It’s great to be a beginner in something. There’s so much that you can learn!
A popular belief is that perfecting a certain skill is easier than learning it from scratch, but that’s not quite true. In fact, learning the basics is often the most exciting part.
Essay writing is a complex skill, and to master it, one needs a lot of knowledge and practice.
But basically, it comes down to a simple scheme that you need to hone to perfection. To learn this scheme, you need to be a diligent student, attend classes, and read textbooks.
There’s also an abundance of essay writing guides online if you want additional information.
So, we’re not going to offer you yet another step-by-step writing guide here.
Instead, here is a list of the best pieces of advice that are not so obvious but will certainly be of great help to any beginner:
1. Believe In Yourself
First and foremost, you have to believe that you can learn to write essays well.
There can be nothing worse than trying to come up with something decent while being sure that nothing good will ever come of it.
So, be brave. Don’t sit there looking at a blank piece of paper or an empty document on your laptop screen. Write something!
2. Learn Your Theory
However creative you are, you won’t be able to write an academic paper without knowing your theory.
So, make sure to attend your lectures and seminars, and read your textbooks! The more you do it, the less you have to study on your own.
However, students, even the most diligent ones, often need additional information on essay writing theory to learn it well
If you are one of such students, don’t hesitate to look for essay writing guides for beginners online. But be careful to only use reliable sources!
3. Analyze Sample Essays
Knowing the theory is great, but then again, most students find it difficult to put theory into practice.
If you’re experiencing the same problem, here’s how you can solve it: analyze example essays!
Be aware that perfect examples are not that easy to find. Of course, there are a lot of samples online, but how can one tell if they are written properly? To avoid repeating other student’s mistakes, only study example essays provided by reliable sources.
The best way to obtain a perfect sample essay that’s tailored to meet all your teacher’s requirements is to order it from a professional writer.
But be careful! There are a lot of scams on the internet, so take your time and find the custom essay service that can guarantee high-quality work.
A reputable source should list their authors and allow you to communicate to them in the process.
4. Make Mind Maps
Mind maps have become very popular recently, and that’s for a reason. Creating a mind map is a great visual way to structure your thoughts on any subject – including your essay topic.
So, if you’re struggling to come up with ideas concerning your topic, try drawing a mind map first, and proceed with writing your essay afterward.
The simplest way to make a mind map is by using good old pen and paper, but you can use technological means, too, if you like.
There are a lot of online tools for such purposes, and it’s not too difficult to find those that are most suitable for students.
5. Read a Lot
Reading is key to writing well. That’s no news – you’ve probably heard it thousands of times before.
But do you really follow this advice? If not, then you’re seriously sabotaging your development as a student and a writer!
Another important thing is, you need to watch what you read. There’s a lot of low-quality writing online and even in print – don’t waste your time on it!
Instead, read classic fiction and quality editorials: the former will teach you descriptive writing, and the latter – persuasive and argumentative.
6. Expand Your Vocabulary
A great side effect of reading is expanding your vocabulary in the process. Many words and phrases we get from context, and, after seeing them here and there several times, can start using them unconsciously.
This trick can significantly improve your writing style, especially if you’re not a native English speaker.
If you want to accelerate the process, highlight or write out all the interesting words and phrases while you read, and then check their meanings and how they are used in a sentence.
It’s also important to know and use synonyms in your writing in order to make your texts engaging and easy to read.
So, you feel like you overuse certain words, find and learn a few of their synonyms.
7. Engage In Discussions
When you read or watch something, or when you hear the news, or when you become witness to a certain situation, you get some impressions that are likely to provoke some thoughts.
Don’t keep them to yourself – share them with friends, relatives, followers on social media. Start a discussion!
Knowing how to initiate and conduct discussions is very important if you want to learn how to write good essays because it encompasses the same process of developing and defending your statements, arguments, and counterarguments.
So, if you feel like you’re stuck on your topic, just discuss it with someone!
8. Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal is a popular way of training one’s writing abilities. Daily journaling can help you learn how to write better essays in many ways.
Namely, it:
- helps you explore new ideas;
- gives an opportunity to engage in writing on a regular basis;
- develops analytical skills and critical thinking;
- helps you polish your writing style and hone language skills.
What, you still don’t have a journal? Then it’s high time to start one!
Afterthoughts
Even if you follow all of the pieces of advice listed above, remember that your first essays written on your own may turn out to be not so impressive.
You may even get mediocre marks for your first attempts but don’t get downhearted if this happens!
Remember – practice makes perfect.
