Let’s be honest, when writing a college essay your primary goal is to impress your professor. You want to get an A-grade, and these ambitions are easy to explain. At the same time, this task can be very challenging since writing is not like a math problem where you can find one solution. Though you can really develop your skills and become a better essay writer, it takes some time. That’s why so many students send “Do My Essay” messages. They order essay writing and essay editing services when they need help from a professional author.
It doesn’t mean that you can’t make the grade on the essay written by yourself. In fact, the only thing you need is to understand your professor’s expectations.
Make sure you understand the assignment
We bet the answers are right in front of you. The chances are your professor has provided you with a list of instructions as well as with some lectures that you need to consider.
These requirements are not just words, they are literally your guide. What information can you get from them?
- Topic — What should you write about in a history essay? This field is too wide. When your professor assigns you a topic, you have the focus.
- The number of words\pages. This number helps you to understand how detailed and informative your paper should be. There is a huge difference between a 500-word essay and a 1500-word essay.
- Structure. Yes, it is pretty boring, but it is the core of your paper. Just follow it and you’ll come up with content that is easy to read.
- Deadline. Knowing the final term in advance, you can plan your time and divide the entire project into several milestones.
There may be other requirements like formatting style, quotes, and references, specific sources. You should know that they exist to help you not to drive you crazy. If something is not clear, your professor will appreciate you asking questions so approach this step responsibly.
Develop a general idea
In other words, you have to come up with a powerful thesis statement. It is one sentence that describes the entire paper and your point of view. When you have it, you can write a good essay based on a clear message.
There are several ways to develop a thesis statement:
- Brainstorm ideas. Focus on your topic and write down your thoughts related to it.
- Take a pause. Have a sleep, do some sports, meet your friends. The best ideas are sudden ideas.
- Use a thesis statement generator. If you have some notes on your future essay, you can upload them in an online tool and artificial intelligence will provide several ideas for you.
- Discuss it. Teamwork can be very efficient when you have like-minded people who are working together with you. Ask your fellow students to think over this project together and help each other with your thesis statements.
A general idea or a thesis statement for an academic essay is like a plot for a fiction book. It helps you to make your writing more organized and structured.
Use proper language
What do you think, what does your professor expect to find in your paper? Professors are looking for signs that you understand the discipline, that you are familiar enough with it to make some conclusions. You should show your knowledge that you’ve gained in classes, and you should provide logical arguments to defend your point of view. Make smart use of language to reach these goals.
There is a list of some phrases that may be really helpful:
- Firstly, secondly, thirdly;
- According to A, B stated that, referring to the views of C;
- In order to;
- Moreover;
- Let’s consider the problem from another angle;
- My own point of view is that…;
- This leads us to believe that…
Use various linking words to make an emphasis, add new information, provide contrast, order, and so on. Don’t forget to express your opinion and make some conclusions.
If you don’t know whether your language sounds professional enough, you can use tools like Grammarly. This software analyzes your paper and provides you with a list of mistakes and some tips on how to improve your writing overall. Besides, you can set your goals here, e.g. to write in American English, to sound academic with a confident tone, to write for a knowledgeable audience, etc.
Stand out among other students
Well, this step may be pretty brave but it is really necessary when it comes to an impression. Yes, you can get the best grade but your professor will not remember your name because it is just a good essay. Nothing special. What do you want? To boost your performance or to create something special?
Of course, it depends. There are situations when you’re required to provide a solid academic paper with all format nuances. At the same time, essay writing can be your platform to express yourself. If you think it is appropriate, use hooks, jokes, interesting quotes, and rhetoric questions. You can add a short story from your life to illustrate some points, or even start a dialogue with your reader, i.e. professor.
However, it is a bad idea when it is your first time working together with this specific person. You should know something about the professor since he or she is your target audience. Mention curious facts during lessons, check one’s social media, discuss some issues and ask questions. Your efforts will pay off!
Never skip a revision
You may write a fantastic essay but it doesn’t matter if you forget about proofreading. Your professor will mention it immediately. It is bad not because you lack some knowledge or experience, it just shows your attitude. When you don’t do your best to provide the best quality possible, your professor believes that you don’t want to get an A-grade. So, proofreading is a must. Besides, take some time to check if your paper contains some plagiarism. Even if you didn’t copy someone else’s content. Just ensure.
Analyze your mistakes
Students deal with essays all the time. The chances are you have a dozen essays written for this professor. If you want to impress him or her, you should show that you appreciate one’s feedback and that you’re able to analyze your mistakes and take them into account. So, when you’re looking for inspiration to start, read a couple of previous samples just to understand what your professor already liked and what didn’t.