writing the perfect essay – hooray. 🙌

Sometimes, it is helpful to think about your essay like it is a well-balanced argument or a speech – it needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question in a coherent manner. ⚖️

Of course, essays can vary significantly in length but besides that, they all follow a fairly strict pattern or structure made up of three sections. Lean into this predictability because it will keep you on track and help you make your point clearly. Let’s take a look at the typical essay structure:  

#1 Introduction

Start your introduction with the central claim of your essay. Let the reader know exactly what you intend to say with this essay. Communicate what you’re going to argue, and in what order. The final part of your introduction should also say what conclusions you’re going to draw – it sounds counter-intuitive but it’s not – more on that below. 1️⃣

Make your point, evidence it and explain it. This part of the essay – generally made up of three or more paragraphs depending on the length of your essay – is where you present your argument. The first sentence of each paragraph – much like an introduction to an essay – should summarise what your paragraph intends to explain in more detail. 2️⃣

#3 Conclusion

This is where you affirm your argument – remind the reader what you just proved in your essay and how you did it. This section will sound quite similar to your introduction but – having written the essay – you’ll be summarising rather than setting out your stall. 3️⃣

No essay is the same but your approach to writing them can be. As well as some best practice tips, we have gathered our favourite advice from expert essay-writers and compiled the following 7-step guide to writing a good essay every time. 👍

#1 Make sure you understand the question

#2 complete background reading.

#3 Make a detailed plan 

#4 Write your opening sentences 

#5 flesh out your essay in a rough draft, #6 evidence your opinion, #7 final proofread and edit.

Now that you have familiarised yourself with the 7 steps standing between you and the perfect essay, let’s take a closer look at each of those stages so that you can get on with crafting your written arguments with confidence . 

This is the most crucial stage in essay writing – r ead the essay prompt carefully and understand the question. Highlight the keywords – like ‘compare,’ ‘contrast’ ‘discuss,’ ‘explain’ or ‘evaluate’ – and let it sink in before your mind starts racing . There is nothing worse than writing 500 words before realising you have entirely missed the brief . 🧐

Unless you are writing under exam conditions , you will most likely have been working towards this essay for some time, by doing thorough background reading. Re-read relevant chapters and sections, highlight pertinent material and maybe even stray outside the designated reading list, this shows genuine interest and extended knowledge. 📚

#3 Make a detailed plan

Following the handy structure we shared with you above, now is the time to create the ‘skeleton structure’ or essay plan. Working from your essay title, plot out what you want your paragraphs to cover and how that information is going to flow. You don’t need to start writing any full sentences yet but it might be useful to think about the various quotes you plan to use to substantiate each section. 📝

Having mapped out the overall trajectory of your essay, you can start to drill down into the detail. First, write the opening sentence for each of the paragraphs in the body section of your essay. Remember – each paragraph is like a mini-essay – the opening sentence should summarise what the paragraph will then go on to explain in more detail. 🖊️

Next, it's time to write the bulk of your words and flesh out your arguments. Follow the ‘point, evidence, explain’ method. The opening sentences – already written – should introduce your ‘points’, so now you need to ‘evidence’ them with corroborating research and ‘explain’ how the evidence you’ve presented proves the point you’re trying to make. ✍️

With a rough draft in front of you, you can take a moment to read what you have written so far. Are there any sections that require further substantiation? Have you managed to include the most relevant material you originally highlighted in your background reading? Now is the time to make sure you have evidenced all your opinions and claims with the strongest quotes, citations and material. 📗

This is your final chance to re-read your essay and go over it with a fine-toothed comb before pressing ‘submit’. We highly recommend leaving a day or two between finishing your essay and the final proofread if possible – you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, allowing you to return with a fresh pair of eyes and a more discerning judgment. 🤓

If you are looking for advice and support with your own essay-writing adventures, why not t ry a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at boosting academic success and having fun along the way. Get in touch and see how it can work for you today. 🎒

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Home › Study Tips › How To Write an Academic Essay? 9 Amazing Tips

100 Essay Writing Tips for Students (How to write a good essay)

• Published September 7, 2022

Are you searching for the best tips to create the most compelling essay? We’ve compiled some of the best essay writing tips so that you don’t have to search far and wide to learn how to write a good essay. Take a look at these top 100 essay writing tips!

100 Essay Writing Tips

#1 Analyse the question 

#2 Define your argument

#3 Use reputable sources of evidence to support your claims (i.e. not Wikipedia)

#4 Share different perspectives

#5 On draft number 1, don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar!

#6 Rewrite draft 2 on a new blank document 

#7 Use transitional phrases and words 

#8 Divide your essay into three main parts: introduction, main body, conclusion

#9 End your essay on a relevant quote 

#10 Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar in your final draft 

#11 Cite your sources correctly (check the guidelines or ask your teacher)

#12 Avoid using conjunctions at the start of sentences e.g. And / But / Also

#13 Put direct quotes in quotation marks, citing them correctly

#14 Avoid plagiarism (your teacher or the marker will know if you have copied)

#15 Rephrase your research – put it into your own words

#16 Avoid the repetition of phrases and words

#17 Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for words you have used often 

#18 Provide statistics to support your claims

#19 Include facts to support your arguments 

#20 Use emotive language where appropriate to write a compelling argument

#21 Avoid spending too much time on your introduction and conclusion 

#22 Get somebody else to proofread it

#23 Get feedback from friends and family (or even a teacher)

#24 Don’t be afraid to delete irrelevant points and evidence 

#25 Avoid slang and colloquial language 

#26 Use formal language throughout your essay 

#27 Double space your essay (check essay requirements to ensure you format it correctly)

#28 Use appropriate titles and headings 

#29 Use an appropriate font (Times New Roman, size 12 is the most common, acceptable font)

#30 Avoid images unless you have been asked to use them 

#31 Avoid talking about yourself or providing anecdotal information 

#32 Avoid cliches, try to be original in your writing 

#33 Keep your introduction and conclusion short 

#34 Stick to the word count (universities usually allow 10% over or under)

#35 Distribute the word count appropriately across your introduction, main body and conclusion (e.g. 10/80/10)

#36 Read it out loud to spot errors 

#37 Make sure your writing is clear and concise 

#38 Avoid citing sources in your bibliography that are irrelevant 

#39 Use grammar checking software to check for grammar errors

#40 Don’t depend solely on grammar checking software (because it’s a computer, it may get context wrong)

#41 Read your work critically – have you answered the question?

#42 Don’t get distracted by what you WANT to write, focus on answering the question

#43 Check the grading criteria and set your goals – if you want an A, what do you need to do to get there?

#44 Create a checklist based on the grading criteria

#45 Create a timetable to write your essay and plan your time wisely

#46 Plan your writing during times when you’re least likely to get disturbed

#47 Work in a place where you are least likely to get distracted 

#48 Write your essay in 25-minute increments and take a break after each one

#49 Have snacks and refreshments to hand

#50 Take a break after writing each draft, for example, 2 days where you don’t look at it (this will allow you to process information and go back to your essay with fresh eyes)

#51 Remember that stress doesn’t help – you’re most likely going to write well when you’re the least stressed. 

#52 If you’re struggling to write your essay at home, do it in a study group or at the library. You’ll likely be more productive surrounded by other people who are working, too. 

#53 Don’t leave it to the last minute – write several drafts in good time

#54 Plan your final week to work on formatting only (do the bulk of the work way before the final week)

#55 Swap work with a friend and give each other feedback, or do this in a group

#56 Make sure you know the submission criteria way before submitting e.g. the format of your essay, rules for submission, etc.

#57 Define the type of essay you’re writing – is it argumentative, persuasive, expository, admissions, compare/contrast, analytical or narrative? 

#58 Brainstorm the essay before writing it

#59 Keep your notes handy 

#60 Identify the gaps in your knowledge before writing 

#61 Before you begin writing, do as much productive research as you can

#62 Read relevant books and reputable articles to learn more about your topic

#63 Write notes in the form of short answers to your question, it will be easier to put them into your essay later on 

#64 If you’re finding it difficult to answer the question, more research is needed 

#65 Identify your WHY – Why do you need to write this essay? What will happen if you get an A or win the essay competition? Why is it important to you? 

#66 When essay writing is becoming a struggle, remember your WHY to keep motivated 

#67 In your introduction, remember to clearly state your topic and your main points 

#68 Avoid explaining your points in your introduction (you do that in the main body)

#69 For every point or opinion you introduce, be sure to include some evidence and an explanation

#70 Avoid filling your essay up with opinions with no supporting evidence

#71 Explain your points clearly and concisely 

#72 Stay on topic 

#73 When proofreading, consider if the essay sparks the reader’s interest. If it doesn’t, see what you can do to improve this. 

#74 Double check you have used paragraphs correctly 

#75 Ensure each argument has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement

#76 Ensure you have clear transitions between your sentences and paragraphs

#77 Ensure your essay has an informative and compelling style 

#78 Try using these phrases such as: In view of; in light of; considering

#79 Use one of the following sentence structure when writing about your evidence “According to…” “…. stated that, “Referring to the views of…”

#80 Maintain an unbiased voice in your writing – your goal is to present some intriguing arguments to the reader

#81 Try using phrases such as “In order to…”, “To that end…”,  “To this end…”

#82 Use phrases like these to emphasize a point: In other words; to put it another way; that is; to put it more simply

#83 Other phrases you could use are: Similarly; likewise; another key fact to remember; as well as; an equally significant aspect of

#84 When comparing ideas or opinions, use phrases such as: By contrast; in comparison; then again; that said; yet

#85 Use these phrases to demonstrate a positive aspect of something: Despite this; provided that; nonetheless

#86 Another way to add contrast is using these phrases: Importantly; significantly; notably; another key point

#87 When giving examples, try using phrases like these: For instance; to give an illustration of; to exemplify; to demonstrate; as evidence; to elucidate

#88 Try using these phrases in your conclusion: In conclusion; to conclude; to summarise; in sum; in the final analysis; on close analysis

#89 This phrase can be used to highlight the most compelling argument in your research “the most compelling argument is…”

#90 When explaining the significance of something, use one of these phrases: Therefore; this suggests that; it can be seen that; the consequence is

#91 When summarizing, you can use some of these phrases: Above all; chiefly; especially; most significantly; it should be noted

#92 You might want to use the phrase “All things considered” when summarizing towards the end of your essay 

#93 Avoid using Wikipedia 

#94 Remember that the marker will always check to see if you have copied your work – so don’t do it

#95 Try your best

#96 Remember that writing an essay is also an opportunity to learn 

#97 Build your vocabulary while writing by using a dictionary to replace common words

#98 Make sure you understand the definition of the words you have used 

#99 Work hard but remember to take breaks 

#100 Submit your essay on time! 

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• Academic Skills
• Reading, writing and referencing

Writing a great essay

This resource covers key considerations when writing an essay.

While reading a student’s essay, markers will ask themselves questions such as:

• Does this essay directly address the set task?
• Does it present a strong, supported position?
• Does it use relevant sources appropriately?
• Is the expression clear, and the style appropriate?
• Is the essay organised coherently? Is there a clear introduction, body and conclusion?

You can use these questions to reflect on your own writing. Here are six top tips to help you address these criteria.

1. Analyse the question

Student essays are responses to specific questions. As an essay must address the question directly, your first step should be to analyse the question. Make sure you know exactly what is being asked of you.

Generally, essay questions contain three component parts:

• Content terms: Key concepts that are specific to the task
• Limiting terms: The scope that the topic focuses on
• Directive terms: What you need to do in relation to the content, e.g. discuss, analyse, define, compare, evaluate.

Look at the following essay question:

Discuss the importance of light in Gothic architecture.

• Content terms: Gothic architecture
• Limiting terms: the importance of light. If you discussed some other feature of Gothic architecture, for example spires or arches, you would be deviating from what is required. This essay question is limited to a discussion of light. Likewise, it asks you to write about the importance of light – not, for example, to discuss how light enters Gothic churches.
• Directive term: discuss. This term asks you to take a broad approach to the variety of ways in which light may be important for Gothic architecture. You should introduce and consider different ideas and opinions that you have met in academic literature on this topic, citing them appropriately .

For a more complex question, you can highlight the key words and break it down into a series of sub-questions to make sure you answer all parts of the task. Consider the following question (from Arts):

To what extent can the American Revolution be understood as a revolution ‘from below’? Why did working people become involved and with what aims in mind?

The key words here are American Revolution and revolution ‘from below’. This is a view that you would need to respond to in this essay. This response must focus on the aims and motivations of working people in the revolution, as stated in the second question.

2. Define your argument

As you plan and prepare to write the essay, you must consider what your argument is going to be. This means taking an informed position or point of view on the topic presented in the question, then defining and presenting a specific argument.

Consider these two argument statements:

The architectural use of light in Gothic cathedrals physically embodied the significance of light in medieval theology.

In the Gothic cathedral of Cologne, light served to accentuate the authority and ritual centrality of the priest.

Statements like these define an essay’s argument. They give coherence by providing an overarching theme and position towards which the entire essay is directed.

3. Use evidence, reasoning and scholarship

To convince your audience of your argument, you must use evidence and reasoning, which involves referring to and evaluating relevant scholarship.

• Evidence provides concrete information to support your claim. It typically consists of specific examples, facts, quotations, statistics and illustrations.
• Reasoning connects the evidence to your argument. Rather than citing evidence like a shopping list, you need to evaluate the evidence and show how it supports your argument.
• Scholarship is used to show how your argument relates to what has been written on the topic (citing specific works). Scholarship can be used as part of your evidence and reasoning to support your argument.

4. Organise a coherent essay

An essay has three basic components - introduction, body and conclusion.

The purpose of an introduction is to introduce your essay. It typically presents information in the following order:

• A general statement about the topic that provides context for your argument
• A thesis statement showing your argument. You can use explicit lead-ins, such as ‘This essay argues that...’
• A ‘road map’ of the essay, telling the reader how it is going to present and develop your argument.

Example introduction

"To what extent can the American Revolution be understood as a revolution ‘from below’? Why did working people become involved and with what aims in mind?"

Introduction*

Historians generally concentrate on the twenty-year period between 1763 and 1783 as the period which constitutes the American Revolution [This sentence sets the general context of the period] . However, when considering the involvement of working people, or people from below, in the revolution it is important to make a distinction between the pre-revolutionary period 1763-1774 and the revolutionary period 1774-1788, marked by the establishment of the continental Congress(1) [This sentence defines the key term from below and gives more context to the argument that follows] . This paper will argue that the nature and aims of the actions of working people are difficult to assess as it changed according to each phase [This is the thesis statement] . The pre-revolutionary period was characterised by opposition to Britain’s authority. During this period the aims and actions of the working people were more conservative as they responded to grievances related to taxes and scarce land, issues which directly affected them. However, examination of activities such as the organisation of crowd action and town meetings, pamphlet writing, formal communications to Britain of American grievances and physical action in the streets, demonstrates that their aims and actions became more revolutionary after 1775 [These sentences give the ‘road map’ or overview of the content of the essay] .

The body of the essay develops and elaborates your argument. It does this by presenting a reasoned case supported by evidence from relevant scholarship. Its shape corresponds to the overview that you provided in your introduction.

The body of your essay should be written in paragraphs. Each body paragraph should develop one main idea that supports your argument. To learn how to structure a paragraph, look at the page developing clarity and focus in academic writing .

Your conclusion should not offer any new material. Your evidence and argumentation should have been made clear to the reader in the body of the essay.

Use the conclusion to briefly restate the main argumentative position and provide a short summary of the themes discussed. In addition, also consider telling your reader:

• What the significance of your findings, or the implications of your conclusion, might be
• Whether there are other factors which need to be looked at, but which were outside the scope of the essay
• How your topic links to the wider context (‘bigger picture’) in your discipline.

Do not simply repeat yourself in this section. A conclusion which merely summarises is repetitive and reduces the impact of your paper.

Example conclusion

Conclusion*.

Although, to a large extent, the working class were mainly those in the forefront of crowd action and they also led the revolts against wealthy plantation farmers, the American Revolution was not a class struggle [This is a statement of the concluding position of the essay]. Working people participated because the issues directly affected them – the threat posed by powerful landowners and the tyranny Britain represented. Whereas the aims and actions of the working classes were more concerned with resistance to British rule during the pre-revolutionary period, they became more revolutionary in nature after 1775 when the tension with Britain escalated [These sentences restate the key argument]. With this shift, a change in ideas occurred. In terms of considering the Revolution as a whole range of activities such as organising riots, communicating to Britain, attendance at town hall meetings and pamphlet writing, a difficulty emerges in that all classes were involved. Therefore, it is impossible to assess the extent to which a single group such as working people contributed to the American Revolution [These sentences give final thoughts on the topic].

5. Write clearly

An essay that makes good, evidence-supported points will only receive a high grade if it is written clearly. Clarity is produced through careful revision and editing, which can turn a good essay into an excellent one.

When you edit your essay, try to view it with fresh eyes – almost as if someone else had written it.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Overall structure

• Have you clearly stated your argument in your introduction?
• Does the actual structure correspond to the ‘road map’ set out in your introduction?
• Have you clearly indicated how your main points support your argument?
• Have you clearly signposted the transitions between each of your main points for your reader?
• Does each paragraph introduce one main idea?
• Does every sentence in the paragraph support that main idea?
• Does each paragraph display relevant evidence and reasoning?
• Does each paragraph logically follow on from the one before it?
• Is each sentence grammatically complete?
• Is the spelling correct?
• Is the link between sentences clear to your readers?
• Have you avoided redundancy and repetition?

See more about editing on our  editing your writing page.

6. Cite sources and evidence

Finally, check your citations to make sure that they are accurate and complete. Some faculties require you to use a specific citation style (e.g. APA) while others may allow you to choose a preferred one. Whatever style you use, you must follow its guidelines correctly and consistently. You can use Recite, the University of Melbourne style guide, to check your citations.

Further resources

• Germov, J. (2011). Get great marks for your essays, reports and presentations (3rd ed.). NSW: Allen and Unwin.
• Using English for Academic Purposes: A guide for students in Higher Education [online]. Retrieved January 2020 from http://www.uefap.com
• Williams, J.M. & Colomb, G. G. (2010) Style: Lessons in clarity and grace. 10th ed. New York: Longman.

* Example introduction and conclusion adapted from a student paper.

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Essay and dissertation writing skills

Planning your essay

Writing your introduction

Structuring your essay

• Writing essays in science subjects
• Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
• Writing extended essays and dissertations
• Planning your dissertation writing time

Structuring your dissertation

• Top tips for writing longer pieces of work

Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations

University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions. 

You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:

Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.

However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:

Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’

Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:

The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.

• Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
• References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline. 

Essay writing in science subjects

If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:

A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.

Short videos to support your essay writing skills

There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:

• Approaching different types of essay questions  
• Structuring your essay  
• Writing an introduction  
• Making use of evidence in your essay writing  
• Writing your conclusion

Extended essays and dissertations

Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.

Planning your time effectively

Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.

Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.

The structure of  extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:

• The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
• Explanation of the focus of your work.
• Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
• List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.

The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.

The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources. 

Tips on writing longer pieces of work

Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.

For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work . 

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The Basics of Essay Writing

What does a good essay need.

An academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence .

• An academic essay should answer a question or task .
• It should have a thesis statement (answer to the question) and an argument .
• It should try to present or discuss something: develop a thesis via a set of closely related points by reasoning and evidence.
• An academic essay should include relevant examples , supporting evidence and information from academic texts or credible sources.

Basic steps in writing an essay

Although there are some basic steps to writing an assignment, essay writing is not a linear process. You might work through the different stages a number of times in the course of writing an essay. For example, you may go back to the reading and notetaking stage if you find another useful text, or perhaps to reread to locate specific information.

Possible steps (In no strict order)

  see next: getting started, essay and assignment writing guide.

• Getting started
• Research the topic
• Organise your ideas
• Write your essay
• Reference your essay
• Edit your essay
• Hand in your essay
• Essay and assignment planning
• Answering assignment questions
• Editing checklist
• Writing a critical review
• Annotated bibliography
• Reflective writing
• ^ More support

Study Hacks Workshops | All the hacks you need! 10 Sep – 7 Nov 2024

How to Get Better at Writing Essays: 10 Steps

by Joe Bunting | 64 comments

Do you dread essay writing? Are you looking for some essay tips that will help you write an amazing essay—and have fun doing it?

Lots of students, young and old, dread essay writing. It's a daunting assignment, one that takes research, time, and concentration.

It's also a piece of writing that you can break up into simple steps that make writing an essay manageable and, yes, even enjoyable.

These ten essay tips completely changed my writing process—and I hope that they can do the same for you.

Essay Writing Can Be Fun

Honestly, throughout most of high school and college, I was a mediocre essay writer.

Every once in a while, I would write a really good essay, but mostly I skated by with B's and A-minuses.

I know personally how boring writing an essay can be, and also, how hard it can be to write a good one.

However, toward the end of my time as a student, I made a breakthrough. I figured out how to not only write a great essay, I learned how to have fun while doing it . 

And since then, I've become a professional writer and have written more than a dozen books. I'm not saying that these essay writing tips are going to magically turn you into a writer, but at least they can help you enjoy the process more.

I'm excited to share these ten essay writing tips with you today! But first, we need to talk about why writing an essay is so hard.

Why Writing an Essay Is So Hard

When it comes to essay writing, a lot of students find a reason to put it off. And when they tackle it, they find it difficult to string sentences together that sound like a decent stance on the assigned subject.

Here are a few reasons why essay writing is hard:

• You'd rather be scrolling through social media
• You're trying to write something your teacher or professor will like
• You're trying to get an A instead of writing something that's actually good
• You want to do the least amount of work possible

The biggest reason writing an essay is so hard is because we mostly focus on those external  rewards like getting a passing grade, winning our teacher's approval, or just avoiding accusations of plagiarism.

The problem is that when you focus on external approval it not only makes writing much less fun, it also makes it significantly harder.

Because when you focus on external approval, you shut down your subconscious, and the subconscious is the source of your creativity.

The subconscious is the source of your creativity.

What this means practically is that when you're trying to write that perfect, A-plus-worthy sentence, you're turning off most of your best resources and writing skills.

So stop. Stop trying to write a good essay (or even a “good-enough” essay). Instead, write an interesting  essay, write an essay you think is fascinating. And when you're finished, go back and edit it until it's “good” or “proficient” according to your teacher's standards.

You don't have to sacrifice your interests to make academic progress. Your goal is to learn something new and expand your effective communication skills in the process.

Yes, you need to follow the guidelines in your assignment. If your teacher tells you to write a five-paragraph essay, then write a five-paragraph essay! If your teacher asks for a specific type of essay, like an analysis, argument, or research essay, then make sure you write that type of essay!

However, within those guidelines, find room to express something that is uniquely you .

I can't guarantee you'll get a higher grade (although, you almost certainly will), but I can absolutely promise you'll have a lot more fun writing.

The Step-by-Step Process to Writing a Great Essay: Your 10 Essay Writing Tips

Ready to get writing? You can read my ten best tips for having fun while writing an essay that earns you the top grade, or check out this presentation designed by our friends at Canva Presentations .

1. Remember your essay is just a story.

Every story is about conflict and change, and the truth is that essays are about conflict and change, too! The difference is that in an essay, the conflict is between different ideas , and the change is in the way we should perceive those ideas.

That means that the best essays are about surprise: “You probably think it's one way, but in reality, you should think of it this other way.” See tip #3 for more on this.

How do you know what story you're telling? The prompt should tell you.

Any list of essay prompts includes various topics and tasks associated with them. Within those topics are characters (historical, fictional, or topical) faced with difficult choices. Your job is to work with those choices, usually by analyzing them, arguing about them, researching them, or describing them in detail.

Academic writing is a conversation. It's likely one that was started years (maybe centuries?) ago. Experienced writers know that you can wade into that conversation or story and choose or develop an essay question that gives you opportunities to look at the conflict and change happening within a topic.

2. Before you start writing, ask yourself, “How can I have the most fun writing this?”

It's normal to feel unmotivated when writing an academic essay. I'm a writer, and honestly, I feel unmotivated to write all the time. But I have a super-ninja, judo-mind trick I like to use to help motivate myself.

Here's the secret trick: One of the interesting things about your subconscious is that it will answer any question you ask yourself. So whenever you feel unmotivated to write your essay, ask yourself the following question:

“How much fun can I have writing this?”

Your subconscious will immediately start thinking of strategies to make the writing process more fun.

The best time to have your fun is the first draft. Since you're just brainstorming within the topic, and exploring the possible ways of approaching it, the first draft is the perfect place to get creative and even a little scandalous. Here are some wild suggestions to make your next essay a load of fun:

• Research the most surprising or outrageous fact about the topic and use it as your hook.
• Use a thesaurus to research the topic's key words. Get crazy with your vocabulary as you write, working in each key word synonym as much as possible.
• Play devil's advocate and take the opposing or immoral side of the issue. See where the discussion takes you as you write.

3. As you research, ask yourself, “What surprises me about this subject?”

The temptation, when you're writing an essay, is to write what you think your teacher or professor wants to read.

Don't do this .

Instead, ask yourself, “What do I find interesting about this subject? What surprises me?”

If you can't think of anything that surprises you, anything you find interesting, then you're not searching well enough, because history, science, and literature are all brimming   over with surprises.

When you look at how great ideas actually happen, the story is always, “We used  to think the world was this way. We found out we were completely wrong, and that the world is actually quite different from what we thought.” (This is also at the heart of critical thinking, too.)

These pieces of surprising information often make for the best topic sentences as well. Use them to outline your essay and build your body paragraphs off of each unique fact or idea. These will function as excellent hooks for your reader as you transition from one topic to the next.

(By the way, what sources should you use for research? Check out tip #10 below.)

4. Overwhelmed? Write five original sentences.

The standard three-point essay is really made up of just five original sentences surrounded by supporting paragraphs that back up those five sentences. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just write five sentences covering your most basic main points instead of trying to create a detailed outline..

Here's what they might look like for this article:

• Introductory Paragraph:  While most students consider writing an essay a boring task, with the right mindset, it can actually be an enjoyable experience.
• Body #1: Most students think writing an essay is tedious because they focus on external rewards.
• Body #2: Students should instead focus on internal fulfillment when writing an essay.
• Body #3: Not only will focusing on internal fulfillment allow students to have more fun, it will also result in better essays.
• Conclusion: Writing an essay doesn't have to be simply a way to earn a good grade. Instead, it can be a means of finding fulfillment.

After you write your five sentences, it's easy to fill in the paragraphs for each one.

Now, you give it a shot!

5. Be “source heavy.”

In college, I discovered a trick that helped me go from a B-average student to an A-student, but before I explain how it works, let me warn you. This technique is powerful , but it might not work for all teachers or professors. Use with caution.

As I was writing a paper for a literature class, I realized that the articles and books I was reading said what I was trying to say much better than I ever could. So what did I do? I quoted them liberally throughout my paper. When I wasn't quoting, I re-phrased what they said in my own words, giving proper credit, of course. I found that not only did this formula create a well-written essay, it took about half the time to write.

It's good to keep in mind that using anyone else's words, even when morphed into your own phrasing, requires citation. While the definition of plagiarism is shifting with the rise of online collaboration and cooperative learning environments, always  err on the side of appropriate citation to be safe.

When I used this technique, my professors sometimes mentioned that my papers were very “source” heavy. However, at the same time, they always gave me A's.

Make sure you're reading the sources in full. You don't want to cherry pick a paper or study's content for your own term paper only to realize the author was actually refuting the information you pulled.

To keep yourself safe, I recommend using a 60/40 approach with your body paragraphs: Make sure 60% of the words are your own analysis and argumentation, while 40% can be quoted (or text you paraphrase) from your sources.

Like the five sentence trick, this technique makes the writing process simpler. Instead of putting the main focus on writing well, it instead forces you to research  well, which some students find easier.

6. Write the body first, the introduction second, and the conclusion last.

Introductions are often the hardest part to write because you're trying to summarize your entire essay before you've even written it yet. Instead, try writing your introduction last, giving yourself the body of the paper to figure out the main point of your essay.

This is especially important with an essay topic you are not personally interested in. I definitely recommend this in classes you either don't excel in or care much for. Take plenty of time to draft and revise your body paragraphs before  attempting to craft a meaningful introductory paragraph.

Otherwise your opening may sound awkward, wooden, and bland.

7. Most essays answer the question, “What?” Good essays answer the “Why?” The best essays answer the “How?”

If you get stuck trying to make your argument, or you're struggling to reach the required word count, try focusing on the question, “How?”

For example:

• How did J.D. Salinger convey the theme of inauthenticity in  The Catcher In the Rye ?
• How did Napoleon restore stability in France after the French Revolution?
• How does the research prove girls really do rule and boys really do drool?

If you focus on how, you'll always have enough to write about.

8. Don't be afraid to jump around.

Essay writing can be a dance. You don't have to stay in one place and write from beginning to end.

For the same reasons listed in point #6, give yourself the freedom to write as if you're circling around your topic rather than making a single, straightforward argument. Then, when you edit and proofread, you can make sure everything lines up correctly.

In fact, now is the perfect time to mention that proofreading your essay isn't just about spelling and commas.

It's about making sure your analysis or argument flows smoothly from one idea to another. (Okay, technically this comprises editing, but most students writing a high school or college essay don't take the time to complete every step of the writing process. Let's be honest.)

So as you clean up your mechanics and sentence structure, make sure your ideas flow smoothly, logically, and naturally from one to the next as you finish proofreading.

9. Here are some words and phrases you don't want to use.

• You  (You'll notice I use a lot of you's, which is great for a blog post. However, in an academic essay, it's better to omit the second-person.)
• To Be verbs (is, are, was, were, am)

Don't have time to edit? Here's a lightning-quick editing technique .

Also note: you will need some “to be” verbs, but they often signal passive voice. You want to write in active voice as much as possible.

A note about “I”: Some teachers say you shouldn't use “I” statements in your writing, but the truth is that professional, academic papers often use phrases like “I believe” and “in my opinion,” especially in their introductions.

10. It's okay to use Wikipedia, if…

Wikipedia is one of the top five websites in the world for a reason: it can be a great tool for research. However, most teachers and professors don't consider Wikipedia a valid source for use in essays.

Don't totally discount it, though! Here are two ways you can use Wikipedia in your essay writing:

• Background research. If you don't know enough about your topic, Wikipedia can be a great resource to quickly learn everything you need to know to get started.
• Find sources . Check the reference section of Wikipedia's articles on your topic. While you may not be able to cite Wikipedia itself, you can often find those original sources and cite them . You can locate the links to primary and secondary sources at the bottom of any Wikipedia page under the headings “Further Reading” and “References.”

You Can Enjoy Essay Writing

The thing I regret most about high school and college is that I treated it like something I had  to do rather than something I wanted  to do.

The truth is, education is an opportunity many people in the world don't have access to.

It's a gift, not just something that makes your life more difficult. I don't want you to make the mistake of just “getting by” through school, waiting desperately for summer breaks and, eventually, graduation.

How would your life be better if you actively enjoyed writing an essay? What would school look like if you wanted to suck it dry of all the gifts it has to give you?

All I'm saying is, don't miss out!

Looking for More Essay Writing Tips?

Looking for more essay tips to strengthen your essay writing? Try some of these resources:

• 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay
• Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

How about you? Do you have any tips for writing an essay?  Let us know in the  comments .

Need more grammar help?  My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid . Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 10 percent off: WritePractice10

Coupon Code:WritePractice10 »

Ready to try out these ten essay tips to make your essay assignment fun? Spend fifteen minutes using tip #4 and write five original sentences that could be turned into an essay.

When you're finished, share your five sentences in the Pro Practice Workshop . And don't forget to give feedback to your fellow writers!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

64 Comments

Good pointers, Joe. I could have used this advice 50 years ago when I was in college. I’m sure it would have been a great help. Adelaide

Thanks Adelaide! Me too!

Ironically, this essay was published right after I completed all my work for my English BA. 🙂 Overall, this is pretty good advice– why NOT write a fun essay? You know the professors are reading not only the papers of your classmates, but also the essays of students in their other classes. I have also used wikipedia as a way to find general information or additional citations. I have also tried a variation of #4 and #8, where you jot down some ideas to focus the essay before filling the paragraphs out. It’s how I write in general. It’s so much easier to write that way, since otherwise if I try to write straight through, I just start editing and stop writing. I do differ on #6, though. I have to write the introduction first– otherwise, I can’t lay out the other paragraphs. The intro is where my thesis is, and the beauty of a word processor is that it is easy to go back and just rewrite the thesis if it’s not totally working. But even with this help, there are professors (in several areas besides English, like history, psychology, and art) who love my writing, and classes where most people including myself are getting Bs, and nobody in the class knows who are getting the As. You could write the BEST essay ever, but it’s just not for THAT professor. Sometimes it felt like the trick was learning how to write an essay for a particular professor who wouldn’t really tell you want they wanted, and was just trial and error to figure out what they wanted. Those are just my thoughts since I actually felt like I had something to say on one of these helpful articles. 🙂

As anon native English speaker Can I borrow other writers’ phrases , sentences or expressions for my story especially I need to use the Dictionary sometimes,without being scandalous .or turned down (did I used it correctly ) And while Iam reading I discover a new wide variety of vocabulary which I admire a lot .

Unfortunately, that would be plagiarism, Maha. Sorry!

So why do we have to read a lot before we start writing ,if it isn’t or couldn’t consider to be a dictionary?

I looked for Plagiarism in the dictionary ;I found it is stealing ideas but I didn’t talk about that .I talked about the words that are used , be sure I have my own ideas .Example:stepped away & walked; that one ( writer ) used one of the previous verbs to get someone went away from some one else , and I want him to get away from a door for example or a phone ,what’s wrong ?

Hi Joe, Great points. I wish I had paid closer attention in school. I did not have the desire or the opportunity to go to college but I have written all of my life and just now realizing I can be a writer and publish on my own.

OK – using tip [I can’t remember how to do the hashtag and I only have fifteen minutes so I don’t want to go and look it up, so…] ‘hashtag’ 4, to write five original sentences that could be turned into an essay… Using an essay writing prompt when you have no need to write an essay can be beneficial in many ways. Writing in any form allows, in my opinion, the writer to express thoughts and create a piece of writing. Personally, I think an essay about writing essays could be interesting and fun, and almost certainly challenging; though it’s possible I’ve had too much coffee this morning and am failing to grasp the purpose of this prompt… either way, I’m writing – and writing is good for me. It’s making me smile. That was only four sentences but one of them was pretty long and fragmented.

Thanks, Joe 🙂

And I didn’t use my fifteen minutes up so now I have time to {alt key and press 3} #

Thanks for the tips, Joe. I don’t have occasion to write a lot of essays these days, but I do need to write tech specs and internal white papers fairly regularly. Here is a five-sentence skeleton from my “day job.”

Information technology as a career has traditionally been considered a bastion for technofiles who have little to offer beyond tweaking computer programs, but true success in modern IT requires a well-rounded world view and the ability to effectively interact with and influence others.

While previous generations of technology professionals may have been able to succeed by learning one or more core technologies, today’s fast-changing tech landscape requires a nimble mind in order to remain relevant.

Beyond the need to learn quickly and often, IT staff in the 21st century must be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders in all areas of the business.

In fact, today’s technology professionals are in a position to positively transform their organizations by translating powerful technological capabilities into consumable information that business influencers can understand and embrace.

The days of choosing a career in IT because you want to hide away in an office and write obscure software are over. The technology leaders of today must work in partnership with our customers to effect real competitive advantages.

This sounds like an essay I would enjoy reading, and I’m not even an IT person.

Thanks, Erica. Maybe I’ll write the full thing some day.

Thanks for the amazing post 🙂 Really great points ..

I get many confused looks whenever I tell people I have a degree in English yet hated writing papers in college. I wish I had taken the time to learn how to write one properly, so then they might not have sucked all the fun out of my life back then. I struggled to get Cs on my papers (granted, I usually waited ’til the night before to write them – such a bad habit for me). Anyway, I took a stab at the prompt and here are the results:

Title: Why The World Needs More Adoptive Families Thesis: Adoption can be a rewarding and beneficial experience, despite its own unique challenges. Body #1: Even though being raised by biological parents is the ideal, the reality is that adoption is likely the best option for children who are already waiting for a permanent family. Body #2: Thousands of children age out foster care each year without the support system of a stable family. Body #3: Supporting adoption is a Biblical mandate, regardless of one’s personal ministry calling. Conclusion: Adoption isn’t for everyone, but the need is great enough that more families must step up to meet it.

Great tips to creative writing…

I hate writing essay’s

Joe, thank you so much for this! I was in a bit of a writing slump and this was exactly the read I needed.

Thank you for your wonderful tips on writing an essay. How do u suggest we gather information for an essay for example, a school essay(narrative, argumentative and reflective)

how about an opinion essay what advice would you give me

I’m so glad to see you used Wikipedia as source tool. As someone that is more of a technical writer, research scientist/business man and who sells his work in the form of technical reports and occasional publications – I am a huge proponent of Wikipedia. There is no better way for the average person to research a subject (and that is a fact, see below). I am always saddened when I run into some severely handicapped uninformed soul who thinks that Wikipedia is not a valid source because it isn’t on paper. Few people take the time to read the comparison studies that have been done regarding the accuracy of Wikipedia and other encyclopedic sources – and none of which are 100% accurate and or unbiased. The first of such comparisons was done by Nature in 2005:

“For its study, Nature chose articles from both sites in a wide range of topics and sent them to what it called “relevant” field experts for peer review. The experts then compared the competing articles–one from each site on a given topic–side by side, but were not told which article came from which site. Nature got back 42 usable reviews from its field of experts.

In the end, the journal found just eight serious errors, such as general misunderstandings of vital concepts, in the articles. Of those, four came from each site. They did, however, discover a series of factual errors, omissions or misleading statements. All told, Wikipedia had 162 such problems, while Britannica had 123.”

Since 2005 there have been several other comparisons and Wikipedia fairs very well in all. One article I found in Forbes also reveals a curious phenomenon, conservative personality types tend to have a general bias against Wikipedia – and are also uninformed as to accuracy. Not unlike conservative college professors who have biases against even high quality online courses. Never underestimate the limitations of the conservative personality type.

Here are some the references I’ve found:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7070/full/438900a.html

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7084/full/440582b.html

http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/08/02/seven-years-after-nature-pilot-study-compares-wikipedia-favorably-to-other-encyclopedias-in-three-languages/

Conservative bias and Wikipedia

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2015/01/20/wikipedia-or-encyclopaedia-britannica-which-has-more-bias/

I love your thinking. Wikipedia is a great site. It provides directions and the general knowledge from a broad perspective. Many thanks for your references. I shall dig deeper and develop my writing skills.

Luke Ramirez

July 16 2015

Do you love mom? You really should. Mom is the one who loves you. Here are some reasons why I LOVE my mom!!!

My mom gives me food. She gave birth to me. She loves me and likes me a lot…. She gives me clothes. She lets me live. She helps me learn how to type. She wants me to be smart. She gives me discipline. My mom is the best mom in the world.

Always look up to your mom unless she is on drugs or something. You should always love your mom. She’s the one who went through pain for you. She’s awesomeness thing you could ever have.

(My son’s hilarious essay for all to view!) Also, bear with him because he is just starting.

hahaha, great post. It reminds of me when I was young

Hey Joe ! Thank you for your wonderful advices. I struggle a lot during essay writings but if I use your tips correctly, I’m sure I will get better results. Thanks a lot Joe 🙂

I totally agree with you 100 percent

I hate writing in APA. The citing. The reference page has to be perfect. Getting my Masters was so frustrating at times. I had to write a 30 page thesis. At least with essays, you don’t have to if it doesn’t apply. When helping my son with his we had a title page and cited only if necessary and providing a reference page. His teacher loved that because he is in middle school. The paper was really professionally written. He got a solid A.

This is the best advice on essays I’ve read in a long time. I’m about to write an essay and am a bit rusty. However, I’ve written a few over the course of my studies and the ones that got the best marks were the ones where I applied the sort of techniques you write about here… thanks for the refresh!

I read the whole thing in a woman’s voice oops! But great tips! Will be using those tomorrow!

This is great. We just apply the tips together with other sweetness to provide the best writing experience in our work.

This is a real inspiration man, keep up that same spirit.

I started reading this instead of doing my essay…

yeah me too

i got an essay due tommorow morning and yet here i am

I am having so much trouble writing my essay and even though these are great points and i can probably use them, I cant get my brain to use them. I really need help and i don’t even know how to begin to ask.

Thanks this helped a lot

Great points. Just a question, is it okay if we use let’s give it a try as a suggestion at the end of conclusion paragraph?Thanks

Great article! Helps me get past my fear of writing for grad school

Well done, Joe. You’ve successfully made, both my day and essays, better in every way. Thank you.

Hi Joe, thanks for the pointers they are really helpful with writing an essay (which I struggle with); but what about writing an exemplification essay?

Writing an essay is not easy, these are some useful hints and tips on how to construct and write the best essay possible. These simple steps will guide you through the essay writing process: • Decide on your topic. • Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas. • Write your thesis statement. • Write the body. Write the main points. Write the sub points. … • Write the introduction. • Write the conclusion. • Add the final changes. • Read More At htpps://essaypeer.com

Writing is my favorite hobbie and these tips are very helpful. Thanks!

Global warming is being ignored by massive companies who emit most of the carbon dioxide, world leaders must act to stop them or there would not be another future.

These companies emit over half the carbon dioxide over a year period are choosing to ignore Global Warming.

Governments must put sanctions on these companies and increase their tax rate unless they switch to another renewable source.

Global Warming is getting worse and worse and it is only a matter of time that the governments of these companies started putting a stop to it.

Do you accept guest post here? I have a site that I think it’s close related to this post. Would that be possible?

this helped. thanks!

Great suggestions! I applied your ideas and I got an A from a super harsh teacher. I’d give this a 9/10!

Writing a perfect essay is not a easy task. It is so difficult to write perfect,creative,informative and quality essay. The essay also reveals what you can do when you have time to think and work on a writing project. Your tips are very helpful for writing a quality essay. Thanks.

This is a good piece overall, but leading with the idea of Bs and A minuses as mediocre is so unhelpful. Those are very good grades that most students would kill for.

They are good grades if you are a mediocre student. For those striving to get into an Ivy League school or other good colleges/careers, at least an A is needed in every class.

I am only at Tip #2 and can already feel my “inner writer” coming back to life. I’ve been torturing myself for so long — many new ideas and perspectives to share and nothing but dread at the thought of the actual writing. I was always such a “good student”, and by the time I finished grad school I no longer enjoyed either reading or writing. Pretty sad statement, even sadder that the ill effects have lasted three decades. The only writing advice I’ve read so far basically boils down to: it’s work, you just have to do it, set aside a specific time and force yourself…. all about as appealing as my mother’s shoe leather lamb chops. I can’t thank you enough for your approach. I think it’s going to work for me, and just know I am immensely grateful beyond what words can express. Yes!

Also I want to advise listening music when you are writing an essay. That’s what I found on youtube:

– Music for Brain Power – Study Music Alpha Waves – Classical Study Music

I think, it will be usefull for everebody ^_^

I want to ask Joe whether it is possible to post this article on our blog ? Our readers will enjoy to read these 10 Effective Tips

I’m struggling with an essay right now, I should have started it like 6months ago and I just couldn’t do it … even with the help of everyone around me. Though, reading your article, it gives me hope ! Thanks a lot 🙂

This is possibly the most useful article I have read. After severe procrastination lasting days you have reminded me about what I need to do I have finally managed to get myself into the right mental state for writing. You may not see this but massive thanks 🙂

Writing is one of my hobbies as well, but it’s just so frustrating when you brainstorm and then the person that grades your paper returns it to you with a lower score than you deserved. I would like to see them try. One thing I did noticed is that boring topics may reflect the writing style. When the topic is interesting that’s when the grades sky-rocket.

Hey dude, you just “unstuck” me. Thank you, I was trying to at least set the framework for a Didactics in Philosophy essay and you give me that initual impulse. Thank you !

nice article

Good article.

You’re so right, Joe, the biggest reason why writing essay is so hard for me is because I regularly focus on outside rewards and it makes my writing significantly harder! And I stopped doing it, and you know, I write much better now! Thanks! Also wanted to add that recently I found great free plagiarism checker for students and want to share it with others. It allows you to check 500 words for free and then after signing up it gives you five additional free pages. This is just enough to check the essay. Personally for me, it was a great find! Since it’s hard to find a free and good checker. Good luck to all!

My biggest problem is that I struggle writing my thoughts into words. When working on an essay, a discussion post, or an e-mail to my teacher, I need to try to make something that’s absolutely 100% perfect and I usually struggle to get the wording to sound great. I start off writing an essay just fine, but I either delete everything I’ve done because it doesn’t sound perfect or I sit in front of the screen and panic because I can’t think of the right way to word anything.

This then leads me to procrastinate by either doing something else to calm myself down or looking for self-help sites online, thinking I’ll find some magic cure all advice that I can say to/use on myself to overcome my block and start writing. In fact, me writing this post right now is due to procrastinating because I’m struggling to write something perfect for a class assignment.

Thats how I exactly feel when I have to write an essay! I have great difficulty writing the exact words or writing a good sentence. Im currently stuck too and my essay is due tomorrow ;(

While I love to eat cinnamon rolls, they are loaded with sugars which can be detrimental to my long-term health. Sugars are empty calories that trick the mind into always wanting more sugar which can result in addiction. Addiction to sugar-coated foods will encourage people to substitute their diet with sugar-heavy foods habitually. In the long term, the individual will have an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes. Consequently, foods having artificially-added sugar should be avoided to prevent disease.

I know I am *several* years late… but an essay came up, I know this is a reliable writing website, So I turned here!! I was not disappointed with this wonderful “how to write an essay” page. thank you for this help, Joe! And I look forward to many more readings in this site.

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• How to Write Great Supplemental College Application Essays How to Write Great Supplemental College Application Essays

Updated: Wednesday, November 06, 2024

How to write great supplemental college application essays.

Aside from grades, standardized test scores, and your high school courses, one of the most important elements of the college application is the essay. Supplemental essays give admissions officers the chance to get to know students, and they’re also great gauges for demonstrated interest. So how can students master college admission essays?

What Is a Supplemental Essay?

While the Common Application and the Coalition Application each have a required essay, many colleges include their own school-specific essays, known as writing supplements. These supplemental essays are designed to help the admissions committee gain a better understanding of who you are and how you will fit in on campus.

Tell Admissions Officers Something They Don’t Already Know

Admissions officers want to get to know applicants. There’s only so much that application readers can deduce from your extracurricular activities, transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, and other application materials. Many times the best way to get a clear picture of a student’s goals, accomplishments, and character is to hear it directly from the student themself.

Instead of using the essay to regurgitate the information that’s already available, reveal something that can’t be found anywhere else in the application. For example, if captain of the school’s soccer team is on the activity list, don’t write an essay about the biggest game of the season. The admissions officers already know soccer is an interest, so choose a deeper topic that reveals something meaningful.

One example: A student’s top activity on her activity list was horseback riding. Instead of writing an essay about riding, she instead wrote about her faith and how she reconciled that with what she was learning in her advanced science courses.

Approaching “Quirky” Essay Prompts

It’s a college admissions trend that keeps growing in popularity: the quirky college application essay question . From questions about what advice a wisdom tooth would have to inquiries about how students would design their own courses, many colleges are asking applicants some strange questions. For many students, these wild and wacky application prompts can be extremely intimidating. Many struggle with the balance between writing creative, witty responses and sounding cheesy and forced.

When tackling these odd application essay prompts, remember the main goal of the admissions essay — to reveal something not obvious about yourself. These essays are about you, not what you think the college wants to hear, so keep your interests in mind! The same applies to the “short-take” supplement questions (those that seek a one-word or one-sentence response). Dig deep, but remember that your answer doesn’t have to be as strange as the prompt — it just needs to reflect your character and passions.

The Common “Why This College?” Essay

One of the most common supplemental essays that students will come across is the infamous “ Why This College? ” essay. Whether it’s simply “Why XX University?” or a more specific question about how a student plans to contribute to the campus, colleges are looking for detailed and well-researched responses.

It’s not enough to say, “I want to go to XX University because it’s a great school,” or “XX College is my favorite.” When evaluating these responses, colleges want to know that a student has done their homework on the institution and has really thought about how they will fit into the campus community. If supplemental essays are good gauges for demonstrated interest , this particular type of essay is the most important.

When answering this essay question, use specific details. Mention courses and professors of interest. Students should elaborate on campus organizations or programs that fit certain goals, and specific aspects of the campus community that make it a good social and academic fit. Be as detailed as possible, but be sure to relate these details to specific goals and interests. Don’t just rattle off some course names and expect to wow the admissions committee.

The best writing supplements will add great context and personality to a student’s application, and elevate their chances of admission. Often it can be the difference between the ‘no’ and the ‘maybe’ pile. Research and preparation are key to writing stand-out supplements, so don’t wait until the last minute! If you’re still unsure about how your essay could come across to admissions officers, it’s not too late for our team of expert counselors to review your supplements and give guidance on how to draft and revise your essays. Contact us to learn more.

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12 College Essay Prompts and Topics 2023

The Common Application is officially open, and many college-bound high school students are hard at work on their college applications. In addition to the main Common App essay, many schools might also require supplements that include some thoughtful — and downright quirky — essay prompts and short answer questions.

2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts

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5 Common College Application Essay Myths

Make Sure You Know The Truth About College Application Essays Before Starting On Your Common Application

The Common Application opens this weekend on August 1, and for many rising seniors this is the perfect opportunity to get a head start on their college applications before the start of the school year. However, before students dive into their college application essays, they need to know what’s true, and what’s false, about these common application essay myths.

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Home > JOURNALDIALOGUE > DIALOGUE > Vol. 8 (2021) > Iss. 1

Guiding Students Down that “Old Town Road:” Writing Pedagogy, Relatability and the Sitch

Lynn D. Zimmemran , Cleveland, Ohio, United States Follow

This study draws on media literacy to suggest pedagogical techniques that aim to combat boredom and enhance student engagement in freshman writing classes. Students often complain they cannot relate to course work; they maintain that course materials do not connect to their real lives and are therefore uninteresting. Because writing classes can serve as an introduction to academic discourse and skillful writing promotes academic success, negative attitudes about writing matter. Instructors craft courses to achieve learning outcomes but also to foster the habits of mind effective writing demands. I contend that discussing and writing about timely, controversial topics from students’ social media feeds teaches them to identify the complex power structures at play in the materials they do find pertinent. Students gain confidence by demonstrating adept understandings of contentious issues and, in fostering this process, instructors neutralize the relatability problem by allowing students to choose the topics they deem compelling.

Recommended Citation

Zimmemran, Lynn D. (2021) "Guiding Students Down that “Old Town Road:” Writing Pedagogy, Relatability and the Sitch," Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy : Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article 5. Available at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dialogue/vol8/iss1/5

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Essay Scholarships to Help Fund Your Education

Essay scholarships are the most common scholarships out there. Explore our list of the best ones to apply for and tips on writing your essay!

Writing is one of the most important inventions of humankind. It enables ideas to be communicated across large distances and preserves those ideas for future generations. From this essential aspect of writing, essays have arisen as mediums of persuasion and personal expression. Thus, it’s no surprise that most scholarships require essays to assess the qualities of a candidate. It’s convenient, tried-and-true, and gives candidates the ability to convey parts of themselves without knowledge of complicated technological or artistic skills.

In this article, we’ll explore the best essay scholarships you should start applying for. To accompany this list, we’ll break down the basics of an essay scholarship, how to write an essay, and other scholarship opportunities to check out. Scholarship essays have an intimidating reputation, but if you view them as just another way to introduce yourself, they can seem a lot more approachable. Now, without further ado, let’s get into the best essay scholarships so you can start saving up for college or graduate school!

Scholarship Institute is your guide to all things scholarship! Anyone thinking about postsecondary education should check out our top scholarships, tutoring recommendations, and scholarship website reviews.

Essay Scholarships: The Traditional Scholarship

An essay scholarship is a form of financial aid that requires students to submit an original essay as part of the application process. These scholarships are often awarded based on the quality of the applicant’s writing, their ability to engage with the given topic, and how effectively they can communicate their ideas. The topics for essay scholarships vary widely, ranging from personal stories and experiences to more academic or socially focused themes.

Essay scholarships are available to high school students, undergraduate and graduate students alike. However, it’s most important for graduating high school seniors and current college students to start thinking about the scholarship process since they have college fees needing to be paid.

Key Characteristics of Essay Scholarships:

• Prompt-Based : Most essay scholarships provide a prompt or topic that applicants must respond to within a specific word count. The prompt can be personal (e.g., “Describe a challenge you’ve overcome”), societal (e.g., “How can we address climate change?”), or related to the sponsor’s mission (e.g., “Why is financial literacy important?”).
• Judged on Quality : Applications are judged based on content, originality, structure, and adherence to the prompt. Some scholarships may also factor in grammar, spelling, and style, so attention to detail is crucial.
• Personal Insight : Many essay prompts encourage students to share personal experiences, challenges, or goals. This aspect allows the scholarship committee to get to know the student on a deeper level and assess their potential beyond grades and test scores.

If you’re pursuing higher education, you should check out these scholarships for undergraduate students!

Essay Scholarship vs No-Essay Scholarships

While essay scholarships focus on written submissions, no-essay scholarships remove that requirement entirely. No-essay scholarships are designed for students who may not have the time or resources to craft an essay but still wish to seek financial aid. These scholarships often have simpler application processes, such as filling out a form or meeting basic eligibility criteria.

Essay scholarships, on the other hand, may offer more substantial awards due to the effort involved, but they can be more competitive. No-essay scholarships are often more accessible but may come with smaller awards or other trade-offs, such as being based entirely on luck or specific criteria like location or background. Applying to multiple scholarships of this type is the best way to maximize your chances.

Being a graduate student can be tough, but these grad school scholarships can alleviate some of that financial burden!

How to Write an Essay for a Scholarship

Writing an essay for a scholarship is no small feat, but there are certain strategies you can use to make the process easier and more engaging. Remember, scholarship essays can be your gateway to securing financial support for your education, and they provide a platform to showcase who you are beyond grades and test scores. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting a stellar, winning essay.

1. Understand the Prompt

The first step in writing a scholarship essay is to thoroughly understand the essay prompt. Scholarship providers often ask specific questions or set particular themes to gauge your ability to respond thoughtfully and creatively. Read the prompt several times to ensure you fully grasp what is being asked. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the main topic or theme?
• What specific aspects of the topic does the prompt want you to address?
• Are there any underlying expectations, such as personal insight, leadership, or community involvement?

It’s crucial to stay on topic and answer the question directly. Straying from the prompt can weaken your application, no matter how well-written the essay is.

2. Research the Scholarship Organization

Each scholarship is provided by an organization or individual with a specific mission or goal. Whether it’s a company, nonprofit, or educational institution, understanding the values of the scholarship provider can help you tailor your essay to align with their mission. For instance, if the scholarship is from an art organization, you might want to emphasize your imaginative flair and ability to see beauty outside of the ordinary.

Researching the scholarship provider allows you to understand what qualities or experiences they might value most in an applicant. This research can also inspire examples and experiences you might want to include in your essay.

Pro Tip: If you’re applying to creative writing scholarships, don’t be afraid to utilize lots of rhetorical and literary devices. For these scholarships, your writing style matters as much as the content.

Apply for these art scholarships with the tips from our example about art organizations!

3. Brainstorm and Outline Your Ideas

Before diving into writing, take the time to brainstorm ideas. Reflect on your personal experiences, achievements, challenges, and goals that are relevant to the essay prompt. Think about moments in your life that showcase your strengths, resilience, or leadership abilities. Don’t worry about structure at this point—just let your thoughts flow freely.

Once you have a collection of ideas, start organizing them into a coherent structure. Outlining helps to ensure your essay has a clear beginning, middle, and end. A typical essay structure includes:

• Introduction : Capture the reader’s attention with a compelling hook. This could be an interesting anecdote, a surprising fact, or a thought-provoking question. Your introduction should also briefly introduce the main points you’ll cover in the essay.
• Body paragraphs : Each body paragraph should focus on a single idea or example. For scholarship essays, it’s often effective to use personal experiences to illustrate broader themes. Use descriptive language and specific details to make your experiences come alive. Make sure every example ties back to the essay prompt and highlights why you are a strong candidate for the scholarship.
• Conclusion : Summarize the key points you’ve made, restating how they demonstrate your qualifications for the scholarship. End with a strong closing statement that reinforces your passion, dedication, or long-term goals.

4. Be Authentic and Personal

Scholarship committees want to know who you are, not just what you’ve done. At its core, a scholarship essay is a brief look into your experiences, personality, and passions. Authenticity is key when writing your essay.

Instead of trying to fit into a mold or write what you think the scholarship provider wants to hear, be honest about your experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Personal stories resonate more than generic responses. If the essay prompt asks for a significant challenge you’ve overcome, for example, share a genuine experience that had a profound impact on your life.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to get personal and lean into your emotional response to the prompt.

Essays can always be supported by a stellar transcript. Boost your grades with these top tutoring programs !

5. Edit and Proofread

Once you’ve written your essay, the next step is revising and editing. Scholarship essays should be clear, concise, and free from errors. After writing the first draft, take a break before revising. This will allow you to come back to the essay with fresh eyes and catch mistakes or areas that need improvement.

During the editing process, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the essay clearly address the prompt?
• Are the ideas well-organized and easy to follow?
• Are there any unnecessary words or redundant sentences?
• Have you used specific details to illustrate your points?

After revising, proofread carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Even a well-written essay can be undermined by simple mistakes. Consider asking a teacher, mentor, or trusted friend to read over your essay and provide feedback.

Pro Tip: All writing is re-writing. Don’t be afraid to start from scratch. Parts of previous drafts might be holding you back from seeing a better way of tackling the prompt.

6. Follow Instructions

One of the easiest ways to disqualify yourself from a scholarship is by failing to follow the submission guidelines. Pay close attention to the instructions regarding formatting, word count, and submission deadlines. If the scholarship application asks for a 500-word essay, don’t submit 700 words. Scholarship committees often use these guidelines as a way to filter applicants who cannot follow directions.

Make sure to format your essay according to the requirements. This might include using a specific font, spacing, or file format. Submit your essay well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute issues. Procrastination is tantalizing, but not so much when you’re scrambling in the final minutes before the deadline to change your essay’s formatting.

High school juniors, it’s not too early to start thinking about scholarships. Check out these scholarships specific to your grade level!

Frequently Asked Questions About Essay Scholarships

1. who is eligible for essay scholarships.

It depends. Eligibility requirements often include factors like academic achievement, community involvement, financial need, or specific demographic criteria (e.g., gender, ethnicity, or field of study). Always review the specific requirements of each scholarship before applying.

Pro Tip: Scholarships with more eligibility requirements will be less competitive. For example, Indigenous students will find the most success in applying for scholarships specific to Indigenous students.

2. How Much Money Do Essay Scholarships Usually Give?

Essay scholarship awards can range from as little as $500 to more than $5,000 or even full-ride scholarships covering tuition and other expenses. The amount typically depends on the sponsor and the level of competition for the scholarship. If you’re attending college or university, any scholarship, no matter the amount, will make a difference, so apply to as many as possible!

3. How Long Does Writing an Essay for a Scholarship Take?

The time it takes to write a scholarship essay depends on the complexity of the prompt and your writing process. It can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, including time for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and proofreading. Most essays will take at least a few hours, so make sure you’re budgeting enough time for writing.

Lingering questions? Scholarship Institute’s blog might have the answer!

Bethany Keene

Alongside her English degree, Bethany Keene’s passion for community engagement and civic responsibility serves as the foundation for her articles at Scholarship Institute, where she writes about scholarships and other funding opportunities for students with a focus on social issues in education.

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4 Exciting Student-Led Writing Competitions for Students

• Last modified 2024-11-08
• Published on 2024-11-08

85% of Aralia Students Place in Top Writing Competitions

1. future scholar foundation short story competition.

The Future Scholar Foundation, a nonprofit co-founded by students, aims to inspire and empower young writers to articulate their thoughts effectively. Through monthly short story contests, the foundation has engaged over 3,000 students from more than 20 U.S. states and 8 countries, helping them grow as creative individuals. With support from the New York Times, Seattle Times, and other media outlets, the foundation provides young voices with a wide-reaching platform to be heard.

Eligibility : Elementary and middle school students around the world

Deadline : Each competition opens on the 1st and closes on the 28th of the month

Entry Fee: Free

November Prompt :

One November morning, a stranger arrives in your town. They’re dressed like they’re from another somewhere far away, and you find that you can’t quite understand what they’re saying. You get the idea that this stranger is searching of critical importance to them – yet they refuse to explain exactly why or what it is they’re looking for. Write a story about a mysterious traveler who arrives in your city, town, or neighborhood – who are they, and what are their intentions?

Students can sign up for one-on-one coaching calls to enhance their writing skills.

Submission Guide : Stories should be within a 350-word limit, though entries slightly over (by 5-15 words) will not be disqualified. Students can submit multiple stories each month.

• 1st Place – $25 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in their Hall of Fame.
• 2nd Place – $15 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in their Hall of Fame.
• 3rd Place – $5 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in their Hall of Fame.
• Runner Up – Writing published in their Hall of Fame.

Link: https://www.futurescholarfoundation.org/short-story

2. Dante Literary Prize

The Dante Literary Prize is a semi-annual writing contest that celebrates outstanding high school essays on topics related to Western classical literature. They aim to recognize and reward exceptional students who demonstrate intellectual creativity and a deep understanding of these timeless works. The organization believes that by grappling with great books, students gain insights into human nature, moral complexities, and enduring virtues that shape strong, independent thinkers who can contribute positively to the world.

Eligibility : Open to high school students (grades 9-12)

• Junior Division: Age 11-14 years
• Senior Division: Age 15-18 years

Upcoming Deadlines:

• Winter 2024 Cycle: December 31, 2024
• Spring 2025 Cycle: March 28, 2025
• Short-form essay on a selected theme related to Western literature
• Finalists will present a 15-minute oral defense on Scholar’s Oratory Day

Winter 2024 Theme: “Echoes of the Classics – Lessons from the Great Books” Choose a work from classical Western literature (e.g., The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, Shakespeare’s plays, etc.) and write an original essay exploring how it has influenced your understanding of human nature, moral challenges, or timeless virtues. Connect the work to personal experiences or modern societal issues.

Submission Guidelines:

• Word count: 800-1200 words
• Writing style: Formal, original, and intellectually rigorous
• AI-generated content is prohibited
• Individual prizes for submissions with a passing score
• Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for finalists based on performance
• Certificates of completion for all participants

Link : https://www.juniorclassicsleague.com/literary-excellence-prize

3. The Incandescent Review Acton Writing Competition

The Incandescent Review is a literary magazine run by students that focuses on amplifying the voices of underrepresented youth and provides young writers with the opportunity to get published. Students in the competition will explore complex topics and propose actionable solutions to real-world issues.

Eligibility : Students aged 14-18

Deadline : September 15, 2024

Entry Fee : Free

Categories : Social Justice & Human Rights, Environmental Sustainability, Technology & Ethics, Economic Innovation, and Global Governance & Policy

Prizes often include publication and cash awards, and the contests are open to international high school students.

Submission Guidelines : Submitted essays should be 1500-2000 words in length

• First Prize: $300 + Publication in our Acton Writing Anthology
• Second Prize: Certificate of Excellence
• Third Prize: Certificate of Excellence
• Shortlisted Entries: Certificates and a feature on our website

Link : https://www.theincandescentreview.org/acton-writing-competition-2024

Unlock Your Writing Potential: Students in Our Writing Competition Preparation Class Are More Likely to Secure Awards

4. writecause writing contest.

WriteCause is a volunteer-run organization that inspires teens to think critically about global issues through quarterly writing contests focused on major world topics. By participating, young writers gain awareness of significant challenges and are encouraged to brainstorm potential solutions while developing their writing skills.

Eligibility : Open to anyone aged 12-18 worldwide

Deadline: September 30, 2024

Submission Types : Accepted forms include poems, short stories, and essays; visual formats like graphic novels and black-out poetry are not accepted. Submissions must be in English. Students may submit individually or in groups; collaborative entries are encouraged and do not affect scoring.

Submission Length : 6,000 characters or fewer

Prompt : Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how individuals’ social and political identities can lead to differences in their treatment, power, and privilege. Factors such as gender, race, and religion have an essential role in determining one’s social identity. Living in a constantly evolving society, it is essential to be aware of the unique identities and circumstances of those around you. Throughout this quarter, we invite you to explore INTERSECTIONALITY and its implications on society, while delving into its impacts on individual experiences and opportunities within the fields of politics, healthcare, education, and more.

Prizes : Winners (Gold, Silver, Bronze Pen) and two honorable mentions will be featured on the WriteCause website in the Winners’ Gallery and receive a Certificate of Achievement.

Link: https://writecausecharity.wixsite.com/website

5. Further your writing skills with Aralia

Aralia is also offering various year-round preparation programs for writing competitions for teen and high school students, along with academic writing courses for students worldwide. Our teachers are more than regular tutors because we are committed to providing the best-personalized support for students’ growth !

This class is offered in the summer every year. Students from 13 to 18 years old wanting to learn how to shape their written English into effective and publishable creative pieces will find this particular Writing Competition course very exciting. The class will be shown a range of tools to learn the nuances of controlled, purposeful writing, including: figurative language, effective structuring and specific forms that they will apply to their own pieces.

Aralia Education is an innovative online education platform for ambitious middle and high school students worldwide. Aralia’s instructors propel students forward by helping them build a strong foundation in traditional academic courses. They also actively engage and guide students in exploring personal interests beyond their school curriculum. With this holistic approach, Aralia ensures its students are well-prepared for college and equipped for success in their future careers.

• College Accelerator Program
• Comprehensive Introduction to High School
• Academic Empowerment Program
• Test Preparation Bootcamp
• Private Lessons
• Student Awards
• Competitions

Address : 1 Tara Blvd Suite 200, Nashua, NH 03062, USA

Give us a call: +1 (603) 932 7897

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• This law school is among the 1% that allow…

This law school is among the 1% that allow use of AI to write admissions essays

By Debra Cassens Weiss

October 9, 2024, 2:47 pm CDT

(Image from Shutterstock )

Can would-be law students use generative artificial intelligence programs, such as ChatGPT, to write admissions essays? Fifty-four percent of surveyed law schools have no official policy on the issue, according to a survey by test prep company Kaplan.

The Kaplan survey found that 45% of law schools have an official policy banning the use of generative AI to write essays, while 1% allow it.

The findings “somewhat surprised” Amit Schlesinger, executive director of legal and government programs at Kaplan.

“As we see it, in a way, no policy at all may be understood by applicants as a de facto policy of allowing it, which only muddies the waters,” Schlesinger said in an Oct. 8 press release .

Admissions officers at 97 law schools participated in Kaplan’s 2024 survey, including 34 of the nation’s top 50 law schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

The survey also found that 16% of surveyed law schools allow generative AI to brainstorm essay ideas, while another 16% ban it. Fifteen percent allow AI programs to provide feedback on essays, and another 15% ban it.

Above the Law had coverage of the findings.

Kaplan didn’t reveal which schools do and don’t allow ChatGPT. But the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law has “welcomed prospective law students to use these [AI] tools,” Law.com reported in October 2023.

“Generative AI is a tool available to nearly everyone, regardless of their economic situation,” the law school says on its website . The tool can help prospective students “submit a strong application when used responsibly.”

Amy Beier Best, assistant dean of admissions and financial aid at the Arizona State University law school, told Law.com that applicants still must be truthful.

“Because we are allowing the use of AI in the application process,” she said, “we’re also asking applicants to certify that not only is information entirely in their application true and accurate, but as part of that, [asking whether] they’ve used any tools, whether AI or others, responsibly and ethically in creating their application materials.”

Taking the opposite tack, the University of Michigan Law School announced in July 2023 that applicants must certify that they didn’t use ChatGPT or other AI tools when drafting personal statements and essays.

The University of Michigan Law School planned to police its ban on AI-written essays by comparing the submissions with writing samples from students’ Law School Admission Test, Sarah C. Zearfoss, the law school’s senior assistant dean, told the ABA Journal in 2023.

“We will see essays and think, ‘Yep, this could be ChatGPT.’ Or it could just be a bland essay,” Zearfoss said.

One tipoff that an essay has been generated by ChatGPT is that the final paragraph starts with, “In conclusion,” David Kemp, an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School, told the Journal in 2023.

Law.com asked ChatGPT to write an “admission essay for law school.”

Law.com noted “flowery language” in its AI-generated essay . It began this way: “As I stand at the threshold of a new chapter in my life, the decision to pursue a career in law feels like the most natural and compelling choice I have ever made.”

The second-to-the-last paragraph began with the words, “In conclusion.”

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