Writing an essay is so hard because:
- You would rather be scrolling through Instagram.
- You are trying to write something your instructor will like.
- You are trying to score an A rather than writing something that is good.
- You don’t want to put in the extra work.
Writing an essay is hard because you may be focusing on external rewards like getting your instructor’s approval or getting a passing grade. When you focus on achieving external rewards, writing becomes daunting.
Stop trying to impress your instructor by writing a good essay. When you do so, you shut down your subconscious, which is the source of your creativity. Instead, be yourself when writing your essay, edit it after you finish, and ensure that it adheres to your instructor’s guidelines.
Below is a list of tips to write a good essay which when followed will make essay writing more fun.
How to improve your essay writing skills
1. Create an outline
Before you start composing your essay, create an outline. An outline arranges your ideas in a logical manner and helps you stay on track throughout the writing process.
The standard structure of an essay consists of an introduction which has a thesis statement; the body of the essay which has separate paragraphs that consist of evidence supporting the thesis; and the conclusion which sums up your essay and connects it to the thesis.
2. Incorporate sources
When you are writing your essay, you will often find that the books, journals, or articles you are reading say what you are trying to say in a better way. As such, you should quote the sources throughout your essay or re-phrase them in your own words, but, do not forget to give proper credit when you do this.
3. Begin by writing the body first, then the introduction, and the c
If you are saying “I need to write an essay” but do not know where to start, this tip is for you. Start by writing the body first because you cannot write an introduction to an essay you have not yet written. When you begin by writing the body first, you will gather main points which you will include in the introduction.
4. Answer the “How” question, not the “Why” and “What” questions
If you are struggling to reach the required word count or your creative juices have stopped flowing, focus on the “How” question.
- How did Shakespeare create sympathy for Macbeth?
- How does the study show that women wear more sunscreen than men?
If you focus on the “How” question, you will lack nothing to write about!
5. Use the right vocabulary
How you use language in essay writing is important. When you are writing an essay, remember that you are trying to convince your reader that you can make a sound argument. Using big words with the aim of sounding smart is not a good move. If you are not sure of the meaning of a word, avoid it.
6. Style
Your clothes express your personality. In the same way, the style of your essay expresses your writing persona. Your writing persona shines through when you write succinct sentences that vary in form. For instance, a child might write in a robotic manner: I like to dance. I like to swim. I like to play, etc. A mature writer incorporates idiomatic phrases and various types of sentences.
7. Use the active voice
Good writing is always done in the active voice. This means that the action is performed by the subject of the sentence and not the receiver of the action. Have a look at the following sentences:
- Tracy threw the Frisbee (active)
- The Frisbee was thrown by Tracy (Passive)
Ensure that you write your essay in the active voice.
8. Conventions
Conventions include grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling. Having a lot of mistakes diminishes the credibility of your arguments and suggests carelessness. If your writing is filled to the brim with errors, it will be difficult to understand.
It is such a shame for an instructor to miss the excellent points you made in your essay because of grammatical errors. Avoid this by using online proofreading software. Or, you can seek help from write my paper services which also provide editing services and have your essay edited by a professional editor and proofreader.
How to have fun while writing an essay
If you are a student saying “I can’t write essays because essay writing is a daunting task,” here is how to have fun while writing an essay.
Stop over thinking. Stop thinking about what your professor will say or what grade you will get. Write an essay that you find interesting and your originality will show on paper.
Use an app. If you get stuck at the editing process, you can use Hemingway which will cue you into grammar and spelling errors and tell you when you are rambling.
Essay writing does not have to be daunting. If you practice writing papers using the tips listed above, you will soon discover that essay writing is fun. Learning how to have fun while writing an essay could the best thing you do for yourself. It will save you a lot of struggling and procrastinating in your assigned essay tasks.