what makes a good essay essay

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• 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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How to Write the Perfect Essay

06 Feb, 2024 | Blog Articles , English Language Articles , Get the Edge , Humanities Articles , Writing Articles

You can keep adding to this plan, crossing bits out and linking the different bubbles when you spot connections between them. Even though you won’t have time to make a detailed plan under exam conditions, it can be helpful to draft a brief one, including a few key words, so that you don’t panic and go off topic when writing your essay.

If you don’t like the mind map format, there are plenty of others to choose from: you could make a table, a flowchart, or simply a list of bullet points.

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Thanks for signing up, step 2: have a clear structure.

Think about this while you’re planning: your essay is like an argument or a speech. It needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question.

Start with the basics! It’s best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs. Three main paragraphs is a good number for an exam essay, since you’ll be under time pressure. 

If you agree with the question overall, it can be helpful to organise your points in the following pattern:

• YES (agreement with the question)
• AND (another YES point)
• BUT (disagreement or complication)

If you disagree with the question overall, try:

• AND (another BUT point)

For example, you could structure the Of Mice and Men sample question, “To what extent is Curley’s wife portrayed as a victim in Of Mice and Men ?”, as follows:

• YES (descriptions of her appearance)
• AND (other people’s attitudes towards her)
• BUT (her position as the only woman on the ranch gives her power as she uses her femininity to her advantage)

If you wanted to write a longer essay, you could include additional paragraphs under the YES/AND categories, perhaps discussing the ways in which Curley’s wife reveals her vulnerability and insecurities, and shares her dreams with the other characters. Alternatively, you could also lengthen your essay by including another BUT paragraph about her cruel and manipulative streak.

Of course, this is not necessarily the only right way to answer this essay question – as long as you back up your points with evidence from the text, you can take any standpoint that makes sense.

Step 3: Back up your points with well-analysed quotations

You wouldn’t write a scientific report without including evidence to support your findings, so why should it be any different with an essay? Even though you aren’t strictly required to substantiate every single point you make with a quotation, there’s no harm in trying.

A close reading of your quotations can enrich your appreciation of the question and will be sure to impress examiners. When selecting the best quotations to use in your essay, keep an eye out for specific literary techniques. For example, you could highlight Curley’s wife’s use of a rhetorical question when she says, a”n’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs.” This might look like:

The rhetorical question “an’ what am I doin’?” signifies that Curley’s wife is very insecure; she seems to be questioning her own life choices. Moreover, she does not expect anyone to respond to her question, highlighting her loneliness and isolation on the ranch.

Other literary techniques to look out for include:

• Tricolon – a group of three words or phrases placed close together for emphasis
• Tautology – using different words that mean the same thing: e.g. “frightening” and “terrifying”
• Parallelism – ABAB structure, often signifying movement from one concept to another
• Chiasmus – ABBA structure, drawing attention to a phrase
• Polysyndeton – many conjunctions in a sentence
• Asyndeton – lack of conjunctions, which can speed up the pace of a sentence
• Polyptoton – using the same word in different forms for emphasis: e.g. “done” and “doing”
• Alliteration – repetition of the same sound, including assonance (similar vowel sounds), plosive alliteration (“b”, “d” and “p” sounds) and sibilance (“s” sounds)
• Anaphora – repetition of words, often used to emphasise a particular point

Don’t worry if you can’t locate all of these literary devices in the work you’re analysing. You can also discuss more obvious techniques, like metaphor, simile and onomatopoeia. It’s not a problem if you can’t remember all the long names; it’s far more important to be able to confidently explain the effects of each technique and highlight its relevance to the question.

Step 4: Be creative and original throughout

Anyone can write an essay using the tips above, but the thing that really makes it “perfect” is your own unique take on the topic. If you’ve noticed something intriguing or unusual in your reading, point it out – if you find it interesting, chances are the examiner will too!

Creative writing and essay writing are more closely linked than you might imagine. Keep the idea that you’re writing a speech or argument in mind, and you’re guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention.

It’s important to set out your line of argument in your introduction, introducing your main points and the general direction your essay will take, but don’t forget to keep something back for the conclusion, too. Yes, you need to summarise your main points, but if you’re just repeating the things you said in your introduction, the body of the essay is rendered pointless.

Think of your conclusion as the climax of your speech, the bit everything else has been leading up to, rather than the boring plenary at the end of the interesting stuff.

To return to Of Mice and Men once more, here’s an example of the ideal difference between an introduction and a conclusion:

Introduction

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men , Curley’s wife is portrayed as an ambiguous character. She could be viewed either as a cruel, seductive temptress or a lonely woman who is a victim of her society’s attitudes. Though she does seem to wield a form of sexual power, it is clear that Curley’s wife is largely a victim. This interpretation is supported by Steinbeck’s description of her appearance, other people’s attitudes, her dreams, and her evident loneliness and insecurity.

Overall, it is clear that Curley’s wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other people’s judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curley’s wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity – a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences.

Both refer back consistently to the question and summarise the essay’s main points. However, the conclusion adds something new which has been established in the main body of the essay and complicates the simple summary which is found in the introduction.

Hannah is an undergraduate English student at Somerville College, University of Oxford, and has a particular interest in postcolonial literature and the Gothic. She thinks literature is a crucial way of developing empathy and learning about the wider world. When she isn’t writing about 17th-century court masques, she enjoys acting, travelling and creative writing. 

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Daily Writing Tips

17 expert tips for crafting high-quality essays.

The 17 essential tips for writing a high-quality essay provide a blueprint for articulating compelling arguments effectively. An essay is a composed narrative that presents and supports a point on a given topic. 

This article will guide you through crucial stages of essay writing, from interpreting the essay prompt to conducting thorough research and formulating a convincing thesis. It will also cover crafting a clear structure, engaging your audience through effective style, and finalizing your piece with rigorous editing and revision.

Ready to enhance your writing prowess and achieve essay excellence? Let’s dive in and unlock the strategies for penning essays that impress and persuade.

What are the 17 tips for writing a high-quality essay?

To write a high-quality essay, consider these 17 expert tips as your roadmap to successful writing:

• Clarify Your Understanding of the Prompt: Begin by ensuring you fully grasp what the essay prompt is asking.
• Choose a Relevant and Interesting Topic: Pick a topic that aligns with the prompt and piques your interest.
• Conduct Thorough Research: Gather reliable sources to provide a solid foundation for your essay.
• Formulate a Strong Thesis Statement: This will serve as the main point or argument of your essay .
• Create a Detailed Outline: Plan the structure of your essay before you start writing.
• Write a Compelling Introduction: Engage your reader right from the start.
• Use Clear Topic Sentences: Begin each paragraph with a sentence that ties into the thesis and indicates what the paragraph will cover.
• Employ Logical Structure and Transitions: Ensure each paragraph flows smoothly into the next.
• Back Up Your Argument with Evidence: Support your points with data and citations from credible sources.
• Use Varied Sentence Structures: Keep your writing engaging by varying sentence length and structure.
• Write in an Appropriate Academic Tone: Stick to a formal style and avoid colloquial language.
• Address Counterarguments: Strengthen your essay by acknowledging and refuting opposing views.
• Edit for Clarity and Brevity: Remove unnecessary words and clarify ambiguous points.
• Proofread for Grammar and Spelling Mistakes: Check your work meticulously to correct errors.
• Ensure Proper Formatting and Citation: Follow the required style guide for formatting and referencing.
• Seek Feedback Before Final Submission: Get others to review your essay and provide constructive criticism.
• Allow Time for Revisions: After feedback, revise your essay to perfect it before submission.

Each tip is geared towards helping you refine your writing skills and produce an essay that is not only informative but also a pleasure to read.

What Makes Essay Writing a Crucial Academic Skill?

Essay writing is a crucial academic skill because it develops critical thinking and effective communication. It requires thorough analysis, synthesis of information, and clear articulation of ideas. This skill is universal across disciplines, enabling students to organize thoughts, engage in scholarly debates, and present researched arguments effectively. 

Mastery of essay writing reflects a student’s ability to understand complex topics, evaluate sources, and convey their perspective, all essential for academic and professional achievement.

Why is Planning Essential Before You Start Writing an Essay?

Planning is essential before you start writing an essay because it provides a clear roadmap for your work, ensuring that your ideas are organized and your argument flows logically. It helps you stay focused on the essay prompt, avoid tangents, and structure your thoughts coherently. 

Effective planning also allows you to allocate your time efficiently, especially for research and revisions, leading to a more polished and persuasive final piece. Without planning, you risk producing a disorganized essay that may lack depth and clarity, ultimately undermining the effectiveness of your communication.

How Can You Avoid Plagiarism in Your Essay Writing?

Avoiding plagiarism in your essay writing involves several key practices:

• Understand What Constitutes Plagiarism: Know the difference between proper citation and unlawful copying of someone else’s work.
• Paraphrase Effectively: Rather than copying text, restate the information in your own words, ensuring you still credit the original source.
• Use Quotes Appropriately: When using someone’s exact words, use quotation marks and cite the source.
• Cite Sources Correctly: Follow the required citation style guide meticulously for both in-text citations and the reference list.
• Keep Track of All References: Document sources as you research to ensure accurate attribution.
• Use Plagiarism Detection Tools: Before final submission, use software to check for any accidental plagiarism.
• Learn and Apply Citation Rules: Educate yourself on the specifics of the citation style you are using.
• Include Original Thoughts: Blend cited information with your own analysis and commentary.

Are There Any Useful Tools for Essay Writing and Editing?

Yes, there are several useful tools available for essay writing and editing that can help streamline the process and enhance the quality of your work:

• Word Processors: Tools like Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer basic spelling and grammar checks.
• Reference Management Software: Programs like Zotero and EndNote help organize and format references.
• Grammar Checkers: Grammarly and ProWritingAid can detect more intricate spelling, grammar, and style issues.
• Plagiarism Checkers: Turnitin and Copyscape scan your work for potential plagiarism against online content.
• Thesauruses and Dictionaries: Online resources like Thesaurus.com and Merriam-Webster improve vocabulary and word choice.
• Citation Tools: Citation Machine and EasyBib assist in generating citations in various formats.
• Writing Platforms: Scrivener and Evernote help with organizing notes and drafts.
• Productivity Apps: Tools like Trello or Asana can aid in managing time and structuring the writing process.

These tools can contribute to more efficient writing, editing, and essay management.

Mastering the 17 expert tips outlined in this article is your key to writing high-quality, stand-out essays. 

From understanding your prompt and conducting thorough research to formulating a strong thesis and ensuring proper citation, each step is crucial for crafting a compelling narrative. 

Remember to plan, write with clarity, and revise diligently. As you apply these strategies, your essays will reflect your knowledge and ability to communicate ideas effectively. For those seeking further assistance or facing time constraints, professional services like paper writing service can provide valuable help with the writing and editing process.

Now, take these tips, start writing your next essay with confidence, and see the difference they make in your academic pursuits.

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What Makes A Good Essay?

Writing a good essay is a crucial skill that is essential in many areas of life, from academics to professional careers. Whether you’re a student who wants to excel in your coursework or a professional who wants to communicate effectively with your audience, knowing how to write a good essay is a valuable asset.

But what exactly makes a good essay? Is it the structure, the content, the style, or something else entirely? In this article, we will explore the key elements that make a good essay, from having a clear purpose and structure to using evidence and examples effectively. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what it takes to write a successful essay and be equipped with the tools to do so.

Table of Contents

What Makes An Essay Stand Out From The Rest?

As a college professor, reading hundreds of student essays every semester can be a daunting task. However, there are certain qualities that make an essay stand out from the rest. Firstly, a well-written essay will have a clear and specific purpose, making it easy for the professor to understand what the author is trying to convey. How to do my essay for me . The essay should also have a well-structured format, with an engaging introduction, body paragraphs that support the thesis, and a thoughtful conclusion that ties everything together.

In addition, a good essay should be well-supported with evidence and examples. Professors look for students who have conducted thorough research and can back up their arguments with credible sources. The language and tone of the essay should also be appropriate for the intended audience, and the writing should be free from errors in grammar and spelling.

Lastly, what really sets an essay apart is a unique perspective or an original idea. Professors are looking for essays that demonstrate critical thinking and creativity, rather than simply repeating what has already been said. When students can bring their own experiences or insights to the table, it makes for a more engaging and memorable essay.

Related : Where Can i Pay Someone to do my Essay

Some additional tips for writing effective introductions, conclusions, and transitions include:

• Keep it concise and to the point.
• Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion.
• Make sure transitions are clear and logical.
• Use active voice and avoid passive voice.
• Make sure your thesis statement is strong and specific.
• Use language that engages and motivates the reader to keep reading.

How Do I Do My Essay?

Writing an essay can be a challenging task, but with some guidance, you can approach it in a systematic way. Here are some steps that can help you in how do I write my essay online :

• Understand the topic: Before you start writing your essay, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the topic. Analyze the topic and brainstorm ideas on what you want to write about.
• Research : Once you have an idea of what you want to write about, start researching the topic. Read relevant articles, books, and other materials to gather information that will support your arguments.
• Organize Your Thoughts : After gathering enough information, you need to organize your thoughts and decide how you want to present your arguments in the essay. Create an outline that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Write The Essay : Start writing the essay following the outline. Begin with an engaging introduction that clearly states your thesis statement. In the body paragraphs, present your arguments with supporting evidence. Make sure to link each paragraph to your thesis statement. In the conclusion, summarize your arguments and provide a final thought.
• Proofread And Edit: Once you have completed the essay, proofread it to correct any grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Edit the essay to improve the clarity of your arguments, and make sure it is well-structured and flows logically.

Submit the essay: After you have proofread and edited your essay, submit it following the instructions provided by your instructor or professor.

Remember to start early, so you have enough time to research, write, and revise your essay

Importance Of Having A Clear And Specific Purpose For Your Essay:

Having a clear and logical structure is essential for any essay, regardless of its topic or purpose. A well-structured essay allows you to organize your ideas in a logical and coherent manner, which makes it easier for your reader to follow and understand your arguments. Why it’s important Having a Clear And Specific Purpose when I do my college essay writing .

A clear structure helps you to avoid the common pitfalls of disorganized writing, such as rambling, repetition, and confusing or conflicting ideas.

By outlining your essay’s structure, you can identify the key points you want to make and ensure that each point is presented in a logical and coherent way.

Having a clear and specific purpose for your essay is crucial for several reasons:

• It Helps You Stay Focused: When you have a clear purpose, you know exactly what you want to convey to your audience, which makes it easier to stay focused on your topic and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant information.
• It Guides Your Research: Your purpose helps you identify the information you need to include in your essay, as well as the sources you should consult. This makes your research more efficient and helps you avoid wasting time on irrelevant sources.
• It Improves your writing: When you have a clear purpose, you are better able to organize your ideas and present them in a logical and structured manner. This makes your essay more engaging and easier to understand for your audience.
• It Engages Your Audience: A clear purpose helps you connect with your audience by identifying what they need to know or want to learn about your topic. This can help you write in a way that resonates with them and makes your essay more interesting and relevant to their needs.

Overall, having a clear and specific purpose for your essay helps you stay focused, organized, and engaging, which can ultimately help you achieve your goals and connect with your audience more effectively.

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Provide Tips On How To Write Effective Introductions And Conclusions, And How To Use Transitions To Connect Your Ideas.

Here are some tips on how to write effective introductions, conclusions, and transitions for your essay:

• Introductions: To write an effective introduction, start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be a quote, a surprising statistic, a question, or a personal anecdote. Next, provide some background information on the topic and lead up to your thesis statement, which should be clear, concise, and provide a roadmap for the rest of the essay. Make sure to also set the tone for the rest of the essay and establish your credibility as a writer.
• Conclusions: To write an effective conclusion, summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement in a new way. Avoid simply repeating the same wording as in the introduction. Instead, consider using a quotation, a rhetorical question, or a call to action to leave a lasting impression on your reader. Make sure your conclusion provides a sense of closure and offers a final thought for the reader to consider.
• Transitions: To use transitions effectively, consider the relationships between your ideas and how they relate to one another. Use transition words and phrases like “however,” “in addition,” “therefore,” and “on the other hand” to link your ideas together and provide a smooth flow for the reader. Make sure to also use clear topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph to indicate the focus of that particular paragraph.

Overall, choosing the appropriate essay structure depends on the purpose of the essay and the intended audience. It’s important to choose a structure that best conveys the writer’s message and engages the reader.

Discuss The Importance Of Using Evidence And Examples To Support Your Arguments And Make Your Essay More Convincing And Engaging.

Using evidence and examples to support your arguments is an essential aspect of writing a convincing and engaging essay. Here are some reasons why:

• It Adds Credibility : By using evidence and examples, you are showing your reader that you have done your research and are knowledgeable about the topic. This increases your credibility and makes your arguments more convincing.
• It Helps Clarify Your Points: Evidence and examples can help you clarify your points and make your arguments more concrete. It can also help you avoid generalizations and provide specific details that support your ideas.
• It Engages Your Reader: Using evidence and examples can help you make your essay more engaging by providing real-world examples that your reader can relate to. It can also help you create a more vivid and interesting picture of your topic.
• It Strengthens Your Arguments : Evidence and examples can help you strengthen your arguments by providing support for your claims. This can help you persuade your reader to adopt your point of view and make your essay more convincing overall.

When using evidence and examples in your essay, it’s important to make sure they are relevant, reliable, and properly cited. It’s also important to use a variety of sources to avoid bias and provide a balanced perspective on the topic. Overall, using evidence and examples is an important part of writing a successful essay that engages and persuades your reader.

How To Choose The Appropriate Tone And Style For Essay?

When it comes to writing essays, choosing the appropriate tone and style is paramount. It can make all the difference between an engaging and persuasive essay or a dull and uninteresting one. The tone refers to the attitude or emotion conveyed by the writer towards their subject matter, while style encompasses the way in which ideas are presented through language and structure. Students ask how to help with writing an essay with proper tone and style here are some tips to follow when writing essays.

A. Style and tone are crucial elements in writing an effective essay. The style refers to the way in which you write, including the sentence structure, vocabulary, and organization of your ideas. The tone refers to the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter and the audience. The right style and tone can greatly enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of your essay.

For example, if you are writing an essay on a serious topic, such as climate change, you would want to use a more formal and objective tone to convey the gravity of the issue. Conversely, if you are writing a personal essay, you might choose a more conversational and casual style to connect with your audience.

B. Choosing the appropriate tone and style for your essay depends on your audience and purpose. To effectively convey your message, you need to use language that resonates with your readers.

Consider who your audience is and what they might expect from your writing. Then, tailor your language and tone accordingly.

Here are some tips for choosing the appropriate tone and style:

• Consider your audience : Think about who will read your essay and what they might expect from your writing. Tailor your language and tone to connect with your readers.
• Consider your purpose: Determine the purpose of your essay and use language that supports your message. For example, if your purpose is to persuade your readers, use a more forceful tone and language that supports your argument.
• Be consistent: Maintain a consistent style and tone throughout your essay. Switching styles or tones can confuse your readers and detract from your message.
• Use active voice: Use active voice whenever possible to make your writing more engaging and impactful.
• Avoid jargon : Avoid using technical language or jargon unless it is necessary. Instead, use plain language that is easy to understand.

Revising and editing your essay is essential to ensuring clarity, coherence, and correctness. Revision involves reviewing and refining the content of your essay, while editing involves checking for grammatical and spelling errors.

Here are some tips for revising and editing your essay:

• Take a break: After writing your essay, take a break before revising and editing. This will help you approach your work with fresh eyes.
• Review for content: Read through your essay and check for clarity and coherence. Make sure your ideas flow logically and are supported by evidence.
• Check for grammar and spelling errors: Use a spell checker and grammar checker to catch any mistakes.
• Read your essay out loud: Reading your essay out loud can help you identify awkward sentences or areas that need improvement.
• Get feedback : Ask someone else to read your essay and provide feedback. This can give you a new perspective on your work and help you identify areas that need improvement.

In summary, style and tone are crucial to the overall quality and effectiveness of your essay. Choosing the appropriate tone and style for your audience and purpose is key to conveying your message effectively. Additionally, revising and editing your essay for clarity, coherence, and correctness is essential to ensuring your writing is clear and impactful.

Related : Who can do my essay for me

Discuss Common Mistakes That Students Make When Writing Essays, Such As Using Vague Or Unsupported Claims, Relying On Clichés, Or Neglecting Revision And Editing.

Students often make several common mistakes when writing essays. Here are a few of the most common mistakes:

• Using Vague Or Unsupported Claims: One of the most common mistakes students make is using vague or unsupported claims in their essays. When making an argument, it’s important to provide specific evidence to support your claims. Simply stating your opinion without any evidence to back it up will not persuade your reader.
• Relying On Clichés: Another common mistake student make is relying on clichés or overused phrases. This can make your writing appear unoriginal and can distract from your argument. It’s important to strive for clarity and precision in your writing.
• Neglecting Revision And Editing: Many students neglect the revision and editing process when writing essays. This can result in grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, and unclear arguments. It’s important to take the time to revise and edit your work, preferably with the help of a peer or a teacher.
• Failing To Address The Prompt: Sometimes, students get so caught up in their own arguments that they fail to address the prompt or assignment requirements. It’s important to carefully read the prompt and make sure your essay fully addresses the task at hand.
• Lack Of Organization : Another common mistake is failing to organize your essay properly. A clear and logical structure is essential to making your arguments clear and persuasive.

To avoid these common mistakes, it’s important to carefully plan your essay, gather relevant evidence, and take the time to revise and edit your work. It’s also helpful to seek feedback from peers or teachers to help you identify areas for improvement.

Final Thoughts: In conclusion, writing a good essay requires careful consideration of the topic and research into the available sources. Additionally, it is important to structure the essay effectively, while ensuring that sentence and paragraph flow are logical. Above all, it is essential to write with clarity and precision in order to communicate your ideas effectively. With these guidelines in mind, you should be well on your way to crafting a successful essay. visit edujungles.com for further guidance and resources. With the right approach and attitude, you can create essays that will earn you top grade.

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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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12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

College admission committees sift through thousands of college essays each year. Here’s how to make yours stand out.

Pamela Reynolds

When it comes to deciding who they will admit into their programs, colleges consider many criteria, including high school grades, extracurricular activities, and ACT and SAT scores. But in recent years, more colleges are no longer considering test scores.

Instead, many (including Harvard through 2026) are opting for “test-blind” admission policies that give more weight to other elements in a college application. This policy change is seen as fairer to students who don’t have the means or access to testing, or who suffer from test anxiety.

So, what does this mean for you?

Simply that your college essay, traditionally a requirement of any college application, is more important than ever.

A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.

A well-written and thoughtful essay—reflecting who you are and what you believe—can go a long way to separating your application from the slew of forgettable ones that admissions officers read. Indeed, officers may rely on them even more now that many colleges are not considering test scores.

Below we’ll discuss a few strategies you can use to help your essay stand out from the pack. We’ll touch on how to start your essay, what you should write for your college essay, and elements that make for a great college essay.

Be Authentic

More than any other consideration, you should choose a topic or point of view that is consistent with who you truly are.

Readers can sense when writers are inauthentic.

Inauthenticity could mean the use of overly flowery language that no one would ever use in conversation, or it could mean choosing an inconsequential topic that reveals very little about who you are.

Use your own voice, sense of humor, and a natural way of speaking.

Whatever subject you choose, make sure it’s something that’s genuinely important to you and not a subject you’ve chosen just to impress. You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses.

Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.

Grab the Reader From the Start

You’ll be competing with so many other applicants for an admission officer’s attention.

Therefore, start your essay with an opening sentence or paragraph that immediately seizes the imagination. This might be a bold statement, a thoughtful quote, a question you pose, or a descriptive scene.

Starting your essay in a powerful way with a clear thesis statement can often help you along in the writing process. If your task is to tell a good story, a bold beginning can be a natural prelude to getting there, serving as a roadmap, engaging the reader from the start, and presenting the purpose of your writing.

Focus on Deeper Themes

Some essay writers think they will impress committees by loading an essay with facts, figures, and descriptions of activities, like wins in sports or descriptions of volunteer work. But that’s not the point.

College admissions officers are interested in learning more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick.

They want to know what has brought you to this stage in life. They want to read about realizations you may have come to through adversity as well as your successes, not just about how many games you won while on the soccer team or how many people you served at a soup kitchen.

Let the reader know how winning the soccer game helped you develop as a person, friend, family member, or leader. Make a connection with your soup kitchen volunteerism and how it may have inspired your educational journey and future aspirations. What did you discover about yourself?

Show Don’t Tell

As you expand on whatever theme you’ve decided to explore in your essay, remember to show, don’t tell.

The most engaging writing “shows” by setting scenes and providing anecdotes, rather than just providing a list of accomplishments and activities.

Reciting a list of activities is also boring. An admissions officer will want to know about the arc of your emotional journey too.

Try Doing Something Different

If you want your essay to stand out, think about approaching your subject from an entirely new perspective. While many students might choose to write about their wins, for instance, what if you wrote an essay about what you learned from all your losses?

If you are an especially talented writer, you might play with the element of surprise by crafting an essay that leaves the response to a question to the very last sentence.

You may want to stay away from well-worn themes entirely, like a sports-related obstacle or success, volunteer stories, immigration stories, moving, a summary of personal achievements or overcoming obstacles.

However, such themes are popular for a reason. They represent the totality of most people’s lives coming out of high school. Therefore, it may be less important to stay away from these topics than to take a fresh approach.

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Write With the Reader in Mind

Writing for the reader means building a clear and logical argument in which one thought flows naturally from another.

Use transitions between paragraphs.

Think about any information you may have left out that the reader may need to know. Are there ideas you have included that do not help illustrate your theme?

Be sure you can answer questions such as: Does what you have written make sense? Is the essay organized? Does the opening grab the reader? Is there a strong ending? Have you given enough background information? Is it wordy?

Write Several Drafts

Set your essay aside for a few days and come back to it after you’ve had some time to forget what you’ve written. Often, you’ll discover you have a whole new perspective that enhances your ability to make revisions.

Start writing months before your essay is due to give yourself enough time to write multiple drafts. A good time to start could be as early as the summer before your senior year when homework and extracurricular activities take up less time.

Read It Aloud

Writer’s tip : Reading your essay aloud can instantly uncover passages that sound clumsy, long-winded, or false.

Don’t Repeat

If you’ve mentioned an activity, story, or anecdote in some other part of your application, don’t repeat it again in your essay.

Your essay should tell college admissions officers something new. Whatever you write in your essay should be in philosophical alignment with the rest of your application.

Also, be sure you’ve answered whatever question or prompt may have been posed to you at the outset.

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Be sure the people you ask to read your essay represent different demographic groups—a teacher, a parent, even a younger sister or brother.

Ask each reader what they took from the essay and listen closely to what they have to say. If anyone expresses confusion, revise until the confusion is cleared up.

Pay Attention to Form

Although there are often no strict word limits for college essays, most essays are shorter rather than longer. Common App, which students can use to submit to multiple colleges, suggests that essays stay at about 650 words.

“While we won’t as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you’d hoped it would,” the Common App website states.

In reviewing other technical aspects of your essay, be sure that the font is readable, that the margins are properly spaced, that any dialogue is set off properly, and that there is enough spacing at the top. Your essay should look clean and inviting to readers.

End Your Essay With a “Kicker”

In journalism, a kicker is the last punchy line, paragraph, or section that brings everything together.

It provides a lasting impression that leaves the reader satisfied and impressed by the points you have artfully woven throughout your piece.

So, here’s our kicker: Be concise and coherent, engage in honest self-reflection, and include vivid details and anecdotes that deftly illustrate your point.

While writing a fantastic essay may not guarantee you get selected, it can tip the balance in your favor if admissions officers are considering a candidate with a similar GPA and background.

Write, revise, revise again, and good luck!

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About the Author

Pamela Reynolds is a Boston-area feature writer and editor whose work appears in numerous publications. She is the author of “Revamp: A Memoir of Travel and Obsessive Renovation.”

How Involved Should Parents and Guardians Be in High School Student College Applications and Admissions?

There are several ways parents can lend support to their children during the college application process. Here's how to get the ball rolling.

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• Study Skills

The Writer’s Toolkit: Essential Elements of Outstanding Essays

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Writing Skills:

• A - Z List of Writing Skills

The Essentials of Writing

• Common Mistakes in Writing
• Introduction to Grammar
• Improving Your Grammar
• Active and Passive Voice
• Punctuation
• Clarity in Writing
• Writing Concisely
• Coherence in Writing
• Gender Neutral Language
• Figurative Language
• When to Use Capital Letters
• Using Plain English
• Writing in UK and US English
• Understanding (and Avoiding) Clichés
• The Importance of Structure
• Know Your Audience
• Know Your Medium
• Formal and Informal Writing Styles
• Note-Taking from Reading
• Note-Taking for Verbal Exchanges
• Creative Writing
• Top Tips for Writing Fiction
• Writer's Voice
• Writing for Children
• Writing for Pleasure
• Writing for the Internet
• Journalistic Writing
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Writing Specific Documents

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Written communication is an important part of our lives. Any time we read something; we are technically communicating with the author of that piece. Essays are one of the most important forms of written communication because they are thought-provoking and invite civilized discourse over a topic.

But what makes an essay outstanding? Well, all good essays have a few key components which, if you can master them, will enable you to write strong essays. Let’s take a look at some of them.

5 Elements of Strong Essays

1. impeccable thesis statement.

All good essays start with an impeccable thesis statement. A thesis statement gives the readers an overview of what will be discussed in the essay. It not only highlights the author's views on the topics, but also how those views will be discussed, and what evidence will be given.

In a nutshell, that's the blueprint for the rest of the essay. It is easier for some authors and writers to write an essay if they already have a thesis statement in place. And some writers may find it easier to come up with a thesis statement according to the essay they have written.

In any case, a statement that sets the reader's expectations and controls their first impression should be made. The better words of the introduction, the better the first impression. Here's an example of a thesis statement to get you started.

This article explores five essential elements that elevate essays: a strong thesis statement, clear structure, engaging introductions, robust evidence, and effective conclusions. By mastering these elements, writers enhance their ability to create impactful and compelling essays that resonate with readers.

This is a thesis statement that would fit very well in this article, but since this is an article and not an essay, we didn’t add it.

2. Clear Writing and Structure

The next component of a strong essay is its writing and structure. A good essay is one which effectively communicates its arguments to its readers. That is only possible if:

• The essay is easy to read.
• The structure and format of the essay is simple and straightforward.

That is why clear writing and structure are important. Now, structuring an essay is usually quite easy. You just have to follow the logical progression of ideas where you discuss the most basic ideas first, and then discuss the advanced ideas that build upon them later. And to make sure that the readers can spot this logical progression you have to use formatting tools such as headings, bullets, and lists.

Now we come to the other part of this tip, clear writing. Formatting and structuring are useless if the actual content is badly written. To ensure that your writing is clear try to take care of the following things:

Use short sentences. Avoid complex sentences if you can.

Use common words. Unless absolutely necessary, do not use technical jargon or unorthodox terms.

Avoid using passive voice and stick with active voice.

3. Strong Hook in the Introduction

Do you still remember what we said about first impressions when talking about the thesis statement? Well, we are coming back to that. All good essays are successful at making great first impressions. And that is why we need a strong introduction with an attractive hook.

To write a good introduction, you need to add the following things:

Of course there is a good hook. We will discuss how to write a good hook in just a minute.

Some background of the topic you will discuss in the essay to give context.

The thesis statement obviously.

Here is how you can write a strong hook. A good hook can be created by using any of the following things.

• A surprising statistic.
• A stimulating question.
• A well-thought-out joke or humorous statement.
• A shocking statement (that should also be true).

What exactly can you use in your essay depends on your personality, writing style, and even the topic of the essay. Try and experiment with a few different things and get feedback from your peers to settle on a good hook.

4. Proper Evidence for Supporting Arguments

An essay is only as good as the evidence provided for supporting its arguments. Paper-thin evidence means that the essay is just as shallow and won’t hold anyone’s attention for long. Soon it will be lost to the annals of time and the dark recesses of the internet where no one will find it.

To ensure that your essay does not meet such a fate, it should have proper evidence to support its arguments. To provide evidence in an essay you need to cite the source and provide its reference. Evidence can take the form of:

• Charts and graphs
• Or logical inferences from proven facts

To find solid and valid evidence, you will need to conduct some thorough research. Using some AI search engines can really help here. Take notes of important things you find as you don’t know when they will come in useful. Keeping notes will help you to find and cite the evidence when you need it. This evidence will make your essay outstanding in all aspects.

5. A Well-Rounded Conclusion

The finishing is just as important for writing an outstanding essay as any other part. If you cannot write a good conclusion for the essay, it will not give your audience closure. Unfortunately, wanting closure is a fundamental human desire. When this desire is not met, it prompts us to reach biased, premature conclusions that may be wrong.

This can harm the reception of your essay as your arguments may be misconstrued to your detriment. Hence, writing a conclusion that sums up your arguments and provides closure is necessary. Here are a few things that you need to do to ensure that your essay concludes effectively.

Summarize your main points.

Restate your thesis statement.

Do not introduce new information.

Explain the larger implications of your essay in the context of the real world.

If possible, circle back to your introduction to complete the proverbial circle.

Be concise when writing your conclusion, do not provide any disclaimers or acknowledge shortcomings in it. You want to leave a positive impression not a negative one. There are other places where you can put these things. And that should cover it.

So, to write an outstanding essay, you need to add the five essential elements that we have discussed in this article. Those elements are a good thesis statement, a strong hook, a clear writing style and structure, strong evidence for supporting arguments, and finally, a good conclusion. So long as you can take care of these things and add the finishing touches , your essay will turn out to be outstanding. With some dedication, perseverance, and patience you will be able to churn out great essays in no time.

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See also: Essay Writing Tips Avoiding Common Exam Mistakes 11 Typical Essay Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Writing Help

What makes a good essay by adam kissel.

Writing a good essay may sound like an intimidating task, but it doesn't have to be. Adam Kissel's article on What Makes a Good Essay gives you the advice you need to win over your reader and improve your chances of writing a successful essay. Whether you need to write an admission or scholarship essay or an academic essay for a high school, prep school, college, or university course, this article will give you the guidance you need to engage your reader and, using proven writing and academic editing techniques, turn what could be a boring assignment into an interesting essay paper.