If I had a dime for every late night I spent in college frantically writing an essay due the next day. What is it about essays and college papers that make some souls cringe in fright and shame? Perhaps it is the thought of the research or the time involved. Perhaps it is the thought of writing anything at all. But writing a college essay doesn't have to be so painful--it's just a matter of following the basic steps until you're done. On this web page, I give some resources and advice on how to write a college essay.
Here are some tips to writing an effective college essay:
- Examine Your Topic. If you have a chance to pick your own topic for your college essay, pick one that interests you. If not, then examine the different aspects of your given topic, and try to find elements of it that interest you. You will always write better about something you're interested in.
- Research Your Topic. Some college papers call for much research, some for little. Don't slack on the research. Go to the library, the periodicals, textbooks, the Internet; research all aspects of your topic to fill your college essay portfolio with information.
- Organize Your Approach. Create an essay outline for yourself. Break down the topic into main segments and approach these segments methodically. Don't just go writing an essay off-the-cuff. It takes organization and planning. Actually write out an outline--even a table of contents, if you desire.
- Flesh-out the Outline. Now write the thing. Write that college essay using your own words to explain the details of the essay topic in a logical, straightforward manner. Don't try to be flowery and sophisticated; it won't work. Be clear, concise, and to the point.
- Planning. Procrastination will crush you, as it did to me a few times in college. Give yourself daily and weekly goals to write your college essay and stick to them. It's a lot easier to get the college essay written piece by piece.
I highly recommend this great book on writing college essays:
How to Write Better Essays. This book takes the reader carefully through each stage of essay writing from interpretation of the question, to the research, planning, writing, and revision. The book shows how to improve not just study skills like note-taking, reading, organization, and writing, but thinking skills as well. Readers will learn how to analyze difficult concepts, criticize and evaluate arguments, use evidence, and develop more of their own ideas.