the perfect essay

How to Write the Perfect Essay

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

Student sitting at a desk writing in a notebook

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.

Discover More

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.

A Day in the Life of an Oxford Scholastica Tutor

Hello! I’m Alyssa, one of the Creative Writing tutors at the Oxford Scholastica Academy. In addition to my wonderful role at Oxford Scholastica, I’m an editor and a DPhil (PhD) student of Literary Translation at the University of Oxford, where I also teach and convene...

What to Pack for University: The Ultimate Guide

So, you’re going to university? Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a huge adventure. For many of us, university is our first time living away from home, often in a new city – for some, even a new country. While this is one of the most exciting challenges you...

Which Careers Can You Pursue With a Modern Foreign Languages Degree?

Studying a modern foreign language opens the door to a multitude of career opportunities – not just teaching! The ability to communicate with a variety of people, and to understand and value many cultures and walks of life, is invaluable. Studying a Modern Foreign...

Would you like to explore a topic?

LEARNING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Or read some of our popular articles?

Free downloadable english gcse past papers with mark scheme.

19 May 2022

How Will GCSE Grade Boundaries Affect My Child’s Results?

Akshat Biyani
13 December 2021

The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today

Joseph McCrossan
18 February 2022

How to Write the Perfect Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide for Students

June 2, 2022

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. 🎒

4 Surprising Disadvantages of Homeschooling

By Andrea Butler

The 12 Best GCSE Revision Apps to Supercharge Your Revision

Benefits of Reading: Positive Impacts for All Ages Everyday

May 26, 2023

15 of the Best Children's Books That Every Young Person Should Read

By Sharlene Matharu
March 2, 2023

Ultimate School Library Tips and Hacks

By Natalie Lever
March 1, 2023

Book a free trial session

The New York Times

Opinionator | the perfect essay.

The Perfect Essay

Draft is a series about the art and craft of writing.

Looking back on too many years of education, I can identify one truly impossible teacher. She cared about me, and my intellectual life, even when I didn’t. Her expectations were high — impossibly so. She was an English teacher. She was also my mother.

When good students turn in an essay, they dream of their instructor returning it to them in exactly the same condition, save for a single word added in the margin of the final page: “Flawless.” This dream came true for me one afternoon in the ninth grade. Of course, I’d heard that genius could show itself at an early age, so I was only slightly taken aback that I had achieved perfection at the tender age of 14. Obviously, I did what any professional writer would do; I hurried off to spread the good news. I didn’t get very far. The first person I told was my mother.

My mother, who is just shy of five feet tall, is normally incredibly soft-spoken, but on the rare occasion when she got angry, she was terrifying. I’m not sure if she was more upset by my hubris or by the fact that my English teacher had let my ego get so out of hand. In any event, my mother and her red pen showed me how deeply flawed a flawless essay could be. At the time, I’m sure she thought she was teaching me about mechanics, transitions, structure, style and voice. But what I learned, and what stuck with me through my time teaching writing at Harvard, was a deeper lesson about the nature of creative criticism.

First off, it hurts. Genuine criticism, the type that leaves an indelible mark on you as a writer, also leaves an existential imprint on you as a person. I’ve heard people say that a writer should never take criticism personally. I say that we should never listen to these people.

Criticism, at its best, is deeply personal, and gets to the heart of why we write the way we do. Perhaps you’re a narcissist who secretly resents your audience. Or an elitist who expects herculean feats of your reader. Or a know-it-all who can’t admit that stylistic repetition is sometimes annoying redundancy. Or a wallflower who hides behind sparklingly meaningless modifiers. Or an affirmation junkie who’s the first to brag about a flawless essay.

Unfortunately, as my mother explained, you can be all of these things at once.

Her red pen had made something painfully clear. To become a better writer, I first had to become a better person. Well before I ever read it, I came to sense the meaning of Walt Whitman’s “ Song of Myself. ” And I faced the disturbing suggestion that my song was no good.

The intimate nature of genuine criticism implies something about who is able to give it, namely, someone who knows you well enough to show you how your psychic life is getting in the way of good writing. Conveniently, they’re also the people who care enough to see you through the traumatic aftermath of this realization. For me the aftermath took the form of my first, and I hope only, encounter with writer’s block.

It lasted three years.

Franz Kafka once said: “Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself.” My mother’s criticism had shown me that Kafka is right about the cold abyss, and when you make the introspective descent that writing requires you’re not always pleased by what you find. But, in the years that followed, her sustained tutelage suggested that Kafka might be wrong about the solitude. I was lucky enough to find a critic and teacher who was willing to make the journey of writing with me. “It’s a thing of no great difficulty,” according to Plutarch, “to raise objections against another man’s oration, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in its place is a work extremely troublesome.” I’m sure I wrote essays in the later years of high school without my mother’s guidance, but I can’t recall them. What I remember, however, is how she took up the “extremely troublesome” work of ongoing criticism.

There are two ways to interpret Plutarch when he suggests that a critic should be able to produce “a better in its place.” In a straightforward sense, he could mean that a critic must be more talented than the artist she critiques. My mother was well covered on this count. (She denies it, but she’s still a much, much better writer than I am.) But perhaps Plutarch is suggesting something slightly different, something a bit closer to Cicero’s claim that one should “criticize by creation, not by finding fault.” Genuine criticism creates a precious opening for an author to become better on his own terms — a process that’s often excruciating, but also almost always meaningful.

My mother said she would help me with my writing, but first I had to help myself. For each assignment, I was to write the best essay I could. Real criticism isn’t meant to find obvious mistakes, so if she found any — the type I could have found on my own — I had to start from scratch. From scratch. Once the essay was “flawless,” she would take an evening to walk me through my errors. That was when true criticism, the type that changed me as a person, began.

She chided me as a pseudo-sophisticate when I included obscure references and professional jargon. She had no patience for brilliant but useless extended metaphors. “Writers can’t bluff their way through ignorance.” That was news to me — I’d need to find another way to structure my daily existence. She trimmed back my flowery language, drew lines through my exclamation marks and argued for the value of understatement. “John,” she almost whispered. I leaned in to hear her: “I can’t hear you when you shout at me.” So I stopped shouting and bluffing, and slowly my writing improved.

Somewhere along the way I set aside my hopes of writing that flawless essay. But perhaps I missed something important in my mother’s lessons about creativity and perfection. Perhaps the point of writing the flawless essay was not to give up, but to never willingly finish. Whitman repeatedly reworked “Song of Myself” between 1855 and 1891. Repeatedly. We do our absolute best with a piece of writing, and come as close as we can to the ideal. And, for the time being, we settle. In critique, however, we are forced to depart, to give up the perfection we thought we had achieved for the chance of being even a little bit better. This is the lesson I took from my mother: If perfection were possible, it wouldn’t be motivating.

John Kaag is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and former visiting assistant professor of expository writing at Harvard. He is the author of the forthcoming book “Finding Westwind: A Story of American Philosophy.” And yes, Becky Griffith Kaag, his mother and a former high school English teacher, took her editing pen to this essay.

What's Next

Places on our 2024 summer school are filling fast. Don’t miss out. Enrol now to avoid disappointment

How to Write Dazzlingly Brilliant Essays: Sharp Advice for Ambitious Students

Rachel McCombie, a graduate of St John’s College, Oxford, shares actionable tips on taking your essays from “Good” to “Outstanding.”

For ambitious students, essays are a chance to showcase academic flair, demonstrate original thinking and impress with advanced written English skills.

The best students relish the challenge of writing essays because they’re a chance to exercise academic research skills and construct interesting arguments. Essays allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and intelligence in a creative and relatively unrestricted way – provided you keep within the word count! But when lots of other people are answering the same essay question as you, how do you make yours stand out from the crowd? In this article, we’re going to show you the secret of writing a truly brilliant essay.

What are essays actually for?

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to write an outstanding essay, we need to go right back to basics and think about what essays are actually designed to test. Only by understanding the purpose of an essay can you really begin to understand what it is that tutors are looking for when they read your work. No matter what the academic level of the student is, essays are designed to test many things: – Knowledge – fundamentally, essays test and help consolidate what you’ve read and learned, making them an important part of the learning process, particularly for humanities subjects. – Comprehension – they test your ability to make sense of and clearly explain complex concepts and issues. – They test your ability to understand the question and produce a considered response to it. – They evaluate your ability to absorb and condense information from a variety of sources , which will probably mean covering a lot of material in a short space of time; this necessitates appraisal of which bits of material are relevant and which are not. – They test your ability to write a balanced and coherent argument that considers a number of points of view. – They showcase your level of written English skills. – They even put your time management to the test – essays are a part of your workload that must be planned, prioritised and delivered to a high standard, to deadline.

Characteristics of the perfect essay

Now that we know why we’re asked to write essays, what are the characteristics that define the essays that impress? The tutors marking your essays may have their own preferences and things they look for in outstanding essays, but let’s take a look at a few of the irrefutable traits of the best.

Original thinking

The hallmark of the truly brilliant essay is original thinking. That doesn’t have to mean coming up with an entirely new theory; most of, if not all, the topics you’ll be studying at GCSE , A-level or even undergraduate level have been thought about in so much depth and by so many people that virtually every possible angle will have been thought of already. But what it does mean is that the essay stands out from those of other students in that it goes beyond the obvious and takes an original approach – perhaps approaching the topic from a different angle, coming up with a different hypothesis from what you’ve been discussing in class, or introducing new evidence and intelligent insights from material not included on the reading list.

Solid, in-depth knowledge and understanding

It goes without saying that the brilliant essay should demonstrate a strong knowledge of the facts, and not just knowledge but sound comprehension of the concepts or issues being discussed and why they matter. The perfect essay demonstrates an ability to deploy relevant facts and use them to form the basis of an argument or hypothesis. It covers a wide range of material and considers every point of view, confidently making use of and quoting from a variety of sources.

Clear structure with intelligent debate

The perfect essay provides a coherent discussion of both sides of the story, developing a balanced argument throughout, and with a conclusion that weighs up the evidence you’ve covered and perhaps provides your own intelligent opinion on how the topic should be interpreted based on the evidence covered.

No superfluous information

Everything written in the perfect essay serves a purpose – to inform and persuade. There’s no rambling or going off at tangents – it sticks to the point and doesn’t waste the reader’s time. This goes back to our earlier point about sorting the relevant facts from the irrelevant material; including material that isn’t relevant shows that you’ve not quite grasped the real heart of the matter.

Exceptional English

The words in the perfect essay flow effortlessly, and the reader feels in safe hands. Sentences need never be read more than once to be understood, and each follows logically on from the next, with no random jumping about from topic to topic from one paragraph to the next. Spelling and grammar are flawless, with no careless typos. So how do you go about writing this mythical Perfect Essay? Read on to find out!

Put in extra background work

Committed students always read beyond what the reading list tells them to read. Guaranteed to impress, wide reading gives you deeper knowledge than your peers and gives you the extra knowledge and insights you need to make your essay stand out. If you’re studying English, for example, don’t just read the set text! Here are some ideas to widen your reading and give you a good range of impressive quotes to include in your essay: – Other works by the same author – how do they compare with your set text? – Works by contemporary authors – does your set text fit into a wider movement, or is it very different from what was being written at the time? – Works by the author’s predecessors – what works inspired the author of your set text? How do you see them shining through in the text you’re studying, and how have they been developed? – Literary criticism – gauge the range of opinions about your set text by reading what the literary critics have to say. Whose opinion do you most agree with, and why? – Background history – so that you can appreciate and refer to the context in which the author was writing (we’ll come back to this last point a little later). It sounds like a lot of extra work, but you don’t necessarily have to read everything in full. It’s fine to dip into these other resources providing you don’t inadvertently take points out of context.

Know what you want to say before you start writing

You’re probably sick of hearing this particular piece of advice, but it’s important to start out with a clear idea in your mind of what you want to say in your essay and how you will structure your arguments. The easiest way to do this is to write an essay plan. This needn’t be a big deal, or time-consuming; all you need to do is to open a new document on your computer, type out the ideas you want to cover and drag and drop them into a logical order. From there, you simply start typing your essay directly into the plan itself. Your essay should include an introduction, a series of paragraphs that develop an argument rather than just jumping from topic to topic, and a conclusion that weighs up the evidence.

Answer the question you’ve been set, not the question you want to answer

A common problem with students’ responses to essays is that rather than answering the question they’ve been set , they try to mould the question to what they’d prefer to write about, because that’s what they feel most comfortable with. Be very careful not to do this! You could end up writing a brilliant essay, but if didn’t actually answer the question then it’s not going to be well received by the person marking it.

Give a balanced argument…

Good essays give both sides of an argument, presenting information impartially and considering multiple points of view. One-sided arguments won’t impress, as you need to show that you’ve thought about the evidence comprehensively.

…but your opinion and interpretation matter too

Show that you’ve made your own mind up based on your weighing up of the evidence. This shows that you’re not just hiding behind what other people say about the topic, but that you’ve had the independence of mind to form your own intelligent opinion about it.

Quote liberally

Use quotations from academic works and sources to back up points you want to make. Doing so strengthens your argument by providing evidence for your statements, as well as demonstrating that you’ve read widely around your subject. However, don’t go too far and write an essay that’s essentially just a list of what other people say about the subject. Quoting too much suggests that you don’t have the confidence or knowledge to explain things in your own words, so have to hide behind those of other people. Make your own mind up about what you’re writing about – as already mentioned, it’s fine to state your own opinion if you’ve considered the arguments and presented the evidence.

Context matters

As we’ve already touched on, if you can demonstrate knowledge of the context of the subject you’re writing about, this will show that you’ve considered possible historical influences that may have shaped a work or issue. This shows that you haven’t simply taken the essay question at face value and demonstrates your ability to think beyond the obvious. An ability to look at the wider picture marks you out as an exceptional student, as many people can’t see the wood for the trees and have a very narrow focus when it comes to writing essays. If you’re an English student, for instance, an author’s work should be considered not in isolation but in the context of the historical events and thinking that helped define the period in which the author was writing. You can’t write about Blake’s poetry without some knowledge and discussion of background events such as the Industrial Revolution, and the development of the Romantic movement as a whole.

Include images and diagrams

You know what they say – a picture speaks a thousand words. What matters in an essay is effective and persuasive communication, and if a picture or diagram will help support a point you’re making, include it. As well as helping to communicate, visuals also make your essay more enjoyable to read for the person marking it – and if they enjoy reading it, the chances are you’ll get better marks! Don’t forget to ensure that you include credits for any images and diagrams you include.

Use full academic citations and a bibliography

Show you mean business by including a full set of academic citations, with a bibliography at the end, even if you haven’t been told to. The great thing about this is that it not only makes you look organised and scholarly, but it also gives you the opportunity to show off just how many extra texts you’ve studied to produce your masterpiece of an essay! Make use of the footnote feature in your word processor and include citations at the bottom of each page, with a main bibliography at the end of the essay. There are different accepted forms for citing an academic reference, but the main thing to remember is to pick one format and be consistent. Typically the citation will include the title and author of the work, the date of publication and the page number(s) of the point or quotation you’re referring to. Here’s an example: 1. Curta, F. (2007) – “Some remarks on ethnicity in medieval archaeology” in Early Medieval Europe 15 (2), pp. 159-185

Before you ask, no, a spell check isn’t good enough! How many times have you typed “form” instead of “from”? That’s just one of a huge number of errors that spell check would simply miss. Your English should be impeccable if you want to be taken seriously, and that means clear and intelligent sentence structures, no misplaced apostrophes, no typos and no grammar crimes. Include your name at the top of each page of your essay, and number the pages. Also, make sure you use a font that’s easy to read, such as Times New Roman or Arial. The person marking your essay won’t appreciate having to struggle through reading a fancy Gothic font, even if it does happen to match the Gothic literature you’re studying!

Meet the deadline

You don’t need us to tell you that, but for the sake of being comprehensive, we’re including it anyway. You could write the best essay ever, but if you deliver it late, it won’t be looked upon favourably! Don’t leave writing your essay until the last minute – start writing with plenty of time to spare, and ideally leave time to sleep on it before you submit it. Allowing time for it to sink in may result in you having a sudden brilliant revelation that you want to include. So there we have it – everything you need to know in order to write an essay to impress. If you want to get ahead, you might also want to think about attending an English summer school .

Image credits: banner

7-Week SSP & 2-Week Pre-College Program are still accepting applications until April 10, or earlier if all course waitlists are full. 4-Week SSP Application is closed.

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

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.

Explore Harvard Summer School’s College Programs for High School Students

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!

Experience life on a college campus. Spend your summer at Harvard.

Explore Harvard Summer School’s College Programs for High School Students.

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.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Case Studies
Free Coaching Session

Tips and Tricks: How to Craft the Perfect Essay

Last Updated:

March 28, 2024

Tips and Tricks: How to Craft the Perfect Essay

Being creative, methodical, and precise are all necessary to create the ideal essay. Knowledgeable SEO professionals understand the importance of crafting content that attracts readers.

Many students, both young and old, dislike writing essays. It's a complex project that demands research, time, and attention.

The task can be divided into reasonable, fun parts that make writing an essay possible. You can utilise a variety of techniques to sharpen your talents. We will provide you with a wealth of helpful tips in this in-depth guide to assist you in writing the ideal essay.

Key Takeaways on Crafting the Perfect Essay

Understanding the Essay : An essay conveys the author's perspective on a specific topic and requires research, time, and structure to present ideas coherently.
Topic Selection : Choose a relevant and interesting topic based on keyword research, catering to both online searches and your target audience.
Comprehensive Understanding : Thoroughly research the topic, gather data from credible sources, and consider different viewpoints to provide insightful and well-supported content.
Structured Outline : Organise your ideas into logical sections and subheadings for a well-structured essay that addresses various aspects of the topic.
Citing Reliable Sources : Incorporate information from trustworthy sources like research articles, reports, and respected websites to enhance credibility and ranking potential.
Appropriate Vocabulary : Use vocabulary that suits the tone and purpose of the essay, avoiding jargon and adjusting language to the target audience.
Engaging Details : Include intriguing details that captivate readers' interest and curiosity, making the topic appealing and encouraging further reading.
Express Opinions : Blend factual information with your well-considered opinions to add depth and a personal touch to the essay.
Proofreading : Thoroughly proofread the essay for grammatical and spelling errors, enhancing the final structure and readability.
Practice Writing : Regularly practise writing essays on various subjects to improve your skills, boost confidence, and prepare for different assignments.

What is an Essay?

An essay is a piece of writing that provides the viewpoint or thesis of the author on a particular subject. It is a typical style of academic writing and is used in a variety of settings. Essays frequently spread knowledge and influence readers to take a particular stance.

For many people, writing essays can be a difficult undertaking for a variety of reasons. It can be challenging to turn intricate ideas into cohesive language. It can be difficult to write an essay that is well-organised and has a logical flow of ideas. The essay could come off as disorganised without a defined plan. These challenges are manageable. Keep in mind that writing is a skill that can be improved with practice.

The Best Essay Writing Tips to Write an Impactful Essay

Choose an interesting topic.

The choice of an intriguing and pertinent topic is the first step in creating a great essay. Choose topics that are both popular in online searches and relevant to your target audience. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to do in-depth keyword research to find the most popular search terms for the subject of your choice. This will give important insights into the words people use to search for information on the topic.

Understand the Topic

It's critical to get a thorough comprehension of the subject matter before beginning to write. Conduct considerable research, obtain data from reputable sources, and consider various viewpoints. Your article should provide the audience with insightful information and solid citations. The more thorough and educational your material is, the more likely it is that search engines will find it to be a useful resource.

Make an Outline

Writing an excellent essay requires organising your ideas through a well-structured plan. Organise your information into logical sections and subheadings that address the topic's various facets. To sum up your essay outline, use a summary generator . It will help you understand what and how to write in the abstract. Make sure that the names of each subsection contain keywords that are pertinent to the text that follows.

Use Research Sources

You must provide something more insightful than what is presently available in order to outrank a rival article. Make use of a variety of research sources to support your claims and offer accurate data. Cite credible research, scholarly articles, business reports, and respected websites. Your essay becomes more credible when you cite reliable sources. Your material is more likely to be shared and linked by readers, which will improve your search engine rankings.

Use appropriate vocabulary

Your writing will be more captivating and persuasive if you use terms that suit the tone and aim of your essay. When writing, stick to the vocabulary you understand to make sure you're using it correctly. A dictionary can help you expand your vocabulary and add variety to your writing. Consider your essay's tone when choosing words. To establish a professional tone, for instance, avoid abbreviations when writing a formal paper for a class.

Include interesting details

If you provide information that can excite readers' curiosity about reading more, your topic can be pleasing to your audience. A topic that is dull and emotionless might occasionally cause issues. By adjusting your writing style and applying metaphors, you might make the most of this situation. On the other hand, writing will be simple if the topic is engaging. Because you have a wealth of intriguing details that are sure to capture readers' interest.

Add your opinions and avoid jargon

A factual essay that exclusively presents information from the research will undoubtedly have an effect. But if it's supported by your thoughts, the article will take on a completely different tone. Your opinions must be very well-considered and reasonable. The objective is to demonstrate to your readers that you have reached this conclusion after careful understanding.

Jargon that isn't essential will merely discourage readers from reading further. As a result of your writing, you force the reader to always have a dictionary open. Avoid employing words that could confuse your readers and mix up the content.

The most crucial stage in the creation of an essay is proofreading. It gives the essay its final structure after being proofread for errors, such as grammatical and spelling mistakes. So a grammar checker can help catch some of these errors during the drafting process. In general, proofreading will help the writer analyse every aspect of the essay. During this process, the author is free to add anything they feel is essential.

Check your essay for faults by reading it aloud multiple times before submitting it. If you want feedback on how well-written your final draft is, think about asking a friend or classmate to read it. You might also read your essay aloud to yourself to identify any areas where your sentences could be improved.

Practice writing essays

To boost your writing confidence, you might want to consider creating sample essays on various subjects. You can improve your craft and feel more ready to write a real essay if you regularly practise. Ask your teacher if they have any sample prompts that are similar to the kinds of assignments they may give you in class if you're still a student. For a range of essay subjects, you can also locate sample prompts online.

Bottom Line

It takes commitment, originality, and authenticity to create the ideal essay. You may write a masterpiece that outranks competitors on Google by thoroughly researching your subject and putting your views into the article. In order to truly wow your audience, remember to engage them and add value to what you say. So go ahead, write with passion, and use your outstanding essay to rule the internet.

Client Success!! Watch THIS >>>

Client Success - Case Study

How To Write The Perfect Essay in 8 Easy Steps

by Pat Wyman | Aug 25, 2011 | Articles

Everyone can write the perfect essay.

The ideas are inside your child’s or student’s brain just waiting to be put on paper in a form that everyone can read.

The following is an excerpt from the book Instant Learning for Amazing Grades .

Schools and home-schools require essay writing, so do colleges and college entrance exams, so, why not learn a few simple tips to make essay writing easy?

Below is a template, followed by 8 additional easy steps on how to write the perfect essay in 8 easy steps, every time.

How to Write the Perfect Essay in 8 Easy Steps

1) the topic.

Example: Amazing Grades

2) Brainstorm

This helps you think of related ideas.

Motivating yourself instantly
Cut learning time in half; higher grades in 14 days
High-Performance Memory Strategies

Example: How to Create Higher Grades in 14 Days Using Your Child’s Personal Learning Style

4) Grab the Reader’s Interest

What is the first sentence you would use to pique their interest?

Perhaps it might be a question or a simple statement.

Example: Would you like to have higher grades in 14 days?

5) Elaborate Your Point

This is the part where you use as many facts to support your idea as possible. Write several sentences using some of the brainstorms you had in step 2.

Example: Learning can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Many learning experts say that learning is not about being smart – it’s about strategy.

These experts show you how with xxx…

6) Do You Need an Introduction?

7) What About a Conclusion?

8) You Did It!

Congratulate yourself – you’ve just written an excellent essay!

Writing the perfect essay is a matter of building up your skill level a step at a time.

Once you have fallen into the rhythm of the template above, you can step up your essay game!

8 More Easy Steps to Write the Perfect Essay, Every Single Time

Step one – picture perfect summary.

Put your title/main idea in the center of the page, make a circle around it, and write down all the ideas and keywords about your topic that you can think of.

Use one branch off the circle for each main idea.

You’re brainstorming at this point, so just write down any ideas that come into your mind.

(That’s how I write magazine and news articles and books too)!

Step Two – Find Your Keywords

Organize them into groups.

Make sure that each group reflects the topic or question that you’re writing about.

Step Three – The Beginning, Middle, and End

The middle develops and supports your main topic.

Back everything you say up with facts, quotations, evidence.

The end will give a clever answer or summary to the original question or idea that you started with and tie up those loose ends.

Step Four – Your First Draft!

That’s how I wrote this book!

Give each idea its own paragraph, don’t worry about style and spelling at this point.

You can check this later.

Your Picture Perfect Summary is your guide. Use all the ideas that you decided were important.

Step Five – Then the Ending

Make sure it sums up your answer/summary to the main topic/question. Look back at the draft of the middle.

Write down the 5 or 10 most important keywords.

Find the shortest way to link them together – this is your ending.

Step Six – Now the Beginning

There’s an old saying from my college days English class: Tell ’em what you’re going to say, tell ’em, tell ’em what you said!

This beginning is essential to set the stage – make sure it’s catchy and makes the reader interested in what you have to say.

Once you have the body and conclusion of your essay completed, you already have the big picture in your mind.

This makes writing the introduction much easier because you know what you’re going to be talking about in the rest of the piece!

Step Seven – Get Some Rest!

Now, go to bed and get some rest. Give the ideas a chance to process in your brain. Tomorrow you’ll notice a few more points to talk about and think of additional ways to say things.

Step Eight – Edit

Author, Colin Rose, says, “EDIT – Excellent Draft, Inspirational Text”… read the whole essay aloud to yourself.

Audio record it if you can. Does it sound logical and convincing? You are on your way to understanding how to write the perfect essay.

Are your examples bringing your ideas to life? Check the beginning – is it awesome? Does it make sense?

Edit the beginning, middle, and end – check spelling and grammar. Have someone else proofread it too. Now check the middle. Did everything you said relate to the main topic or question? Is it convincing?

Go to your ending. Edit it – is it punchy? This is the place to really put on your thinking cap. Did you really convince your reader??

Polish up how the essay looks – Is it neat, organized, well written?

Are you satisfied that it does the job you started out to do?

Only you can be the judge of this.

Your essay reflects how you think – do you like the way it came out? If so, turn it in. Now you know how to write the perfect essay in just 8 easy steps.

Now I’d like to hear from you!

Did you find these steps helpful?

Do you think you can now write the perfect essay, every time?

Drop me a line and let me know!

Her superpower is helping people learn, read and remember everything faster. Pat is the best-selling author of more than 15 books and is also a university instructor, mom and golden retriever lover!

Call for Entries Parent and Teacher Choice Awards. Winners Featured to Over 2 Million People

All About Reading-Comprehensive Instructional Reading Program

Parent & Teacher Choice Award Winner – Letter Tracing for Kids

Parent and Teacher Choice Award Winner – Number Tracing for Kids ages 3-5

Parent and Teacher Choice Award winner! Cursive Handwriting for Kids

One Minute Gratitude Journal

Parent and Teacher Choice Award winner! Cursive Handwriting for Teens

Make Teaching Easier! 1000+ Images, Stories & Activities

Prodigy Math and English – FREE Math and English Skills

Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

Want free help with your college essay?

UPchieve connects you with knowledgeable and friendly college advisors—online, 24/7, and completely free. Get 1:1 help brainstorming topics, outlining your essay, revising a draft, or editing grammar.

Writing a strong college admissions essay

Learn about the elements of a solid admissions essay.

Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes

Learn some of the most common mistakes made on college essays

Brainstorming tips for your college essay

Stuck on what to write your college essay about? Here are some exercises to help you get started.

How formal should the tone of your college essay be?

Learn how formal your college essay should be and get tips on how to bring out your natural voice.

Taking your college essay to the next level

Hear an admissions expert discuss the appropriate level of depth necessary in your college essay.

Student Stories

Student Story: Admissions essay about a formative experience

Get the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identity

Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org.

How to write a perfect essay

Need to write an essay? Does the assignment feel as big as climbing Mount Everest? Fear not. You’re up to the challenge! The following step-by step tips from the Nat Geo Kids Almanac will help you with this monumental task.

Sometimes the subject matter of your essay is assigned to you, sometimes it’s not. Either way, you have to decide what you want to say. Start by brainstorming some ideas, writing down any thoughts you have about the subject. Then read over everything you’ve come up with and consider which idea you think is the strongest. Ask yourself what you want to write about the most. Keep in mind the goal of your essay. Can you achieve the goal of the assignment with this topic? If so, you’re good to go.

WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE

This is the main idea of your essay, a statement of your thoughts on the subject. Again, consider the goal of your essay. Think of the topic sentence as an introduction that tells your reader what the rest of your essay will be about.

OUTLINE YOUR IDEAS

Once you have a good topic sentence, you then need to support that main idea with more detailed information, facts, thoughts, and examples. These supporting points answer one question about your topic sentence—“Why?” This is where research and perhaps more brainstorming come in. Then organize these points in the way you think makes the most sense, probably in order of importance. Now you have an outline for your essay.

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, WRITE!

Follow your outline, using each of your supporting points as the topic sentence of its own paragraph. Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your essay. Use transitions to make your writing flow.

Finish your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your entire essay and 5 restates your main idea.

PROOFREAD AND REVISE

Check for errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Look for ways to make your writing clear, understandable, and interesting. Use descriptive verbs, adjectives, or adverbs when possible. It also helps to have someone else read your work to point out things you might have missed. Then make the necessary corrections and changes in a second draft. Repeat this revision process once more to make your final draft as good as you can.

Download the pdf .

Homework help

Science lab, (ad) national geographic kids almanac.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Your California Privacy Rights
Children's Online Privacy Policy
Interest-Based Ads
About Nielsen Measurement
Do Not Sell My Info
National Geographic
National Geographic Education
Shop Nat Geo
Customer Service
Manage Your Subscription

Essay Papers Writing Online

Tips for crafting an outstanding essay that captivates readers and earns top grades.

Essay writing is an essential skill that can greatly impact your academic success and beyond. Crafting a well-written essay not only demonstrates your understanding of the topic but also showcases your ability to communicate effectively.

Whether you are a student looking to improve your grades or a professional aiming to write compelling reports, mastering the art of essay writing is a valuable asset.

By following certain techniques and strategies, you can elevate your writing to the next level and create essays that are engaging, persuasive, and well-structured.

How to Master Essay Writing

Essay writing is a crucial skill that every student should strive to master. Whether you are writing an analytical essay, a persuasive essay, or a narrative essay, there are certain key principles that can help you craft a top-notch piece of writing.

1. Understand the Assignment: Before you begin writing, make sure you fully understand the requirements of the assignment. Pay attention to the prompt, the formatting guidelines, and any specific instructions provided by your teacher or professor.

2. Plan Your Essay: Take the time to brainstorm ideas, create an outline, and organize your thoughts before you start writing. A well-structured essay is much easier to write and will ultimately result in a more coherent and cohesive final product.

3. Write a Strong Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement is the backbone of your essay. It should clearly state your main argument or position on the topic and guide the rest of your writing.

4. Support Your Arguments with Evidence: Use facts, examples, and expert opinions to back up your arguments. Make sure to cite your sources properly and avoid relying on unsupported claims.

5. Revise and Edit: Once you have written your essay, take the time to revise and edit it carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors, improve the clarity and coherence of your writing, and ensure that your arguments are well-supported and logical.

By following these tips and practicing regularly, you can improve your essay writing skills and master the art of crafting the perfect essay.

Understand the Essay Prompt

Before you start writing your essay, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the essay prompt. The prompt provides you with the specific guidelines and requirements that you need to follow to create a successful essay. Take the time to carefully analyze the prompt and identify the key components, such as the topic, the main question or issue to address, the purpose of the essay, and any specific instructions or limitations.

Pay attention to the keywords used in the prompt, as they can give you valuable insights into what is expected of you. Look for action words such as “analyze,” “discuss,” “compare,” or “evaluate,” which indicate the type of response you need to provide. Additionally, note any terms or concepts that are central to the prompt, as they will help you stay focused and on topic throughout your essay.

Understanding the essay prompt is the first step towards crafting a well-structured and cohesive essay that effectively addresses the given topic.

Research and Gather Information

Before you start writing your essay, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and gather relevant information on the topic. This will not only help you understand the subject matter better but also provide you with valuable content to include in your essay.

Begin by exploring a variety of sources such as books, academic journals, websites, and reputable databases. Make sure to take notes and keep track of the sources you use, as proper citation is essential in academic writing.

Additionally, consider discussing the topic with experts or conducting interviews to gain deeper insights and different perspectives. By collecting a diverse range of information, you will be able to present a well-rounded and well-informed argument in your essay.

Create a Strong Thesis Statement

One of the most important elements of a well-crafted essay is a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement serves as the main point or argument of your essay and sets the tone for the rest of your writing. A strong thesis statement should be clear, concise, and specific, giving the reader a clear idea of what to expect from your essay.

To create a strong thesis statement, you need to clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. This statement should be debatable and present a unique perspective that you will support throughout your essay. Avoid vague or broad statements that lack specificity and focus. Instead, provide a clear and specific assertion that you will defend with evidence and analysis.

Additionally, your thesis statement should make a strong claim that can be supported with evidence from your research or personal experience. It should not simply restate facts or summarize the topic. Your thesis statement should express your opinion or interpretation of the topic and provide a roadmap for the reader to understand the direction of your essay.

Structure Your Essay Effectively

When it comes to crafting the perfect essay, having a well-structured and organized piece is key. The structure of your essay plays a crucial role in conveying your ideas effectively to your readers. Here are some tips to help you structure your essay effectively:

Introduction: Start your essay with a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Your introduction should clearly outline the main points you will be discussing in the essay.

Thesis Statement: A thesis statement is a vital part of your essay as it provides the main argument or claim that you will be supporting throughout the piece. Make sure your thesis statement is clear, concise, and specific.

Body Paragraphs: Divide your essay into multiple body paragraphs, each focusing on a different aspect of your topic. Make sure to include topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph to introduce the main idea.

Transition Words: Use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a smooth flow between paragraphs. Transition words like “however,” “in addition,” and “moreover” help guide your reader through your essay.

Conclusion: End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis statement. Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion and instead, focus on tying everything together.

By following these tips and structuring your essay effectively, you can create a well-organized piece that is easy to read and understand.

Revise and Edit Your Work

After completing your essay, it’s essential to revise and edit your work thoroughly. This step is crucial in enhancing the quality of your writing and ensuring that your ideas are well presented.

Revision: When revising your essay, focus on the overall structure and organization of your content. Check if your introduction is engaging, your body paragraphs are coherent, and your conclusion effectively summarizes your main points. Revise for clarity, grammar, and punctuation.

Tip: Read your essay aloud to catch any awkward phrasing or unclear sentences.

Editing: Editing involves fine-tuning your essay for style, tone, and consistency. Look for repetitive words or phrases, cliches, and unnecessary jargon. Ensure that your writing flows smoothly and that each paragraph transitions seamlessly to the next.

Tip: Use a spell checker but also look out for common mistakes that spell checkers may miss, such as homophones (e.g., their/there/they’re).

By revising and editing your work diligently, you’ll be able to polish your essay and make it more impactful and engaging for your readers.

How to master the art of writing expository essays and captivate your audience, convenient and reliable source to purchase college essays online, step-by-step guide to crafting a powerful literary analysis essay, tips and techniques for crafting compelling narrative essays.

TechBullion

The perfect essay: your step-by-step guide to success.

Introduction

Your next essay could be fun or daunting depending on how well you understand the instructions and how best you prepare to write it. The power of writing a perfect essay is always in your hands. Everybody understands the basic steps of writing an ordinary paper, but very few can turn a simple assignment into a fun and fulfilling experience. Writing a perfect essay should earn you more than just the highest number of points. It should be an enjoyable journey with easy steps and an effective delivery system. Learn how to write a perfect essay and become a perfect essay writer by following these steps.

Defining Key Elements of a Perfect Essay

Step 1 – selecting a compelling topic.

A perfect college essay begins with a simple review of the instructions. You must understand the assignment for you to gauge its complexity and know what to write. Analyze the prompt keenly, noting the keywords and phrases. Conceptualize a topic and plan your time. Identify the key areas you need to address and organize your tasks promptly.

Step 2 – Conducting Research

Once you have generated a topic, you need more information about the main issue and possible arguments. If you haven’t learned how to write a perfect essay , engage a professional writer or use a perfect essay writer AI tool like Textero.ai to ease your work. Identify available expert opinions from online articles and books. Brainstorm various strategies for collating the right information and identifying useful sources. Include contradicting opinions for a better structure.

Step 3 – Developing a Thesis Statement

The first step in writing a perfect essay is having a flawless thesis statement. Readers in academia peruse through articles to confirm the argument stated in the thesis statement. Thus, a properly structured thesis will compel the reader to move to the body. Ensure your document is organized in conformity with your thesis. Highlight the main points in your essay within the thesis statement.

Step 4 – Outlining Structure

With the right information and verifiable sources, you are ready for the next step. Create an outline for your perfect essay , with a thesis statement, topic sentences, and a conclusion. Cover all the main issues in your topic and address the research question with the topic sentences. Align your argument with the most reasonable opinion about the topic. Identify any additional materials that could be added to the appendices or attached to complement your essay. Remember to add images and data if possible.

Step 5 – Writing First Draft

When you start writing, you must start with the body to avoid confirmation bias. Document all the strong points with the body paragraphs providing a rationale for each argument. Incorporate supporting evidence through in-text citations and quotes where necessary. Integrate information from the source by synthesizing the details and connecting them to your arguments. Become a perfect essay writer by integrating ethos, pathos, and logos in your writing.

Hook your reader to your paper by starting with a fact or a non-conventional statement. Look for a perfect essay example online to understand the concept of a hook phrase or sentence. Challenge your instructor’s knowledge using a compelling argument. Use bold terms to demonstrate your stance and willingness to argue your points. Research your audience and understand their expectations. Tailor your paper to your reader’s knowledge and understanding capacity. Although simple language and sentences are the safest in academic writing, using strong technical words within your discipline may be necessary. Avoid slang and colloquial terms in formal writing.

Use transitions

Using transitions between paragraphs and major arguments helps the reader stay connected with the main argument. Demonstrate the interconnection between your main points by using relevant transition words and phrases. Avoid using archaic terms and jargon in your essay. Your reader may not be familiar with such terms.

Incorporate vivid descriptions

Spice up your arguments with vivid descriptions. Illustrate your understanding of the topic by explaining instead of dumping evidence in your essay. Showcase your writing and research skills by captivating the reader with your explanation and understanding of the topic. Provide both sides of the argument by challenging the opposing argument.

Incorporate verifiable evidence

Always use verifiable evidence. Some students rely on web pages and blogs when writing essays, ignoring facts and research evidence. Your paper becomes more believable and persuasive when you cite or quote credible authors. Use academic databases to find peer-reviewed articles and journals. Use mostly open-access sources or attach the articles you purchase when writing your paper. Challenge your reader to analyze your evidence and research your argument. Create a web of interconnected opinions that lead you to your conclusion.

Finish with the conclusion and introduction

Finish your paper with a strong and compelling conclusion. Reiterate the major arguments in the final paragraph without adding any new evidence. Use this information to draft the perfect introduction by summarizing the content of the essay. Include your thesis statement as the last sentence in your introduction. You can also include a purpose statement, but only if stated in the instructions. Ensure your introduction paragraph has a good catchphrase to capture the reader’s attention from the beginning.

Step 6 – Revising Content

Revising your work helps you identify gaps and areas for improvement. Pay attention to the sentence structure and diction when editing. Your second draft should be an improvement of the initial paper. It should have better wording, grammar, and flow. Your final draft should demonstrate your writing prowess with notable facts and identifiable arguments. The topic sentences should stand out even at a glance. The last sentence in a paragraph should hint at the information in the subsequent paragraph. Review and compare your work to a perfect essay example from a reliable writing site.

Step 7 – Proofreading/Formatting

Make your paper easier to read by eliminating errors and typos. Use an AI tool to identify mistakes and improve your document. Remember, a perfect essay must have zero plagiarism. YUsing textero.ai helps you overcome the possibility of plagiarism. You can capitalize on its advanced capabilities in research and document structures to create the perfect essay.

Enhance the structure for maximum points

Even when your paper is spiced up, you need to make it easy and fun to read. Your document organization and structure determine the reader’s ability to conceptualize your argument and identify the main points. Create a free-flowing and attractive document for your audience, eliminating any issues that might divert their attention. A good paper structure compels the reader to keep reading.

Maximize the white spaces

The white space in a written document is an incredible tool for capitation. You can use the empty spaces in your paper to communicate to the reader and demonstrate your writing prowess. These are the empty spaces between words, sentences, and paragraphs. They are used to create breaks between legible sections, allowing your audience to breathe and synthesize information gained. White spaces make your document more legible, eliminating the feeling of being overwhelmed. Thus, proper use of white space can make your paper aesthetically appealing.

How AI writing tools can help you write a perfect essay

Embrace technology and capitalize on their capabilities. In the age of information, AI tools have revolutionized research with utmost effectiveness. You can now collate tons of useful knowledge and verifiable data using a perfect essay writer AI . Avoid using filler words and unnecessary phrases to match the number of words required in the prompt. AI tools can help you organize and structure your paper with correct information and valuable research.

Ensure every section flows seamlessly with interconnected sentences and paragraphs. Create relatively similar paragraphs in size and organization. Incorporate a mix of different sentence structures to avoid monotony, while maintaining order, logic, and consistency. You can make your paper more compelling using simple words with impactful meaning. Only use technical terms when such words can help you enhance your argument. Create a perfect college essay by spicing it with paragraph unity.

Recommended for you

Pullix (PLX), Dubbed Binance’s (BNB) Successor, Unveils No KYC Trading Platform, With Staking up to 45% APY

In a world where privacy is increasingly becoming a key issue, Pullix (PLX) is...

The Future of Tech Sales: Combining Cybersecurity Insight with Advanced Data Analytics

The convergence of cybersecurity, advanced data analytics, and sales is a necessity in today’s...

Kelexo (KLXO) 10X Lending Platform Presale: A Must-Grab Opportunity for Stellar (XLM) & Litecoin (LTC) Investors This April

With the market going up and down a lot, especially for cryptos like Stellar...

L7 Upgrades to Become a Comprehensive Web3 Ecosystem for Investors and Innovators

Recently, L7 has caught the attention of many crypto enthusiasts. As a Web3 digital...

FXDX: Building The Most Liquid Perp DEX Aggregator

The decentralized perpetual trading market has exploded in popularity over the past year, with...

Coinbase Obtains A Restricted Dealer Licence In Canada.

In light of a regulatory crackdown in its home market of the United States,...

Shift in Crypto Trends: DOGE and SHIB Prices Drop as NFTFN Presale Takes Center Stage

If you thought the ravenous appetite for NFTFN’s groundbreaking SuperNova (SNV) token was just...

Is Humanizing Leadership a Fad, or the Future of Work – TheWorkplaceCoach.com

Beyond a Trend: Humanizing Leadership as the Essential Future of Work In a world...

Mozz Guard Reviews (Updated): Does Mozz Guard Mosquito Zapper Really Work?

Mozz Guard has over 12,700 reviews worldwide and a customer rating of 4.8 out...

Deepfakes, Ethics, and Data Science: Navigating the New Reality

Deepfakes, a product of advanced AI technologies like machine learning and deep neural networks,...

Experience the Best of British Countryside: Affordable Day Trip Ideas in the UK

Are you itching to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse...

Revolutionizing Waste: The Plastic Recycling Machine

I. Introduction Plastic pollution has become an ever-growing threat to our planet’s ecosystems. With...

Investing In Bitcoin: What You Need To Know

Since its launch in January 2009, Bitcoin has pioneered the way for cryptocurrency. Currently,...

RACHEL UCHITEL IS READY FOR SOME MORE GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY

Media personality and author Rachel Uchitel knows all about being in the public spotlight,...

What Makes Seiko Watches So Remarkable?

When it comes to timepieces, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as...

Johnson & Johnson to Buy Shares of Shockwave Medical Inc.

Johnson & Johnson has entered into a definitive agreement with Shockwave Medical to buy...

The Role of Plastic Prototype Companies in Developing Functional Prototypes

Functional prototypes are essential in new product development. This article explores the benefits of...

DWS has Launched Two New Xtrackers ETCs

DWS has launched two new Xtrackers ETCs in partnership with Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd....

10 Wallet-Friendly Travel Insurance Companies That Will Keep You Covered on Your Next Trip

Are you tired of overpriced travel insurance that doesn’t even cover what you need?...

The US Bitcoin ETF In South Korea’s Elections

Major political parties compete for the support of cryptocurrency traders in the run-up to...

Like Us On Facebook

Latest interview.

A Leading Brand In Boxing & Martial Arts Gear: Interview with Ken Clement, CEO of Hayabusa Fightwear

As a top brand in boxing and martial arts gear, Hayabusa Fightwear is renowned for its elite-level products, trusted by professional fighters...

Latest Press Release

NTT DATA and Reiz Tech Announce New Venture to Target DACH

The joint venture – LITIT — built on previous collaborative successes of its parent companies, aims to transform the IT landscape of...

Pin It on Pinterest

to submit an obituary

Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00pm, Call 610-915-2226

(Proofs will be provided for accuracy only, they will not be styled/formatted like the finished product)

Obituaries submitted on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. by email only [email protected]

(No proofs will be furnished. Pricing will not be available until the next business day after 10:00am by calling Dianne at 610-915-2226)

Obituaries received after Deadline will not be published in the following edition of the paper.

Sending Procedure:

Email is the preferable method for receiving Obituaries (and the only method on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays), they can be sent to [email protected] (Feel free to call and confirm that we’ve received the email)

Formatting:

Obituaries will continue to visually look the same as they currently do, but you will no longer be restricted in what you can say (ex. As much Family can be listed as you’d like; Wording like “Went to rest with the Lord” is now permissible)

There is a cost for each obituary. Pricing and payments are only available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. All weekend and holiday submissions will be provided a cost the next business day.

Exceptions:

All New accounts, Out of State Funeral Homes and Private Parties will require prepayment upon approval of the obituary. Weekend and Holiday staff are not authorized to set up a new account or process payments

Deadline for the above is before 4:00 PM Mon – Fri. only (Holiday schedules may vary).

Prepayment required submissions will be handled on the very first business day following the weekend and/or holiday schedule. A complete name, address and best contact phone number are required upon submittal of your obituary request to set up your account. A proof will then be emailed for review but placed on hold until payment is received.

BBQPapers offers high-quality research papers and essays, plagiarism-free, and a high level of customer service. In addition, the company claims to have professional-level editors in the top 2% of academic excellence write and review your essays.

BBQPapers have a process whereby each paper is checked against the web and its own database for originality. BBQPapers also offers free revisions within ten days, accurate citations, professional editing, and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

BBQPapers offers incentives in the form of loyalty program discounts and a “pay as you go” zero-interest plan option for projects priced over $500. The company also offers standalone editing and proofreading services and custom services for odd academic assignments.

This service guarantees security and confidentiality to its customers and guarantees the quality of the papers it produces for students.

Pricing is around $6 per 100 words, with editing and proofreading priced separately as standalone services. This is a bit pricey for writing services in the United States compared to the others we reviewed.

The best quality among all essay services, writers are Ph.D. and M.A. degree holders
Extra long money-back guarantee (60 days)
Pay as you go option for expensive papers
99% of the writers are native speakers of English
Essential add-ons are free
Prices are above average
Writing samples are not available

Customer satisfaction with BBQPapers is high. Students appreciate the quality and security this essay service offers to them and have been largely pleased with the final results, garnering good grades for their submissions.

3. MyAdmissionsEssay — The Best Service for Application Essays

Even though the name suggests that this company specializes solely in admission essays, this website offers writing assistance with various academic tasks to all levels of academics, from high school to Ph.D.

In addition, this professional essay writing service boasts a pool of diverse writers with a variety of language skills. Your paper will be written from scratch by a well-educated writer in that particular field of interest. College papers are delivered quickly, as soon as 3 hours turnaround time.

Students may give specific instructions and have access to the writer during the process, as well as opportunities for revision to get the paper edited to their satisfaction.

This company guarantees confidentiality, safety, and plagiarism-free original content written according to scholars’ instructions.

MyAdmissionsEssay has some great reviews on the site, but there are not many available. Customers appreciate the quality of the writing and the quick delivery times.

The pricing of this essay writer service is competitive and affordable, and the service offers 24/7 online support to its customers. The company’s online pricing table is transparent and easy to navigate.

Best and affordable option for personal statements
Professional editing & proofreading service
Quick turnaround
Truly confidential service
Limited payment options, the service doesn’t accept PayPal
Minor typos and grammar errors found in final product

This service seems best for personal statements and simpler essays. Some customers complain of minor mistakes or formatting errors, and students dislike the limited payment options offered by MyAdmissionsEssay.

4. WritePaperForMe — The Cheapest Paper Writing Service

WritePaperForMe made our list because of its reputation as a truly cheap essay writing service with good quality and customer support.

This service provides the best value for money. If you’re a student on a budget, this is a great service to consider for a simple and original essay with fast delivery at an affordable price.

WritePaperForMe promotes customer-centered service with round-the-clock support as well as free revisions to get your paper exactly where you want it before you submit it. This essay writing company also offers complete confidentiality to college students using its essay services.

Using WritePaperForMe is safe because it has been rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for customer satisfaction, according to hundreds of customer reviews on SiteJabber and other review platforms. In addition, most reviews state that students received good results. Generally, quality and efficiency were also highly rated, but mostly with simple requests.

WritePaperForMe is a place where you can hire a cheap essay writer who is knowledgeable enough to write a short, simple essay that you just don’t have enough time to write yourself.

This site has hundreds of writers online and takes pride in the speedy delivery of good-quality papers. The WritePaperForMe website also provides quite a few essay samples listed by category. Students have free access to these essays and excellent customer support for ordering the perfect paper to suit their needs, regardless of topic.

Some customers complained that some of the writers struggled with research-intensive assignments like research papers and dissertations, but the general response to this service was positive.

Quick and truly affordable
Great customer service
Might not be the best option for anything but essays
Plagiarism report is a paid add-on

We would advise hiring a more professional paper writing service for more in-depth and important papers. WritePaperForMe might not be ideal if you need someone truly knowledgeable to work on your STEM research/term paper, thesis, or dissertation.

5. GradeMiners — The Fastest Writing Service

This college paper writing service has gone through some changes over the last couple of years. With time, customer reviews of this site are becoming better and better.

GradeMiners is striving to improve its quality, and it shows. This academic writing company is getting high ratings for speedy delivery, updated satisfaction guarantees, and incentives for return customers.

Those incentives are now present in the form of daily discounts and exclusive email offers for return customers who sign up for the newsletter, something that wasn’t available back in the day.

In addition to academic writing services, GradeMiners also offers homework help and problem-solving assistance for high school and college-level students.

This service has fewer professional college essay writers than other sites, and the company generally employs ESL writers. This service offers writing in everything from academic papers to thesis and dissertations.

GradeMiners offers a money-back guarantee as well as free revisions for up to 30 days. The company received a 4.6 out 5 customer rating and claimed to deliver 70% of its orders earlier than the specified deadline.

In spite of claims, discounts, and guarantees, reviews on some services are mixed. Pricing is of great concern because there is no dedicated pricing table for services.

Great option for rush orders and last-minute papers
Extra long revision period of 30 days
Writers are professional enough to handle most papers
The prices are somewhat high
Mostly ESL writers

Overall, GradeMiners prices out as a more expensive option than other comparable services. For some students, the trade-off for fast delivery makes it worthwhile.

6. EssayPro — One of the Most Popular and Reliable Services

EssayPro offers features and perks that other essay writing websites do not. For example, it allows you to browse its writing staff and choose your own writer based on their academic qualifications, areas of interest and expertise, as well as past customer ratings and reviews.

Once you’ve chosen your paper writer, you have access to free unlimited editing, a free title page, and around-the-clock customer support.

EssayPro is certainly a legit essay writing website that offers professional services and has the best reputation for quality, security, and customer satisfaction.

In addition, the company guarantees confidentiality and anonymity so that no one ever knows that you outsourced your essay.

Some customers complain that this service is overpriced, but we found EssayPro to be quite competitive in terms of price. Papers with a shorter return time will be more costly. The more lead time you give, the more writers will garner you a break on the price.

Access to the writer during the process and unlimited editing capability make EssayPro one of the most highly regarded and popular college essay writing services out there.

Popular and trusted site
There’s an option to choose your writer yourself
Round-the-clock support
No phone support
Isn’t the best option for theses and dissertations

To make its services affordable, EssayPro mostly hires ESL writers with excellent academic credentials, giving customers a pool of talent to choose from and making the best fit possible for the subject matter being addressed.

7. EssayNoDelay — Legit Writing Service for ESL Students

EssayNoDelay is a reputable college essay writing service that comes highly recommended. It is an international company based in Bulgaria that employs hundreds of writers, most of whom are ESL.

The company provides excellent customer service via live chat and email. Turnaround times are fast for delivery, but customer service response to student emails can take up to a week, even for emergent requests.

This service, out of all the ones we reviewed, has the deepest discount for first-time customers and returning requests, but you can expect to pay significantly more for subsequent orders.

This online paper writer service has decent pricing but could do better by adding loyalty programs or better discounts for returning customers.

The quality of work from EssayNoDelay is generally good, and reviews are positive. This service boasts that 91% percent of its clients have returned to place more than 5 orders. Most complaints are with regard to minor grammatical or formatting errors in the work.

This company guarantees to provide an original, plagiarism-free paper, with a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee on its work.

The best loyalty program among other sites
Good quality
Mostly caters towards ESL students, it’s hard to find a writer from the U.S., the UK or Canada
While first order is cheap, repeat orders are way more expensive

EssayNoDelay has proven to be a cost-effective custom essay writing service that provides professional writing assistance to students at all levels of academia.

Paper Writing Services: Common Questions, Answered

How long does it take to have my essay written for me.

Depending on your chosen service, your essay can be written within hours, days, or weeks. The longer the lead time you allow for some services, the deeper the discounts. You can expect to pay more for rush orders.

The complexity of the paper you order can also impact the turnaround time. If you need to monitor the process, make suggestions to the writer, edit the work, or request revisions after the paper has been produced, it will add time to the process.

We suggest you don’t wait too long to place your order, there are sometimes unexpected issues that can delay the delivery of your paper, and since deadlines and due dates in academia are mostly fixed, it’s up to the scholar to make sure there is enough time for the professional writer to complete the order including proofreading, editing, and revisions if required.

It’s recommended that you keep in contact with the writing service and the hired writer, in particular, to make sure that everything is to your satisfaction to avoid delays.

The responsibility falls to the student or scholar to ensure that essays are submitted to teachers and professors on time with all requirements met regardless of academic level.

Will my essay be written by a professional essay writer?

Some of the reliable essay writing services we have listed hire professional writers at all levels of academia.

Most services will allow the customer to choose the writer based on their field of expertise, academic credentials, and customer reviews posted on the website.

In addition, most websites enable the customer to select either a Native English speaker/writer or an ESL expert.

Some colleges consistently check students’ writing styles, so if you’re an ESL student, it makes sense to hire an ESL writer so that your paper only stands out a little from your own writing.

The most popular sites profile the college essay writers who are the most requested and most highly reviewed to promote them to customers.

Other services will assign the best essay writer based on the type of paper, subject matter, and level of academia needed to complete the task.

All of the services we reviewed guarantee their results and hire experts who are true professionals in their fields or have the academic experience to write with authority on the subject they specialize in.

Most of the services allow you to monitor the process. If communication is an issue, or if you are unhappy with the results, their guarantees allow you to substitute another professional to satisfy your requirements.

How much does it cost to purchase an essay?

If we’re talking about undergraduate writing assignments, the typical price for a single page is about $11-20. It usually varies depending on how fast you need your essay written. On average, a typical three-page college essay written in three days will cost you $50-110.

We advise you to be wary of some cheap essay writing services selling papers for prices lower than $9. While the price may seem appealing, it’s best to steer clear of such sites because they hardly ever deliver papers of subpar quality, let alone high-quality, plagiarism-free essays.

Is it safe to buy essays online?

Yes, you can be reasonably certain that buying papers and essays online through any of the academic writing companies that we have reviewed here will be safe and secure. By using any of these sites, your personal data will be kept confidential and fully protected.

Your school should never learn that you hired an online essay writer to produce a paper for one of your classes. This is a valid concern when employing a writing service to write a paper for you. The possibility that your teacher or professor will learn that you bought your paper online is small.

Here’s the thing. The only way these college paper writing services can continue to thrive and stay in business is to keep student data confidential and safe. Most of them post a security and confidentiality guarantee on their websites. Some students opt to give a pseudonym or merely their initials to help guarantee themselves anonymity.

The companies we mentioned in this review keep their databases secure and do not sell or share student data. In most cases, they have a customer satisfaction guarantee which covers security and quality.

If a company is offering a 100% money-back guarantee, you can wager that they are doing their utmost to avoid giving any refunds.

Are online essay writing services legit?

As with any kind of service you employ, it’s always a case of “buyer beware.” The responsibility falls on the customer to do their due diligence in choosing a reputable and honest and online essay writing service from which to purchase papers.

However, be wary of basing your decisions solely on customer reviews, as many of these companies are plagued by scores of negative reviews from scam sites provided by rival essay writing companies.

Look for well-established websites with a large pool of writers, and be sure to utilize the live chat feature that is on most of the websites, to ask the questions that are pertinent to your situation.

You want to be sure that you employ a writing service with professional paper writers who specialize in your field of study. At the higher levels of academia, you need to be sure that the writers have the academic experience and credentials to produce the quality level required for a thesis or dissertation.

When special formatting and citations are required, you will need to do diligent interviewing of your essay writer to be assured that they are able to produce the quality of content that you require.

What if I am not satisfied with my paper?

The majority of the services you will consider have a process whereby you get edits and revisions for free within a specified period of time after the completion of the work.

In some cases, future edits and revisions will be charged a fee.

Many services also offer a customer satisfaction guarantee which means that the expert essay writer you engage (that the service contracts with) promises to revise the finished product to your satisfaction, or you are entitled to 100% of your money back.

We understand that it rarely goes to that extreme. Most of the time, you will be able to obtain a final product to your satisfaction on the first try, even without asking for a revision.

If you want to achieve that, please provide the most descriptive order instructions that you can. This way, you can avoid the revision process and save yourself and your writer some time.

Part of making sure that the best outcome is to choose a writing service that employs proficient and professional essay writers in your area of study and that you give clear and explicit instructions as to the formatting, citation, and style of essay you require.

We also recommend that you check in regularly with your writer throughout the process so that you may be able to catch any issues that may arise and be able to correct them right away.

What are the main drawbacks of essay writing services?

The main drawbacks of using companies that write essays for you are the expense and the risk of discovery. While most essay writing services online are not too costly, getting into larger projects with extensive proofing and editing can become expensive, especially on a student’s budget.

While these sites generally guarantee security and confidentiality, there is always the chance that your professors/teachers may notice a change in the quality or style of your essays and figure out that you purchased the work rather than producing it.

The other drawback of using the services of essay writing websites is that you don’t benefit from the work the same way you would have if you had done the work.

If you are doing the research and the citations, you will be enriched by the process and gain knowledge in the subject from doing the work.

Using a writing service only gives you the benefit of the result, the grade, or the points you gain, rather than a more profound knowledge of the subject matter.

This has the potential to trip you up later in life when you may be called upon for that knowledge in your field of study and lack the expertise because you paid someone else to do the work.

Professional essay writing services fill a need in providing writing assistance to students at all levels of academia, but they should only be used infrequently and in urgent or timely situations where the student or scholar is unable to provide a quality essay on the subject assigned.

We understand that there are circumstances where a writing service can be a real lifesaver. Still, we caution students not to abuse these services or use them as a replacement for acquiring knowledge in their chosen field of study. Instead, when the need arises, choose a reputable service that guarantees good quality work.

The news and editorial staff of the Delco Daily Times had no role in this post’s preparation.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

Knowledge Base
How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

Make a claim
Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
Cite data to support your claim
Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
Highlight the problems with this position
Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Ad hominem fallacy
Post hoc fallacy
Appeal to authority fallacy
False cause fallacy
Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

Choosing Essay Topic
Write a College Essay
Write a Diversity Essay
College Essay Format & Structure
Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

(AI) Tools

Grammar Checker
Paraphrasing Tool
Text Summarizer
AI Detector
Plagiarism Checker
Citation Generator

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, how to write an expository essay, unlimited academic ai-proofreading.

✔ Document error-free in 5minutes ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

IMAGES

How to Write an Essay in 9 Simple Steps • 7ESL
💋 How to write a perfect essay examples. How to Write the Perfect Essay
How to Write a Perfect Essay?
How to write a perfect essay
Innovative Guide To Draft A Perfect Essay
How To Write The Perfect Essay

VIDEO

Perfect essay for “El Yurt Umidi” !
Perfect Essay- A Scientific Approach to Essay Writing
Writing Workshop: Planning your essay
Tips on writing the perfect essay
Perfect by Ed Sheerean Lyrics
HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY

COMMENTS

How to Write the Perfect Essay
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.
How to Write the Perfect Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide for Students
Learn the definition, structure and tips of writing a good essay with this comprehensive guide. Follow the 7 steps from understanding the question to proofreading and editing your essay.
Example of a Great Essay
Example of a Great Essay | Explanations, Tips & Tricks. Published on February 9, 2015 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023 by Shona McCombes. This example guides you through the structure of an essay. It shows how to build an effective introduction, focused paragraphs, clear transitions between ideas, and a strong conclusion.
The Perfect Essay
The Perfect Essay. By John Kaag May 5, 2014 8:20 pm May 5, 2014 8:20 pm. Draft is a series about the art and craft of writing. Looking back on too many years of education, I can identify one truly impossible teacher. She cared about me, and my intellectual life, even when I didn't. Her expectations were high — impossibly so.
How to Write Dazzlingly Brilliant Essays: Sharp Advice for Ambitious
Learn the secrets of writing outstanding essays from a graduate of St John's College, Oxford. Find out what essays are for, what makes them perfect, and how to plan, structure and write them effectively.
How to Structure an Essay
The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
How to Write an Essay Introduction
Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay's structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay
Learn 12 strategies to make your college essay stand out from thousands of applications. Find out how to be authentic, grab the reader, show don't tell, and more.
Tips and Tricks: How to Craft the Perfect Essay
Key Takeaways on Crafting the Perfect Essay. Understanding the Essay: An essay conveys the author's perspective on a specific topic and requires research, time, and structure to present ideas coherently. Topic Selection: Choose a relevant and interesting topic based on keyword research, catering to both online searches and your target audience.
How To Write The Perfect Essay in 8 Easy Steps
Writing the perfect essay is a matter of building up your skill level a step at a time. Once you have fallen into the rhythm of the template above, you can step up your essay game! 8 More Easy Steps to Write the Perfect Essay, Every Single Time Step One - Picture Perfect Summary. First, create a Picture Perfect Summary.
How to Write an Essay: 4 Minute Step-by-step Guide
There are three main stages to writing an essay: preparation, writing and revision. In just 4 minutes, this video will walk you through each stage of an acad...
Anatomy of the Perfect Essay Paragraph Structure
A paragraph deals with one main idea. Each paragraph in any academic essay should have one—and only one—main point. This highlights the first component of the perfect paragraph structure, the topic sentence. The second component comprises the support sentences. These sentences establish the proof of, and develop, your main idea.
The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay
The essay writing process consists of three main stages: Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline. Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion. Revision: Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling ...
How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
When you're writing a persuasive essay, you need more than just an opinion to make your voice heard. Even the strongest stance won't be compelling if it's not structured properly and reinforced with solid reasoning and evidence. Learn what elements every argumentative essay should include and how to structure it depending on your audience in this easy step-by-step guide.
Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay
Sample College Essay 2 with Feedback. This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org. College essays are an important part of your college application and give you the chance to show colleges and universities your personality. This guide will give you tips on how to write an effective college essay.
How to write a perfect essay
Follow your outline, using each of your supporting points as the topic sentence of its own paragraph. Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your ...
Master the Art of Crafting the Perfect Essay
Essay writing is an essential skill that can greatly impact your academic success and beyond. Crafting a well-written essay not only demonstrates your understanding of the topic but also showcases your ability to communicate effectively. ... you can improve your essay writing skills and master the art of crafting the perfect essay. Understand ...
How to Conclude an Essay
Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.
The perfect essay: Your step-by-step guide to success
Writing a perfect essay should earn you more than just the highest number of points. It should be an enjoyable journey with easy steps and an effective delivery system. Learn how to write a perfect essay and become a perfect essay writer by following these steps. Defining Key Elements of a Perfect Essay Step 1 - Selecting a Compelling Topic
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Step 1: Start with a question. You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis, early in the writing process. As soon as you've decided on your essay topic, you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.
The 7 Best Essay Writing Services in the U.S.
BBQPapers — The Best Essay Writers, Premium Service. MyAdmissionsEssay — The Best Service for Application Essays. WritePaperForMe — The Cheapest Writing Service. GradeMiners — The Fastest ...
How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.

How to Write the Perfect Essay

Discover More

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

Step 4: Be creative and original throughout

Introduction

Recommended articles

A Day in the Life of an Oxford Scholastica Tutor

What to Pack for University: The Ultimate Guide

Which Careers Can You Pursue With a Modern Foreign Languages Degree?

Would you like to explore a topic?

Or read some of our popular articles?

How Will GCSE Grade Boundaries Affect My Child’s Results?

The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today

How to Write the Perfect Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide for Students

What makes a good essay?

What is an essay?

#1 Introduction

#3 Conclusion

#1 Make sure you understand the question

#4 Write your opening sentences

#3 Make a detailed plan

Popular posts

4 Surprising Disadvantages of Homeschooling

The 12 Best GCSE Revision Apps to Supercharge Your Revision

Benefits of Reading: Positive Impacts for All Ages Everyday

15 of the Best Children's Books That Every Young Person Should Read

Ultimate School Library Tips and Hacks

Book a free trial session

The New York Times

The Perfect Essay

What's Next

What are essays actually for?

Characteristics of the perfect essay

Original thinking

Solid, in-depth knowledge and understanding

Clear structure with intelligent debate

No superfluous information

Exceptional English

Put in extra background work

Know what you want to say before you start writing

Answer the question you’ve been set, not the question you want to answer

Give a balanced argument…

…but your opinion and interpretation matter too

Quote liberally

Context matters

Include images and diagrams

Use full academic citations and a bibliography

Meet the deadline

12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

Pamela Reynolds

Be Authentic

Grab the Reader From the Start

Focus on Deeper Themes

Show Don’t Tell

Try Doing Something Different

Write With the Reader in Mind

Write Several Drafts

Read It Aloud

Don’t Repeat

Ask Others to Read Your Essay

Pay Attention to Form

End Your Essay With a “Kicker”

About the Author

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

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

Tips and Tricks: How to Craft the Perfect Essay

Key Takeaways on Crafting the Perfect Essay

What is an Essay?

The Best Essay Writing Tips to Write an Impactful Essay

Understand the Topic

Make an Outline

Use Research Sources

Use appropriate vocabulary

Include interesting details

Add your opinions and avoid jargon

Practice writing essays

Bottom Line

Client Success!! Watch THIS >>>

How To Write The Perfect Essay in 8 Easy Steps

How to Write the Perfect Essay in 8 Easy Steps