Struggling with flow? Write your draft first, then look at each paragraph and summarize its main point in the margin. If a paragraph doesn’t clearly support your thesis or if the points feel out of order, move them around until the logic is seamless. 3. Focus on Evidence, Not Just Opinion
college students) or focus on a , like argumentative or narrative? How to Write Better Essays
Strong writing is concise. Avoid "filler" phrases like "In my opinion," "It is important to note that," or "Due to the fact that." Be direct. Instead of "The reason why the experiment failed was because..." try "The experiment failed because..." 5. The "Read Aloud" Test Struggling with flow
A great essay doesn’t just tell the reader what you think; it shows them why you’re right. Use the method for every body paragraph: P oint: State your main idea. E vidence: Provide a quote, statistic, or fact. E xplanation: Explain how the evidence supports your point. L ink: Connect it back to your overall thesis. 4. Cut the Fluff Avoid "filler" phrases like "In my opinion," "It
Your eyes often skip over mistakes your ears will catch. Read your finished essay out loud. If you stumble over a sentence or run out of breath, that’s a sign the phrasing is awkward or the sentence is too long.
Your thesis is the "heartbeat" of your essay. Before you write a single paragraph, summarize your main argument in one clear sentence. If you can’t explain your point in 20 words or less, your focus might be too broad. 2. Create a "Reverse Outline"