the art of writing essays

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How to Write an Essay

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Essay Writing Fundamentals

How to prepare to write an essay, how to edit an essay, how to share and publish your essays, how to get essay writing help, how to find essay writing inspiration, resources for teaching essay writing.

Essays, short prose compositions on a particular theme or topic, are the bread and butter of academic life. You write them in class, for homework, and on standardized tests to show what you know. Unlike other kinds of academic writing (like the research paper) and creative writing (like short stories and poems), essays allow you to develop your original thoughts on a prompt or question. Essays come in many varieties: they can be expository (fleshing out an idea or claim), descriptive, (explaining a person, place, or thing), narrative (relating a personal experience), or persuasive (attempting to win over a reader). This guide is a collection of dozens of links about academic essay writing that we have researched, categorized, and annotated in order to help you improve your essay writing. 

Essays are different from other forms of writing; in turn, there are different kinds of essays. This section contains general resources for getting to know the essay and its variants. These resources introduce and define the essay as a genre, and will teach you what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab

One of the most trusted academic writing sites, Purdue OWL provides a concise introduction to the four most common types of academic essays.

"The Essay: History and Definition" (ThoughtCo)

This snappy article from ThoughtCo talks about the origins of the essay and different kinds of essays you might be asked to write. 

"What Is An Essay?" Video Lecture (Coursera)

The University of California at Irvine's free video lecture, available on Coursera, tells  you everything you need to know about the essay.

Wikipedia Article on the "Essay"

Wikipedia's article on the essay is comprehensive, providing both English-language and global perspectives on the essay form. Learn about the essay's history, forms, and styles.

"Understanding College and Academic Writing" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This list of common academic writing assignments (including types of essay prompts) will help you know what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Before you start writing your essay, you need to figure out who you're writing for (audience), what you're writing about (topic/theme), and what you're going to say (argument and thesis). This section contains links to handouts, chapters, videos and more to help you prepare to write an essay.

How to Identify Your Audience

"Audience" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This handout provides questions you can ask yourself to determine the audience for an academic writing assignment. It also suggests strategies for fitting your paper to your intended audience.

"Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

This extensive book chapter from Writing for Success , available online through Minnesota Libraries Publishing, is followed by exercises to try out your new pre-writing skills.

"Determining Audience" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This guide from a community college's writing center shows you how to know your audience, and how to incorporate that knowledge in your thesis statement.

"Know Your Audience" ( Paper Rater Blog)

This short blog post uses examples to show how implied audiences for essays differ. It reminds you to think of your instructor as an observer, who will know only the information you pass along.

How to Choose a Theme or Topic

"Research Tutorial: Developing Your Topic" (YouTube)

Take a look at this short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to understand the basics of developing a writing topic.

"How to Choose a Paper Topic" (WikiHow)

This simple, step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through choosing a paper topic. It starts with a detailed description of brainstorming and ends with strategies to refine your broad topic.

"How to Read an Assignment: Moving From Assignment to Topic" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Did your teacher give you a prompt or other instructions? This guide helps you understand the relationship between an essay assignment and your essay's topic.

"Guidelines for Choosing a Topic" (CliffsNotes)

This study guide from CliffsNotes both discusses how to choose a topic and makes a useful distinction between "topic" and "thesis."

How to Come Up with an Argument

"Argument" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

Not sure what "argument" means in the context of academic writing? This page from the University of North Carolina is a good place to start.

"The Essay Guide: Finding an Argument" (Study Hub)

This handout explains why it's important to have an argument when beginning your essay, and provides tools to help you choose a viable argument.

"Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument" (University of Iowa)

This page from the University of Iowa's Writing Center contains exercises through which you can develop and refine your argument and thesis statement.

"Developing a Thesis" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page from Harvard's Writing Center collates some helpful dos and don'ts of argumentative writing, from steps in constructing a thesis to avoiding vague and confrontational thesis statements.

"Suggestions for Developing Argumentative Essays" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

This page offers concrete suggestions for each stage of the essay writing process, from topic selection to drafting and editing. 

How to Outline your Essay

"Outlines" (Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via YouTube)

This short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows how to group your ideas into paragraphs or sections to begin the outlining process.

"Essay Outline" (Univ. of Washington Tacoma)

This two-page handout by a university professor simply defines the parts of an essay and then organizes them into an example outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL gives examples of diverse outline strategies on this page, including the alphanumeric, full sentence, and decimal styles. 

"Outlining" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Once you have an argument, according to this handout, there are only three steps in the outline process: generalizing, ordering, and putting it all together. Then you're ready to write!

"Writing Essays" (Plymouth Univ.)

This packet, part of Plymouth University's Learning Development series, contains descriptions and diagrams relating to the outlining process.

"How to Write A Good Argumentative Essay: Logical Structure" (Criticalthinkingtutorials.com via YouTube)

This longer video tutorial gives an overview of how to structure your essay in order to support your argument or thesis. It is part of a longer course on academic writing hosted on Udemy.

Now that you've chosen and refined your topic and created an outline, use these resources to complete the writing process. Most essays contain introductions (which articulate your thesis statement), body paragraphs, and conclusions. Transitions facilitate the flow from one paragraph to the next so that support for your thesis builds throughout the essay. Sources and citations show where you got the evidence to support your thesis, which ensures that you avoid plagiarism. 

How to Write an Introduction

"Introductions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page identifies the role of the introduction in any successful paper, suggests strategies for writing introductions, and warns against less effective introductions.

"How to Write A Good Introduction" (Michigan State Writing Center)

Beginning with the most common missteps in writing introductions, this guide condenses the essentials of introduction composition into seven points.

"The Introductory Paragraph" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming focuses on ways to grab your reader's attention at the beginning of your essay.

"Introductions and Conclusions" (Univ. of Toronto)

This guide from the University of Toronto gives advice that applies to writing both introductions and conclusions, including dos and don'ts.

"How to Write Better Essays: No One Does Introductions Properly" ( The Guardian )

This news article interviews UK professors on student essay writing; they point to introductions as the area that needs the most improvement.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

"Writing an Effective Thesis Statement" (YouTube)

This short, simple video tutorial from a college composition instructor at Tulsa Community College explains what a thesis statement is and what it does. 

"Thesis Statement: Four Steps to a Great Essay" (YouTube)

This fantastic tutorial walks you through drafting a thesis, using an essay prompt on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter as an example.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through coming up with, writing, and editing a thesis statement. It invites you think of your statement as a "working thesis" that can change.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (Univ. of Indiana Bloomington)

Ask yourself the questions on this page, part of Indiana Bloomington's Writing Tutorial Services, when you're writing and refining your thesis statement.

"Writing Tips: Thesis Statements" (Univ. of Illinois Center for Writing Studies)

This page gives plentiful examples of good to great thesis statements, and offers questions to ask yourself when formulating a thesis statement.

How to Write Body Paragraphs

"Body Paragraph" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course introduces you to the components of a body paragraph. These include the topic sentence, information, evidence, and analysis.

"Strong Body Paragraphs" (Washington Univ.)

This handout from Washington's Writing and Research Center offers in-depth descriptions of the parts of a successful body paragraph.

"Guide to Paragraph Structure" (Deakin Univ.)

This handout is notable for color-coding example body paragraphs to help you identify the functions various sentences perform.

"Writing Body Paragraphs" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

The exercises in this section of Writing for Success  will help you practice writing good body paragraphs. It includes guidance on selecting primary support for your thesis.

"The Writing Process—Body Paragraphs" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

The information and exercises on this page will familiarize you with outlining and writing body paragraphs, and includes links to more information on topic sentences and transitions.

"The Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post discusses body paragraphs in the context of one of the most common academic essay types in secondary schools.

How to Use Transitions

"Transitions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains what a transition is, and how to know if you need to improve your transitions.

"Using Transitions Effectively" (Washington Univ.)

This handout defines transitions, offers tips for using them, and contains a useful list of common transitional words and phrases grouped by function.

"Transitions" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This page compares paragraphs without transitions to paragraphs with transitions, and in doing so shows how important these connective words and phrases are.

"Transitions in Academic Essays" (Scribbr)

This page lists four techniques that will help you make sure your reader follows your train of thought, including grouping similar information and using transition words.

"Transitions" (El Paso Community College)

This handout shows example transitions within paragraphs for context, and explains how transitions improve your essay's flow and voice.

"Make Your Paragraphs Flow to Improve Writing" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post, another from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, talks about transitions and other strategies to improve your essay's overall flow.

"Transition Words" (smartwords.org)

This handy word bank will help you find transition words when you're feeling stuck. It's grouped by the transition's function, whether that is to show agreement, opposition, condition, or consequence.

How to Write a Conclusion

"Parts of An Essay: Conclusions" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course explains how to conclude an academic essay. It suggests thinking about the "3Rs": return to hook, restate your thesis, and relate to the reader.

"Essay Conclusions" (Univ. of Maryland University College)

This overview of the academic essay conclusion contains helpful examples and links to further resources for writing good conclusions.

"How to End An Essay" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) by an English Ph.D. walks you through writing a conclusion, from brainstorming to ending with a flourish.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page collates useful strategies for writing an effective conclusion, and reminds you to "close the discussion without closing it off" to further conversation.

How to Include Sources and Citations

"Research and Citation Resources" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL streamlines information about the three most common referencing styles (MLA, Chicago, and APA) and provides examples of how to cite different resources in each system.

EasyBib: Free Bibliography Generator

This online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. Be sure to select your resource type before clicking the "cite it" button.

CitationMachine

Like EasyBib, this online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. 

Modern Language Association Handbook (MLA)

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of MLA referencing rules. Order through the link above, or check to see if your library has a copy.

Chicago Manual of Style

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of Chicago referencing rules. You can take a look at the table of contents, then choose to subscribe or start a free trial.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

"What is Plagiarism?" (plagiarism.org)

This nonprofit website contains numerous resources for identifying and avoiding plagiarism, and reminds you that even common activities like copying images from another website to your own site may constitute plagiarism.

"Plagiarism" (University of Oxford)

This interactive page from the University of Oxford helps you check for plagiarism in your work, making it clear how to avoid citing another person's work without full acknowledgement.

"Avoiding Plagiarism" (MIT Comparative Media Studies)

This quick guide explains what plagiarism is, what its consequences are, and how to avoid it. It starts by defining three words—quotation, paraphrase, and summary—that all constitute citation.

"Harvard Guide to Using Sources" (Harvard Extension School)

This comprehensive website from Harvard brings together articles, videos, and handouts about referencing, citation, and plagiarism. 

Grammarly contains tons of helpful grammar and writing resources, including a free tool to automatically scan your essay to check for close affinities to published work. 

Noplag is another popular online tool that automatically scans your essay to check for signs of plagiarism. Simply copy and paste your essay into the box and click "start checking."

Once you've written your essay, you'll want to edit (improve content), proofread (check for spelling and grammar mistakes), and finalize your work until you're ready to hand it in. This section brings together tips and resources for navigating the editing process. 

"Writing a First Draft" (Academic Help)

This is an introduction to the drafting process from the site Academic Help, with tips for getting your ideas on paper before editing begins.

"Editing and Proofreading" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page provides general strategies for revising your writing. They've intentionally left seven errors in the handout, to give you practice in spotting them.

"How to Proofread Effectively" (ThoughtCo)

This article from ThoughtCo, along with those linked at the bottom, help describe common mistakes to check for when proofreading.

"7 Simple Edits That Make Your Writing 100% More Powerful" (SmartBlogger)

This blog post emphasizes the importance of powerful, concise language, and reminds you that even your personal writing heroes create clunky first drafts.

"Editing Tips for Effective Writing" (Univ. of Pennsylvania)

On this page from Penn's International Relations department, you'll find tips for effective prose, errors to watch out for, and reminders about formatting.

"Editing the Essay" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This article, the first of two parts, gives you applicable strategies for the editing process. It suggests reading your essay aloud, removing any jargon, and being unafraid to remove even "dazzling" sentences that don't belong.

"Guide to Editing and Proofreading" (Oxford Learning Institute)

This handout from Oxford covers the basics of editing and proofreading, and reminds you that neither task should be rushed. 

In addition to plagiarism-checkers, Grammarly has a plug-in for your web browser that checks your writing for common mistakes.

After you've prepared, written, and edited your essay, you might want to share it outside the classroom. This section alerts you to print and web opportunities to share your essays with the wider world, from online writing communities and blogs to published journals geared toward young writers.

Sharing Your Essays Online

Go Teen Writers

Go Teen Writers is an online community for writers aged 13 - 19. It was founded by Stephanie Morrill, an author of contemporary young adult novels. 

Tumblr is a blogging website where you can share your writing and interact with other writers online. It's easy to add photos, links, audio, and video components.

Writersky provides an online platform for publishing and reading other youth writers' work. Its current content is mostly devoted to fiction.

Publishing Your Essays Online

This teen literary journal publishes in print, on the web, and (more frequently), on a blog. It is committed to ensuring that "teens see their authentic experience reflected on its pages."

The Matador Review

This youth writing platform celebrates "alternative," unconventional writing. The link above will take you directly to the site's "submissions" page.

Teen Ink has a website, monthly newsprint magazine, and quarterly poetry magazine promoting the work of young writers.

The largest online reading platform, Wattpad enables you to publish your work and read others' work. Its inline commenting feature allows you to share thoughts as you read along.

Publishing Your Essays in Print

Canvas Teen Literary Journal

This quarterly literary magazine is published for young writers by young writers. They accept many kinds of writing, including essays.

The Claremont Review

This biannual international magazine, first published in 1992, publishes poetry, essays, and short stories from writers aged 13 - 19.

Skipping Stones

This young writers magazine, founded in 1988, celebrates themes relating to ecological and cultural diversity. It publishes poems, photos, articles, and stories.

The Telling Room

This nonprofit writing center based in Maine publishes children's work on their website and in book form. The link above directs you to the site's submissions page.

Essay Contests

Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards

This prestigious international writing contest for students in grades 7 - 12 has been committed to "supporting the future of creativity since 1923."

Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest

An annual essay contest on the theme of journalism and media, the Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest awards scholarships up to $1,000.

National YoungArts Foundation

Here, you'll find information on a government-sponsored writing competition for writers aged 15 - 18. The foundation welcomes submissions of creative nonfiction, novels, scripts, poetry, short story and spoken word.

Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest

With prompts on a different literary work each year, this competition from Signet Classics awards college scholarships up to $1,000.

"The Ultimate Guide to High School Essay Contests" (CollegeVine)

See this handy guide from CollegeVine for a list of more competitions you can enter with your academic essay, from the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards to the National High School Essay Contest by the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Whether you're struggling to write academic essays or you think you're a pro, there are workshops and online tools that can help you become an even better writer. Even the most seasoned writers encounter writer's block, so be proactive and look through our curated list of resources to combat this common frustration.

Online Essay-writing Classes and Workshops

"Getting Started with Essay Writing" (Coursera)

Coursera offers lots of free, high-quality online classes taught by college professors. Here's one example, taught by instructors from the University of California Irvine.

"Writing and English" (Brightstorm)

Brightstorm's free video lectures are easy to navigate by topic. This unit on the parts of an essay features content on the essay hook, thesis, supporting evidence, and more.

"How to Write an Essay" (EdX)

EdX is another open online university course website with several two- to five-week courses on the essay. This one is geared toward English language learners.

Writer's Digest University

This renowned writers' website offers online workshops and interactive tutorials. The courses offered cover everything from how to get started through how to get published.

Writing.com

Signing up for this online writer's community gives you access to helpful resources as well as an international community of writers.

How to Overcome Writer's Block

"Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue OWL offers a list of signs you might have writer's block, along with ways to overcome it. Consider trying out some "invention strategies" or ways to curb writing anxiety.

"Overcoming Writer's Block: Three Tips" ( The Guardian )

These tips, geared toward academic writing specifically, are practical and effective. The authors advocate setting realistic goals, creating dedicated writing time, and participating in social writing.

"Writing Tips: Strategies for Overcoming Writer's Block" (Univ. of Illinois)

This page from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Center for Writing Studies acquaints you with strategies that do and do not work to overcome writer's block.

"Writer's Block" (Univ. of Toronto)

Ask yourself the questions on this page; if the answer is "yes," try out some of the article's strategies. Each question is accompanied by at least two possible solutions.

If you have essays to write but are short on ideas, this section's links to prompts, example student essays, and celebrated essays by professional writers might help. You'll find writing prompts from a variety of sources, student essays to inspire you, and a number of essay writing collections.

Essay Writing Prompts

"50 Argumentative Essay Topics" (ThoughtCo)

Take a look at this list and the others ThoughtCo has curated for different kinds of essays. As the author notes, "a number of these topics are controversial and that's the point."

"401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing" ( New York Times )

This list (and the linked lists to persuasive and narrative writing prompts), besides being impressive in length, is put together by actual high school English teachers.

"SAT Sample Essay Prompts" (College Board)

If you're a student in the U.S., your classroom essay prompts are likely modeled on the prompts in U.S. college entrance exams. Take a look at these official examples from the SAT.

"Popular College Application Essay Topics" (Princeton Review)

This page from the Princeton Review dissects recent Common Application essay topics and discusses strategies for answering them.

Example Student Essays

"501 Writing Prompts" (DePaul Univ.)

This nearly 200-page packet, compiled by the LearningExpress Skill Builder in Focus Writing Team, is stuffed with writing prompts, example essays, and commentary.

"Topics in English" (Kibin)

Kibin is a for-pay essay help website, but its example essays (organized by topic) are available for free. You'll find essays on everything from  A Christmas Carol  to perseverance.

"Student Writing Models" (Thoughtful Learning)

Thoughtful Learning, a website that offers a variety of teaching materials, provides sample student essays on various topics and organizes them by grade level.

"Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

In this blog post by a former professor of English and rhetoric, ThoughtCo brings together examples of five-paragraph essays and commentary on the form.

The Best Essay Writing Collections

The Best American Essays of the Century by Joyce Carol Oates (Amazon)

This collection of American essays spanning the twentieth century was compiled by award winning author and Princeton professor Joyce Carol Oates.

The Best American Essays 2017 by Leslie Jamison (Amazon)

Leslie Jamison, the celebrated author of essay collection  The Empathy Exams , collects recent, high-profile essays into a single volume.

The Art of the Personal Essay by Phillip Lopate (Amazon)

Documentary writer Phillip Lopate curates this historical overview of the personal essay's development, from the classical era to the present.

The White Album by Joan Didion (Amazon)

This seminal essay collection was authored by one of the most acclaimed personal essayists of all time, American journalist Joan Didion.

Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace (Amazon)

Read this famous essay collection by David Foster Wallace, who is known for his experimentation with the essay form. He pushed the boundaries of personal essay, reportage, and political polemic.

"50 Successful Harvard Application Essays" (Staff of the The Harvard Crimson )

If you're looking for examples of exceptional college application essays, this volume from Harvard's daily student newspaper is one of the best collections on the market.

Are you an instructor looking for the best resources for teaching essay writing? This section contains resources for developing in-class activities and student homework assignments. You'll find content from both well-known university writing centers and online writing labs.

Essay Writing Classroom Activities for Students

"In-class Writing Exercises" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page lists exercises related to brainstorming, organizing, drafting, and revising. It also contains suggestions for how to implement the suggested exercises.

"Teaching with Writing" (Univ. of Minnesota Center for Writing)

Instructions and encouragement for using "freewriting," one-minute papers, logbooks, and other write-to-learn activities in the classroom can be found here.

"Writing Worksheets" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

Berkeley offers this bank of writing worksheets to use in class. They are nested under headings for "Prewriting," "Revision," "Research Papers" and more.

"Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism" (DePaul University)

Use these activities and worksheets from DePaul's Teaching Commons when instructing students on proper academic citation practices.

Essay Writing Homework Activities for Students

"Grammar and Punctuation Exercises" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

These five interactive online activities allow students to practice editing and proofreading. They'll hone their skills in correcting comma splices and run-ons, identifying fragments, using correct pronoun agreement, and comma usage.

"Student Interactives" (Read Write Think)

Read Write Think hosts interactive tools, games, and videos for developing writing skills. They can practice organizing and summarizing, writing poetry, and developing lines of inquiry and analysis.

This free website offers writing and grammar activities for all grade levels. The lessons are designed to be used both for large classes and smaller groups.

"Writing Activities and Lessons for Every Grade" (Education World)

Education World's page on writing activities and lessons links you to more free, online resources for learning how to "W.R.I.T.E.": write, revise, inform, think, and edit.

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Mastering the Art of Essay Writing: Tips and Techniques

Essay writing is a fundamental skill in the academic and professional world, serving as a medium to express ideas, arguments, and insights. This form of writing is not just about putting words on paper; it’s about articulating thoughts in a structured, coherent, and persuasive manner. Whether in high school, college, or beyond, the ability to craft a well-structured essay is crucial for success in various fields.

Understanding the nuances of essay writing can transform how one communicates ideas. It involves not just the construction of arguments but also the art of storytelling and persuasive communication, making it a valuable skill across numerous disciplines.

Understanding the Purpose and Types of Essays

Essays serve multiple purposes, from arguing a point to narrating an experience or describing a process. Understanding these purposes is key to effective essay writing. Common types of essays include argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays, each with a unique focus and style.

Argumentative essays aim to persuade the reader of a particular viewpoint, while expository essays explain or inform about a topic. Narrative essays tell a story, and descriptive essays paint a picture of a subject. Recognizing the type of essay and its purpose guides the structure and style of writing.

Pre-writing Strategies: Brainstorming and Research

Before diving into writing, effective pre-writing strategies are essential. Brainstorming ideas and conducting thorough research lay the groundwork for a well-informed essay. This stage involves exploring different angles of the topic, gathering relevant information, and organizing thoughts.

Brainstorming can be done through mind mapping, listing, or free-writing, allowing ideas to flow freely. Research involves collecting data, reading existing literature, and understanding various perspectives on the topic. This preparation ensures a solid foundation for the essay.

Structuring Your Essay: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

A well-structured essay typically consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction sets the tone, provides background information, and presents the thesis statement. It should capture the reader’s attention and clearly outline the essay’s purpose.

The body is where the main arguments and evidence are presented, usually in a logical sequence. Each paragraph should focus on a single idea, supporting the thesis. The conclusion summarizes the main points, restates the thesis in light of the arguments presented, and often provides a final perspective or call to action.

Crafting Strong Thesis Statements

The thesis statement is the cornerstone of any essay. It presents the central argument or claim of the essay in a clear, concise manner. A strong thesis statement guides the writer’s arguments and informs the reader about the essay’s focus.

Crafting a compelling thesis involves ensuring it is specific, debatable, and reflects the scope of the essay. It should not be too broad or too obvious but should challenge the reader to think about the topic in a new way.

Developing Clear and Coherent Arguments

Developing clear and coherent arguments is vital in essay writing. Each argument should directly support the thesis statement and be presented logically. Clarity is achieved by explaining ideas thoroughly and succinctly, while coherence is maintained through logical transitions and connections between ideas.

Arguments should be backed by evidence and analysis, demonstrating how they contribute to the overall thesis. This clarity and coherence ensure that the essay is persuasive and easy to follow.

Incorporating Evidence and Examples

Incorporating evidence and examples is crucial to substantiate arguments and give credibility to the essay. This can include data, quotations, real-life examples, and references to scholarly works. The key is to use relevant and reliable sources and integrate them seamlessly into the essay.

Each piece of evidence should be clearly connected to the argument and properly cited. This not only strengthens the essay’s arguments but also demonstrates thorough research and critical thinking.

Polishing Your Prose: Editing and Proofreading

Once the essay is written, editing and proofreading are crucial steps. Editing involves refining the content, structure, and flow of the essay, ensuring that each paragraph contributes to the overall argument. It’s an opportunity to tighten the prose, clarify ideas, and enhance the overall coherence of the essay.

Proofreading is the final step, focusing on correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. This stage polishes the essay, ensuring it is error-free and professionally presented.

Citation Styles and Avoiding Plagiarism

Understanding and applying appropriate citation styles is fundamental in essay writing. Styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago have specific guidelines for citing sources, which must be adhered to. Proper citation gives credit to original authors and avoids plagiarism, a serious academic offense.

Avoiding plagiarism involves not only citing sources but also paraphrasing and summarizing information correctly. Understanding the principles of academic integrity is crucial for any essay writer.

Writing Essays in Different Disciplines

Writing essays in different academic disciplines requires understanding the specific conventions and expectations of each field. For instance, essays in the humanities often focus on argumentative and analytical writing, while scientific essays emphasize precision, clarity, and data analysis.

Adapting to the writing style and requirements of different disciplines is key to crafting effective essays. This may involve varying the structure, language, and type of evidence used, depending on the subject matter.

Overcoming Writer’s Block and Managing Deadlines

Writer’s block and time management are common challenges in essay writing. Overcoming writer’s block involves strategies like breaking the task into smaller parts, changing the writing environment, or free-writing to get ideas flowing. Managing deadlines requires effective planning and time management, breaking down the writing process into manageable steps and setting realistic goals.

Staying organized and allowing time for brainstorming, research, writing, and revision can help manage these challenges and ensure timely completion of essays.

Resources and Tools for Essay Writers

There are numerous resources and tools available to assist essay writers. This includes writing guides, online databases, citation generators, grammar checkers, and software for organizing research. Educational institutions often provide access to writing centers, libraries, and workshops to help students develop their writing skills.

Utilizing these resources can enhance research, writing, and editing processes, making the task of essay writing more manageable and efficient.

In conclusion, essay writing is a skill that can be honed and mastered with practice and dedication. Understanding the nuances of different types of essays, structuring arguments effectively, and utilizing available resources are key to successful essay writing. By developing these skills, writers can effectively communicate their ideas and contribute valuable insights in academic and professional contexts.

Embracing the journey of becoming a proficient essay writer is not only about academic achievement but also about personal growth and empowerment in communication skills.

General Essay Writing Tips – Essay Writing Center. (n.d.). International Student. https://www.internationalstudent.com/essay_writing/essay_tips/

The Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples. (n.d.). Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/category/academic-essay/

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How to Write the Perfect Essay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you disagree with the question overall, try:

• AND (another BUT point)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other literary techniques to look out for include:

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

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

Step 4: Be creative and original throughout

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

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

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

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

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

Introduction

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

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

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

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

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The Secret to Successful Essay Writing: 10 Proven Tips to Level Up

Essay writing is a crucial skill for academic and professional success because it teaches clear, logical, and persuasive communication. The Ask a Tech Teacher team has come up with 10 practical tips to enhance your essay writing abilities, covering aspects like thesis development, structure, evidence, transitions, and proper grammar:

Mastering the Art of Essay Writing

Do you find essay writing daunting? You’re not alone. Many students struggle with this essential academic task. But what if I told you there’s a way to make it easier and more enjoyable? In this blog post, we’ll unlock the secrets to successful essay writing and share 10 proven tips to help you level up your writing game.

Writing essays is an essential skill for both students and academic writers. Achieving high grades, personal development, and future professional success all hinge on strong essay writing abilities. This guide will delve into the elements that create an effective essay and offer 10 practical tips to sharpen your writing skills. Becoming a proficient Essay Writer can make a significant difference in your academic and professional life. By mastering these techniques, you can enhance your ability to produce compelling, well-structured essays. By the end of this post, you’ll possess the tools needed to excel in crafting essays that stand out.

What is Effective Essay Writing?

Effective essay writing isn’t just about stringing together a bunch of words. It’s about conveying your thoughts clearly, logically, and persuasively. A well-written essay captures the reader’s interest and communicates its message effectively. Key characteristics of effective essay writing include a clear thesis, logical structure, strong evidence, smooth transitions, and flawless grammar. These elements work together to create a cohesive and compelling narrative.

The Importance of Strong Essay Writing Skills

Academic success.

Strong essay writing skills are essential for academic success. Essays are a common assessment tool in schools and universities, and mastering this skill can significantly impact your grades. A well-crafted essay demonstrates your understanding of the subject matter and your ability to think critically and communicate effectively.

Professional Opportunities

Essay writing skills extend beyond academics. In the professional world, clear and persuasive writing is highly valued. Whether you’re drafting reports, proposals, or emails, the ability to convey your ideas effectively can open doors to career advancement and new opportunities.

Personal Growth and Self-Expression

Essay writing also contributes to personal growth. It encourages critical thinking, self-reflection, and the articulation of your views. By honing your writing skills, you gain a powerful tool for self-expression and personal development.

The 10 Proven Tips for Successful Essay Writing

Develop a clear and focused thesis statement.

A strong thesis statement is the backbone of any essay. It presents your main argument and sets the direction for your paper. Make sure your thesis is specific, debatable, and concise. This will guide your writing and keep your essay focused.

Create a Logical and Coherent Structure

Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section should flow logically from one to the next, ensuring that your argument builds progressively. A well-structured essay helps the reader follow your train of thought and understand your points.

Engage the Reader with a Compelling Introduction

Your introduction sets the tone for your essay and grabs the reader’s attention. Start with a hook, such as a relevant quote, statistic, or question. Then, introduce your topic and present your thesis statement. A compelling introduction draws the reader in and makes them want to read more.

Use Relevant and Credible Evidence

Support your arguments with credible evidence. This can include statistics, quotes from experts, and well-documented examples. Make sure your sources are reliable and relevant to your topic. Strong evidence strengthens your argument and adds credibility to your essay.

Ensure Smooth Transitions and Flow

Smooth transitions connect your ideas and paragraphs, making your essay easier to read. Use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader through your arguments. This helps maintain the flow and coherence of your essay.

Adhere to Proper Citation and Referencing

Proper citation is crucial in academic writing. It gives credit to the original authors and avoids plagiarism. Familiarize yourself with the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) and ensure you cite all your sources correctly. This adds credibility to your work and respects intellectual property.

Utilize Effective Language and Vocabulary

Effective language enhances the clarity and impact of your essay. Use precise and varied vocabulary to express your ideas. Avoid jargon and overly complex words that might confuse the reader. Clear and concise language makes your essay more readable and engaging.

Pay Attention to Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation

Good grammar, spelling, and punctuation are essential for a polished essay. Proofread your work carefully to catch any errors. Consider using grammar-checking tools to help you identify and correct mistakes. Flawless writing enhances your credibility and makes a positive impression.

Maintain Originality and Avoid Plagiarism

Originality is key to a successful essay. Present your unique perspective and avoid copying others’ work. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that can have severe consequences. Always cite your sources and give credit where it’s due.

Conclude with a Strong and Compelling Closing

Your conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis. It should also leave a lasting impression on the reader. Consider ending with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action. A strong conclusion reinforces your argument and wraps up your essay effectively.

Benefits of Implementing These Tips

Improved academic performance.

By following these tips, you’ll likely see an improvement in your grades. Well-written essays demonstrate your understanding of the material and your ability to communicate your ideas effectively. Professors and teachers appreciate clear, logical, and well-supported arguments.

Enhanced Communication Skills

Essay writing hones your communication skills, which are valuable in both academic and professional settings. The ability to articulate your thoughts clearly and persuasively is an asset in any field. Strong writing skills can set you apart from your peers and colleagues.

Increased Confidence and Credibility

Mastering essay writing boosts your confidence. Knowing that you can craft a compelling essay gives you the assurance to tackle other writing tasks. Additionally, well-written essays enhance your credibility as a student and a professional.

Writing essays encourages self-reflection and critical thinking. It allows you to explore and express your views on various topics. By improving your writing skills, you gain a powerful tool for personal growth and self-expression.

Who Can Benefit from These Essay Writing Tips?

Students (high school, college, graduate).

Students at all levels can benefit from these tips. Whether you’re in high school, college, or graduate school, strong essay writing skills are essential. These tips will help you excel in your academic pursuits and achieve your educational goals.

Professional Writers and Researchers

Professional writers and researchers can also benefit from honing their essay writing skills. Clear and persuasive writing is crucial for publishing research, writing articles, and communicating findings. These tips will help you produce high-quality work that stands out.

Educators and Instructors

Educators and instructors can use these tips to guide their students. Teaching effective essay writing techniques can enhance students’ learning experiences and academic performance. These tips provide a valuable resource for educators looking to improve their teaching strategies.

Professionals in Various Fields

Professionals in fields such as business, law, and healthcare can benefit from strong writing skills. Whether you’re drafting reports, proposals, or presentations, the ability to communicate effectively is crucial. These tips will help you enhance your writing and achieve your professional goals.

In summary, mastering the art of essay writing is a valuable skill that can benefit you in many ways. By following these 10 proven tips, you can enhance your writing abilities, achieve academic and professional success, and enjoy personal growth. Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep honing your skills, and don’t be afraid to seek feedback and make improvements. Happy writing!

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Jacqui Murray  has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a  K-12 technology curriculum ,  K-8 keyboard curriculum,   K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum . She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to  NEA Today , and author of the tech thrillers,  To Hunt a Sub  and  Twenty-four Days . You can find her resources at  Structured Learning.

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Master the Art of Writing: 23 Tips to Improve Your Skills

Writing is a skill, and like any skill, it takes time, effort, and practice to master it. By practicing writing regularly, you can develop your skills, learn from your mistakes, and refine your style. The more you write, the better you will become at expressing your ideas and engaging your audience.

However, many people wonder how should they practice. No worries! In this post, I have come up with 23 ways to practice writing.

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#1 Read, Read, Read Some More, and Read a Lot!

As a writer, I know that reading is essential to developing my writing skills. I make it a point to read widely and regularly, exposing myself to different genres, styles, and voices. Reading also helps me learn new words and phrases that I can incorporate into my own writing.

For example, if you’re interested in writing a mystery novel, read a lot of mystery novels to see how other writers approach the genre. By reading widely, you’ll be exposed to different styles, voices, and techniques, which can help you improve your own writing.

#2 Write How You Speak

Writing in a conversational style is easy and a great way to engage readers and make your writing more relatable. I try to write as if I’m speaking to a friend, using simple language and sentence structures that are easy to understand.

So, if you’re writing an article about a complex topic, avoid using overly technical or academic language. Instead, write in a conversational style that’s easy for readers to understand. By writing in a way that’s natural to you, you’ll be able to engage readers more effectively.

#3 Learn New Words from Various Sources

Vocabulary is crucial to effective writing, so I’m always on the lookout for new words to add to my arsenal. I read the dictionary and thesaurus regularly and try to incorporate new words into my writing to make it more interesting and engaging.

#4 Make Writing a Daily Habit

Writing is like any other skill – it requires regular practice to improve. I make it a habit to write every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Consistency is key, and making writing a daily habit ensures that I’m constantly improving my capabilities.

I like to set aside time each day to write, even if it’s just 10 minutes. This helps me to stay focused and to make progress on my writing goals.

#5 Check for Mistakes

No matter how good a writer you are, mistakes can still slip through. I always check my writing for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation and make corrections as necessary. It’s important to present your writing in the best possible light, and avoiding mistakes is a key part of that.

So, after you’ve finished a writing project, go back through it carefully and look for any spelling or grammar errors. By catching and correcting mistakes, you’ll be able to present your writing in the best possible light.

#6 Keep a Journal to Write Regularly

So, you should write about your thoughts and feelings on a particular topic or event. By keeping a journal, you’ll be able to practice your writing regularly and explore your own ideas and perspectives.

#7 Choose a Suitable Setting

Writing in a specific setting can help to focus your thoughts and ideas. I like to choose a quiet, comfortable space to write, free from distractions and interruptions . This helps me to get into the writing zone and stay there for longer periods of time.

For example, choose a quiet and comfortable room in your home where you can focus on your writing. By choosing a specific setting, you’ll be able to get into the writing zone more easily and stay there for longer periods of time.

#8 Describe a Real person

For instance, write a detailed description of a family member or friend, including their appearance, personality, and habits. By practicing character development in this way, you’ll be able to create more believable and interesting characters in your own writing.

#9 Write a Series of First Sentences First

Starting a piece of writing can be difficult, so I like to write a series of first sentences to get my creative juices flowing. This exercise helps me to explore different ideas and approaches to a topic and can often lead to unexpected and interesting results.

#10 Join a Writing Workshop

Writing workshops are a great way to get feedback on your writing and to connect with other writers. I’ve participated in several workshops over the years, and each one has helped me to improve my writing skills and to gain new perspectives on my work.

So, attend a writing workshop where you can share your work with other writers and receive feedback on your writing. By participating in a writing workshop, you’ll be able to learn from others, get feedback on your own writing, and stay motivated.

#11 Break Down Your Favorite Pieces of Writing

You obviously can do the same. Analyze the structure, language, and themes of your favorite novel or article. By breaking down the writing in this way, you’ll be able to learn new techniques and apply them to your own writing.

#12 Edit Something You Have Set Aside for a While

The idea of putting your writing aside for a while before revisiting it is a technique used by many writers to improve the quality of their work. The idea is that when you spend a significant amount of time writing something, you become too close to the material and can miss mistakes or areas that need improvement.

The amount of time you put your writing aside can vary depending on the length and complexity of the piece. For shorter pieces, like blog posts or essays, a few days may be enough time to gain a fresh perspective.

For longer pieces, like novels or dissertations, it may be more helpful to set the writing aside for weeks or even months.

#13 Experiment with Different Genres

For example, write a short story in a different genre than you’re used to, such as science fiction or romance. By experimenting with different genres, you’ll be able to expand your writing skills and discover new aspects of your writing style.

#14 Brush Up on the Rules

Writing requires a solid understanding of grammar, punctuation, and other rules of the language. I like to brush up on the rules regularly by reading grammar guides and practicing my skills. This helps me to avoid common mistakes and to write more effectively.

So, I recommend you study grammar guides and practice your writing skills by identifying and correcting common mistakes. By mastering the rules of writing, you’ll be able to write more effectively and with greater confidence.

#15 Show Other People Whatever You Write

Getting feedback from others is an essential part of improving your writing. I like to share my work with friends, family, and other writers and to listen to their feedback and suggestions. This helps me to see my work from different perspectives and to identify areas that need improvement.

For example, you can share your work with a writing group or a trusted friend and ask for their feedback. By getting feedback from others, you’ll be able to see your writing from different perspectives and improve your writing skills.

#16 Find a Writing Partner

You may team up with a writing partner to exchange feedback and share your writing goals. By working with a writing partner, you’ll be able to stay motivated and accountable, and get valuable feedback on your writing.

#17 Imitate Writers You Admire

Imitating writers you admire is a great way to learn new techniques and develop your own writing style. I like to study the work of writers I admire, from their language to their structure, and to incorporate what I’ve learned into my own writing.

Another way to imitate writers you admire is to study their structure. Look at how they organize their writing, the pacing they use, and the way they transition between ideas. By analyzing their structure, you can learn how to create a cohesive and engaging piece of writing.

It’s also important to remember that imitation doesn’t mean copying. Rather than trying to replicate another writer’s work exactly, aim to incorporate what you’ve learned into your own writing style. Use the techniques you’ve learned as a jumping-off point to create something unique and original.

#18 Remember That Outlines Are Your Friend

Outlining your writing can help you to stay focused and to organize your thoughts. I like to create outlines for my writing projects, from short stories to novels, to help me stay on track and to ensure that my writing has a clear structure.

#19 Edit Your Work With No Mercy

Editing is a crucial part of the writing process. I like to edit my work ruthlessly, cutting out unnecessary words and sentences and ensuring that my writing is clear and concise. This helps me to present my work in the best possible light and to engage readers effectively.

I always like to go through my writing and look for words and phrases that can be cut without changing the meaning. This helps to keep my writing tight and engaging.

#20 Accept That First Drafts Are Almost Always Crap

First drafts are rarely perfect, and that’s okay. I like to remind myself that writing is a process, and that the first draft is just the beginning. I allow myself to write poorly in the first draft, knowing that I can always improve it in later drafts.

So, don’t hesitate to allow yourself to write poorly in the first draft, knowing that you can always improve it in later drafts. By accepting that first drafts are rarely perfect, you’ll be able to focus on getting the work done and making progress on your writing projects.

#21 Don’t Be Afraid to Say What You Think

Writing is a powerful tool for expressing your thoughts and ideas. I like to remind myself not to hold back in my writing and to say what I think without fear of judgment or criticism. This helps me to write more honestly and authentically.

#22 Remember That Done Is Better than Perfect

Perfectionism can be a major barrier to writing. I like to remind myself that writing is about getting the work done, not about being perfect. This helps me to focus on my goals and to produce more writing, even if it’s not perfect. Hence, focus on getting your writing done rather than striving for perfection.

So, you must focus on getting your writing done rather than striving for perfection. Instead of trying to write the perfect sentence or paragraph, aim to write a certain number of words or pages each day or week. By focusing on quantity rather than quality, you can build momentum and make progress on your projects.

#23 Don’t Delay Writing: Get It Done Now

One way to start writing now is to set small, achievable goals for yourself. For example, you might commit to writing for just 10 or 15 minutes each day or to writing a certain number of words or pages each week.

In Conclusion

Thanks for reading.

Happy writing!

Let’s Practice Now – Quiz!

Before starting, make sure to read the related article on Master the Art of Writing . This will help you get the most out of the quiz.

Great job done! For more practice, open the Quiz Bank .

Frequently Asked Questions

Improve writing skills by reading widely, practicing regularly, and seeking feedback. Focus on expanding your vocabulary, understanding grammar rules, and experimenting with different writing styles. Writing prompts and exercises can also help in honing skills.

Feedback helps identify strengths and areas for improvement. Constructive criticism from peers, teachers, or editors provides insights into how readers perceive the writing and offers specific suggestions for enhancing clarity, style, and impact.

Develop a unique writing voice by being authentic and consistent in tone and style. Experiment with different forms and subjects to discover your strengths and preferences. Your voice should reflect your personality and perspective, making your writing distinct.

Engage readers by starting with a strong hook, maintaining a clear focus, and using vivid language. Tell stories, use examples, and ask questions to keep the reader interested. Vary sentence length and structure to create a dynamic flow.

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Mastering the Art of Essay Writing: Your Comprehensive Guide to Essay Writing Help

Introduction: Unlocking Your Potential with Essay Writing Help

Essay writing is an essential skill that students across all academic levels must master. Whether you’re a high school student grappling with your first analytical essay or a seasoned university scholar navigating the complexities of a research paper, the ability to articulate thoughts effectively through writing is invaluable. However, becoming a proficient essay writer can be daunting, with challenges and uncertainties. Fear not; essay writing help is readily available to guide you through every step of the process, from brainstorming ideas to polishing your final draft.

Understanding the Essay Writing Process

Before delving into the intricacies of essay writing, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamental elements of the process. An essay typically consists of three main components: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction sets the stage by presenting the topic and providing a clear thesis statement that outlines the central argument or purpose of the essay. The body paragraphs develop and support the thesis through well-reasoned arguments, evidence, and analysis. Finally, the conclusion reinforces the thesis and summarizes the critical points while leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Seeking Guidance: The Importance of Essay Writing Help

Even the most skilled writers can benefit from essay writing help. Whether you’re struggling to organize your thoughts, refine your thesis statement, or improve your writing style, seeking guidance from experienced professionals can make a difference. Online writing services, tutoring programs, and academic resources offer invaluable support to students at every stage of their writing journey. By leveraging these resources, you can gain valuable insights, refine your skills, and produce more substantial, compelling essays.

Overcoming Writer’s Block: Strategies for Success

One of the biggest challenges students face when writing essays is overcoming writer’s block. Whether it’s a lack of inspiration, fear of failure, or not knowing where to start, writer’s block can derail even the most well-intentioned writing session. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to overcome this common obstacle. First and foremost, don’t be afraid to step away from your writing and take a break. Engage in activities that inspire creativity, such as taking a walk, listening to music, or reading a favorite book.

Additionally, try free writing or brainstorming to generate ideas without judgment. Remember, the key is to keep writing, even if it is messy or disjointed initially. You can always revise and refine your work later.

The Power of Revision: Refining Your Essay

Once you’ve completed a draft of your essay, the real work begins: revision. Revision is an essential step in the writing process that allows you to refine your ideas, clarify your arguments, and improve your overall writing quality. Start by reviewing your essay for coherence and cohesion, ensuring that each paragraph flows logically from one to the next. Please pay close attention to your thesis statement and supporting arguments, ensuring they align with your essay’s overall purpose. Next, focus on sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation to provide clarity and precision. Finally, seek feedback from peers, teachers, or writing tutors to gain fresh perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Remember, writing is a process, and revision is where the magic happens.

Empowering Yourself with Essay Writing Help

In conclusion, mastering the art of essay writing is a journey that requires dedication, practice, and perseverance. By seeking essay writing help and leveraging the resources available, you can unlock your full writing potential and achieve academic success. From understanding the essay writing process to overcoming writer’s block and embracing the power of revision, the strategies outlined in this guide will equip you with the tools you need to excel in your writing endeavors. So don’t be afraid to ask for help, embrace the writing process, and let your voice be heard through the power of words.

Exploring Mathematical Efficiency: The Role of Factorization Calculators

Factorization is a fundamental mathematical concept that involves breaking down a number or expression into its constituent factors. Whether you’re solving algebraic equations, simplifying fractions, or analyzing polynomial functions, factorization is crucial in mathematical problem-solving. However, manually factoring large numbers or complex expressions can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Enter the factorization calculator , a powerful tool that automates the process and streamlines mathematical efficiency.

Understanding Factorization: The Building Blocks of Mathematics

Before delving into the intricacies of factorization calculators, it’s essential to grasp the concept of factorization itself. At its core, factorization involves finding the prime factors of a number or breaking down an algebraic expression into simpler components. For example, the factors 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, while the prime factors 12 are 2 and 3. Similarly, the expression x^2 – 4 can be factored into (x + 2)(x – 2), revealing its roots and enabling further mathematical analysis.

Streamlining Mathematical Problem-Solving with Factorization Calculators

While factorization is fundamental in mathematics, manually factoring numbers or expressions can be tedious and time-consuming, especially when dealing with large or complex entities. Factorization calculators offer a solution to this problem by automating the process and delivering fast, accurate results at the click of a button. Whether you’re a student grappling with homework assignments or a professional mathematician tackling advanced equations, factorization calculators can significantly enhance mathematical efficiency and productivity.

Navigating Complex Equations: The Power of Factorization Calculators

Factorization calculators are particularly invaluable when dealing with complex equations or expressions that defy manual factoring. For example, factoring quadratic equations with non-prime coefficients or decomposing polynomials with multiple terms can be daunting tasks without technology. Factorization calculators leverage advanced algorithms and computational power to tackle these challenges quickly, enabling users to focus on understanding the underlying concepts rather than getting bogged down in tedious calculations.

Empowering Mathematical Exploration: Beyond Basic Factoring

While factorization calculators excel at basic factoring tasks, their capabilities extend beyond simple numerical or algebraic expressions. Advanced factorization algorithms can handle various mathematical entities, including prime factorization of large numbers, factoring of complex polynomials, and decomposition of multivariable equations. This versatility empowers users to explore mathematical concepts more deeply, uncovering patterns, relationships, and insights that may not be immediately apparent through manual calculation alone.

Conclusion: Harnessing the Power of Factorization Calculators

In conclusion, factorization calculators are indispensable tools that streamline mathematical problem-solving, enhance efficiency, and empower exploration. Whether you’re a student learning the fundamentals of algebra or a seasoned mathematician grappling with complex equations, factorization calculators offer a powerful solution to the challenges of manual factoring. By automating tedious calculations and delivering fast, accurate results, these tools enable users to focus on understanding concepts, solving problems, and unlocking new realms of mathematical exploration. So embrace the power of factorization calculators, and let mathematics be your guide to discovery and innovation.

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The famous English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton once wrote, "The pen is mightier than the sword." However, merely possessing a pen or computer does not automatically make one an excellent writer. Writing a good essay requires that you effectively communicate your views to the reader. There are many different essay-writing techniques and infinite topics to choose from, but writing an essay generally follows the same pattern. This academic writing course teaches you what an essay is and explores their various types and structures. We go through each step of the writing process, starting with strategies for choosing an engaging topic. The course explains how to plan, research, write, revise and edit your essays.

Essay writing requires a unique combination of creativity and logical planning. In light of this, our next section delves into the intricacies of specialised essay writing. We go through various writing styles and strategies and explain how to tailor your voice and tone to suit different audiences, contexts and objectives. We also provide techniques required to write effective persuasive essays, literary analysis essays, research papers and more.

This academic writing course empowers you and helps you express their thoughts with clarity, persuasiveness, flair and impact. It is designed to accommodate learners at various skill and pedagogic levels, from school to university and beyond, and suits both novices and experienced writers. The course has no prerequisites and provides the training you need to improve your essay-writing abilities. Essays are an important element of any educational environment and the essay-writing skills learned here can be transferred to journalism as they drive the writing of opinion pieces, features and other articles. Sign up for this academic writing course to learn how to write great essays that impress your markers and readers.

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Essays in the Art of Writing

ESSAYS IN THE

ART OF WRITING

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1905

SECOND IMPRESSION

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity Paperback – August 1, 1994

• Print length 176 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Joshua Odell Editions
• Publication date August 1, 1994
• Dimensions 5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• ISBN-10 1877741094
• ISBN-13 978-1877741098
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joshua Odell Editions; 0 edition (August 1, 1994)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1877741094
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1877741098
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• #1,176 in Writing Skill Reference (Books)
• #1,809 in Essays (Books)
• #1,857 in Literary Criticism & Theory

About the author

Ray bradbury.

In a career spanning more than seventy years, Ray Bradbury, who died on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91, inspired generations of readers to dream, think, and create. A prolific author of hundreds of short stories and close to fifty books, as well as numerous poems, essays, operas, plays, teleplays, and screenplays, Bradbury was one of the most celebrated writers of our time. His groundbreaking works include Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. He wrote the screen play for John Huston's classic film adaptation of Moby Dick, and was nominated for an Academy Award. He adapted sixty-five of his stories for television's The Ray Bradbury Theater, and won an Emmy for his teleplay of The Halloween Tree. He was the recipient of the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, among many honors.

Throughout his life, Bradbury liked to recount the story of meeting a carnival magician, Mr. Electrico, in 1932. At the end of his performance Electrico reached out to the twelve-year-old Bradbury, touched the boy with his sword, and commanded, "Live forever!" Bradbury later said, "I decided that was the greatest idea I had ever heard. I started writing every day. I never stopped."

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Customers find the pacing of the book engaging, provocative, and well-written. They also find the humor funny, absurd, and quirky. Readers describe the book as insightful, inspiring, and encouraging. They say it's a good read for writers of any genre.

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Customers find the book inspirational, insightful, and compelling. They say it's a good read for writers of any genre and provides an encouraging overview of the creative journey. Readers also mention the book is a compilation of essays on everything from finding inspiration to finding the right words.

"...Aspiring or Established, "Zen in the Art of Writing" is a great resource of insight , wit, and what it takes to write...." Read more

"...The separation into essays makes it an easy read , and makes it easy to sit down and reread an essay whenever you're looking for a little motivation...." Read more

"... Great read !" Read more

"...to own, this book is one of them as his philosophy and cheerfulness will brighten your day and give you not only motivation to write but a purpose..." Read more

Customers find the humor in the book engaging and quirky. They say the author is absurd.

"..."Zen in the Art of Writing" is a great resource of insight, wit , and what it takes to write...." Read more

"...surprised his memoir-style writing advice is every bit as compelling, funny and addictive as his stories. If you don't know Bradbury you should...." Read more

"Came to me in good condition. Ray Bradbury is a wonderfully absurd man who's optimism in the face of writing is wildly intimidating...." Read more

"...He said it's easy to read and Ray Bradbury is very engaging and funny ...." Read more

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging, provocative, and well-written. They also say the author's passion and enthusiasm are awe-inspiring.

"...wonderfully absurd man who's optimism in the face of writing is wildly intimidating ...." Read more

"...Ray is astounding. His reclection, passion , and mind is awe inspiring." Read more

"My husband loves this book. He said it's easy to read and Ray Bradbury is very engaging and funny...." Read more

"...endeavor you might be pursuing, you'll find that Ray Bradbury's enthusiasm is contagious ." Read more

Customers find the book entertaining, fun, and addictive. They say the essays on writing and creativity are worth reading.

"Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity is 170 pages of fun ...." Read more

"Bradbury's essays on writing and creativity are worth reading , particularly for an aspiring writer...." Read more

"...-style writing advice is every bit as compelling, funny and addictive as his stories . If you don't know Bradbury you should...." Read more

"...I found the essays to be inspirational as well as entertaining ." Read more

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Selected Essays  

Virginia woolf  and david bradshaw.

According to Virginia Woolf, the goal of the essay ‘is simply that it should give pleasure…It should lay us under a spell with its first word, and we should only wake, refreshed, with its last.’ One of the best practitioners of the art she analysed so rewardingly, Woolf displayed her essay-writing skills across a wide range of subjects, with all the craftsmanship, substance, and rich allure of her novels. This selection brings together thirty of her best essays, including the famous ‘Mr Bennett and Mrs Brown’, a clarion call for modern fiction. She discusses the arts of writing and of reading, and the particular role and reputation of women writers. She writes movingly about her father and the art of biography, and of the London scene in the early decades of the twentieth century. Overall, these pieces are as indispensable to an understanding of this great writer as they are enchanting in their own right.

Bibliographic Information

Affiliations are at time of print publication..

Virginia Woolf, author

David Bradshaw, editor

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• Oxford World’s Classics: Selected Essays
• Biographical Preface
• Introduction
• Note on the Text
• Select Bibliography
• A Chronology of Virginia Woolf
• The Decay of Essay-Writing Virginia Woolf
• Modern Fiction Virginia Woolf
• The Modern Essay Virginia Woolf
• How it Strikes a Contemporary Virginia Woolf
• Mr Bennett and Mrs Brown Virginia Woolf
• Character in Fiction Virginia Woolf
• ‘Impassioned Prose’ Virginia Woolf
• How Should one Read a Book? Virginia Woolf
• Poetry, Fiction and the Future Virginia Woolf
• Craftsmanship Virginia Woolf
• The New Biography Virginia Woolf
• On Being Ill Virginia Woolf
• Leslie Stephen Virginia Woolf
• The Art of Biography Virginia Woolf
• The Feminine Note in Fiction Virginia Woolf
• Women Novelists Virginia Woolf
• Women and Fiction Virginia Woolf
• Professions for Women Virginia Woolf
• Memories of a Working Women’s Guild Virginia Woolf
• Why? Virginia Woolf
• Thunder at Wembley Virginia Woolf
• The Cinema Virginia Woolf
• Street Haunting: A London Adventure Virginia Woolf
• The Sun and the Fish Virginia Woolf
• The Docks of London Virginia Woolf
• Oxford Street Tide Virginia Woolf
• Evening Over Sussex: Reflections in a Motor Car Virginia Woolf
• Flying Over London Virginia Woolf
• Why Art Today Follows Politics Virginia Woolf
• Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid Virginia Woolf
• Explanatory Notes
• Oxford University Press

date: 19 September 2024

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Need editing and proofreading services, persuasive writing guide: techniques & examples.

Are you a student who needs to write persuasive essays? Or are you someone who works in a field that requires you to persuade people to take action or convince them about something? In both cases, you might benefit from learning what persuasive writing is and how to use it for success.  

In this article, we explore the definition of persuasive writing and get some persuasive writing tips to improve your writing style. 

Need persuasive writing support? Explore our editing services. Learn more

What is persuasive writing? 

Persuasive writing is a style of writing that focuses on convincing the reader to agree with a specific opinion or point of view or take a particular action. This form of writing is common in advertising, essays , opinion pieces, and speeches. 

It enables the writer to take a clear stand on a given topic. Once the writer takes a stance, they state their opinion and set the tone for the rest of the content. The persuasive writing style relies on logical reasoning and facts (data, statistics, expert opinions, anecdotes, etc.) to ensure the argument sounds believable and cogent.

Elements of persuasive writing

To achieve the chief goal of persuasive writing, which is convincing the reader to accept a given viewpoint, your content should have certain key elements for adequate impact. 

Let us discuss these elements:

• Convey a strong opinion or idea: Content that follows the persuasive style of writing requires the writer to state their opinions, thoughts, or ideas clearly.
• Establish the writer’s authority: Content in this form enables the writer to establish their credibility and authority. For example, writers express strong opinions and viewpoints through persuasive essays.
• Appeal to the readers: When done right, readers engage heavily with such content since it creates a positive impact at a significant level.
• Present logical arguments: This form of writing involves adding logical statements and arguments that support and strengthen the writer’s viewpoint. 
• Place facts within the content: When a content piece is fact-driven, it makes for a great persuasive writing example. This is because statistics, data, and expert opinions lend authenticity to it. 
• State opposing views and arguments: Such content acknowledges and discusses opposing views to negate or nullify them and influence the readers’ views.
• Strong word choice: Persuasive writing requires the use of expressive, powerful, and stirring words that make readers believe in an idea or urge them to act in a specific manner.

Examples of persuasive writing

In this section, let us study some examples of persuasive writing.

• Persuasive speech: In the following example, it is evident that the writer aims to encourage people to take action by contributing through donations.

“Imagine a world where everyone has access to clean water. A world where children can go to school without worrying about hunger. A world where people can live their lives free from disease. This is the world we can create by supporting organizations that work to end poverty and inequality.”

“By donating to our organization, you are making a direct impact on the lives of people in need. Your contribution will help provide essential resources, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, to those who are struggling. Together, we can build a more just and equitable world.”

• A persuasive letter to a friend: In the following example, the writer describes their experience of visiting New York. 

“I had the best time visiting New York last summer. The food was amazing, the people were friendly, and there were so many things to do. You should definitely check out the Statue of Liberty. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did. You should visit New York this year!”

Benefits of persuasive writing

Persuasive writing is a powerful tool that can be used to influence readers, change opinions and attitudes, and prompt action. The benefits of employing this writing style can bring about several favorable changes to your content. 

Let us discuss some key advantages of employing this writing style:

• Critical thinking enhancement: Persuasive writing requires you to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and offer logical reasoning for every idea expressed in a writeup. This can enhance your critical thinking skills.
• Enhanced communication skills: As a writer, you can connect with your audiences through such writing. Improvement in communication is an important plus, particularly in professional and educational settings where convincing your audience is critical.
• Confidence and personal growth: Persuasive essays can boost your confidence and help you develop your ability to articulate your thoughts and beliefs well.
• Decision-making support: Persuasive writing can provide readers with valuable information and different perspectives, helping them make informed decisions.

Techniques to enhance persuasive writing

By now, it is clear that persuasive writing is highly useful in various settings. However, without persuasive writing tips and techniques, it might seem challenging to employ this writing style with flair. 

So here are some persuasive writing techniques that you can use to ensure your content engages its audience and compels them to change their minds or take action. 

• Organized writing: The writing should be organized to make it easy for the reader to follow every point. Arguments should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion.
• Compelling expressions: Expert writers often use rhetorical devices such as repetition, rhetorical questions, and parallelism to emphasize their points.
• Emotional appeal: While facts are crucial here, appealing to the reader’s emotions can be highly effective. Writers often use emotional language or stories to connect with the reader on a personal level.
• Multiple perspectives: Discussing and addressing opposing viewpoints strengthens the argument. By acknowledging and refuting counterarguments, you can show that you have considered multiple perspectives.
• Call to action: Persuasive writing accompanied by a call to action is crucial in many cases, particularly when you seek a financial commitment from the readers in response to the idea presented.

Importance of persuasive writing

The persuasive style of writing creates a deep impact on the reader when it is done correctly. Educators, motivational speakers, advertisers, politicians, and many others use it in everyday communication to influence and inspire their audiences. 

Students frequently use it to write argumentative essays , and they can benefit from learning how to write in a persuasive style. 

Let us quickly understand the importance of persuasive writing: 

• Improves decision-making abilities
• Builds credibility and trust
• Drives business success
• Strengthens critical thinking
• Encourages engagement and action
• Enhances communication skills
• Promotes knowledge sharing
• Empowers advocacy and social change

Common mistakes in persuasive writing and how to avoid them

Convincing your audience to accept a point of view or think in a specific way is quite tough. When you add the complexity of communicating your message to multiple entities or stakeholders, the problem increases manifold. 

In such cases, persuasive writing can come to your rescue. However, to ensure it is effective, you must steer clear of certain common mistakes. Here are some things you should avoid:

• Making vague or unclear opening statements, arguments, or thesis statements
• Offering insufficient or unreliable evidence to support your arguments and claims
• Ignoring or dismissing counterarguments, leaving matters unaddressed 
• Relying too much on emotional appeals or ideas
• Employing a disorganized structure to convey your message 
• Using an inconsistent or inappropriate tone
• Generalizing and making sweeping statements
• Failing to include a clear call to action  
• Using technical, complex terminology or jargon and overly complex language

Persuasive writing prompts

Here is a list of sample persuasive writing prompts that you can study to independently write prompts:

General 

• Should schools offer longer school days?
• Is technology harmful or beneficial to society?
• Should animals be kept in zoos?

Social issues

• What are the benefits of diversity?
• Should there be a minimum wage?
• Is social media harmful to mental health?
• Are standardized tests effective in measuring student learning?
• Is homework beneficial or harmful to students?
• Are online classes as effective as traditional classroom instruction?

Personal experiences

• What is the most important value in your life?
• What is your biggest regret?
• What is your greatest achievement?

Current events

• Is artificial intelligence a threat to humanity?
• Should there be stricter regulations on social media companies?
• What are the consequences of global warming?

Persuasive writing can make you an influential communicator. By recognizing the power it wields and using it to skillfully convey your message to the intended audience, you can change the minds of not only individuals but also diverse groups. 

For documents that matter, like college admissions essays, you should opt for professional editing and proofreading . You can also benefit from editing and proofreading services for various other documents. PaperTrue, a leading SaaS-based solutions provider, offers artificial intelligence-assisted editing and proofreading. Talk to our team to learn more about our products.  

Want to continue reading? Here are some other articles for you:

• Structure of an Essay: 5 Tips to Write an Outstanding Essay
• 8 Types of Essays | Quick Summary with Examples
• How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay (Examples Included!)
• 2024’s Top 10 Thesis Statement Generators (Free Included!)
• How To Write a College Admissions Essay That Stands Out

Frequently Asked Questions

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REVIEW | The Creative Arts: How writing about writing sparks academic innovation

BOOK: The Creative Arts: On Practice, Making and Meaning edited by Sally Ann Murray and Michèle Betty (Dryad Press)

If the term “creative arts” can feel like a tautology (which arts are not creative?), the new term we are supposed to use, “creative and cultural industries”, could feel like an oxymoron. Besides the “creatives” of the advertising business, cultural producers can be resistant to the idea that they are part of an industry because their sense of themselves as artists is based on the Romantic model of what an artist does – exploring the self, being awed by nature, contesting social expectations, and so on. This volume of essays considers how such creatives, broadly defined, can develop their work within academia.

As Gabeba Baderoon notes in her introduction, creative writing came to the academy rather late compared to drama, music and the fine arts, which have long had university departments teaching students how to make such work. Perhaps there was a sense that these disciplines had technical stuff to master. Hence, solid training was required, whereas writing should really just come naturally, its techniques having been picked up by osmosis while reading. Certainly, reading drives writing but beyond the lonely Romantic struggle, academia can provide guidance, feedback and discipline.

Thus, creative writing in academia is the chief focus of The Creative Arts: On Practice, Making and Meaning . Most of the pieces here are about writing, albeit writing in many different forms: poetry, criticism, fiction, playwriting, writing for podcasts, and academic writing.

Several writers here write about poetry. Kobus Moolman writes about the dichotomy between his own practice and his work teaching writing in academia: burying the work, as it were, to let it develop in a yeast-like kind of way versus exposing it, even when it’s in progress, to the fresh air of collegial response. Moolman shows how the creative writing workshop process can stimulate students’ work, and this piece will be very useful for anyone teaching such a course or learning from it. There are some references here I’d like to follow up and I finished my creative writing MA in 2005.

Vonani Bila’s essay is an intriguing piece on the role of “place” in poetry, putting a new spin on an issue that has long been a key trope in verse, though it’s obviously also relevant to prose – in fiction and not just travel writing, say. It would be fascinating to compare different approaches to negotiating “place” in these media. Uhuru Portia Phalafala and Vangile Gantsho both centre the body in their poetic practice, as described in their essays and then spiral out into linguistic concerns and take on issues such as land.

Simon van Schalkwyk’s account of the overlap of (or strange limbo between) academic and poetic work is less illuminating of the former than the latter. His rubric is “the writer as reader”, which could ramify in many fruitful directions but is constrained here by the fact that this reader is reading in a way informed by academic criticism and analysis. Just as Van Schalkwyk teases at the “limits of the legible”, I’d wonder about the limits of interpretation, about people reading poetry outside academia or without the techniques of reading taught there. 

It’s not within Van Schalkwyk’s remit here, but his essay does point towards the kind of questions Kelwyn Sole, for one, raises: Where is the critical space in South Africa into which poetry can emerge and find a meaningful response? It seems that, nowadays, critical-interpretive space continues to exist only in academia, and who really wants to read much academic critique if you’re not an academic? How, then, is poetry to be evaluated? How much pre-education, so to speak, does one require if one is to read and understand poetry (never mind write it)?

These are perhaps questions about translatability, about the to-and-fro between one discourse and another, one “signifying regime” and another. That may sound arcane, but I think it’s at the core of how we read, how we write, and how we critique (if we critique); this is surely the mandate of academia, but I’m not convinced it necessarily illuminates more than it obscures.

Wamuwi Mbao’s piece, Reviewing as Attentive Praxis , is the only essay here to tackle criticism directly, taking on the process of reviewing – and it’s a sensitive, nuanced piece that indicates why Mbao is such a good critic and reviewer himself. You’d have thought academia would produce more such reviewers, “critical thinking” being its stock in trade, but nowadays, there seem fewer than before. Perhaps the problem is with the public literary space mentioned above, how it works and grows or shrinks, but that’s an impossibly large issue to traverse outside of, say, a sociology PhD. Still, what Mbao says will resonate with anyone who wants to be as good a reader as possible. 

Other pieces in the book revolve closely around the writer’s own practice, describing aspects of the process that, for each of them, takes the writer from idea to artefact and beyond to public reception. These include the personal history that drives and informs the poetry of Phillippa Yaa de Villiers and her play Original Skin , Stephanus Muller’s work of musicology, biography and more, Nagmusiek  and Masande Ntshangase’s account of his dealings with technology and dystopia that inform his SF novels. Each of these pieces is deeply interesting and compelling in the way they show writers at work and reflecting on their processes. This kind of thing can be very illuminating and encouraging for emerging writers.

Sally Ann Murray’s piece about breaking the conventions of academic writing is particularly interesting to me because in my experience (including that creative writing MA, supervising journalism MA students, external examining, and helping to edit academic works), the strictures of that mode of discourse are firmly in place and are insisted upon, framing as they do any actual creative writing and legitimating it in academic terms. Creative writing may have found a space in academia, but that space is fenced off. 

Baderoon argues that this kind of academic work can be done in a new way, and this very stimulating book as a whole is replete with pointers towards such innovation. Murray’s essay and many others in the book demonstrate how those boundaries can be undermined, and one would dearly like to see more such hybridised forms of writing that truly jump the generic fences.

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UChicago’s Study Abroad contest winners share the stories behind their art

Students discuss creative process behind winning photo, video and writing entries.

Editor’s note: This story is part of  Dispatches from Abroad , a series highlighting UChicago community members who are researching, studying and working around the world.

The University of Chicago’s Office of Study Abroad has organized annual photo, video, and writing contests since 1997. The student entries illuminate their experiences working or studying abroad.

“Each year, the submissions practically shout about the spectrum of intellectual, emotional and environmental encounters inherent to inhabiting new places,” said Associate Director of Study Abroad Kylie Zahora.

We spoke to representatives from each contest, to provide a behind-the-scenes look at how each of their entries came to fruition.

Seraphina Halpern, AB’24, completed her thesis research in anthropology with field work on Prince Edward Island. She received third prize for her photo which depicted a lobster crew trawling for lost traps before dawn (above). 

I went to Prince Edward Island to study the local lobster fishing industry, or, more specifically, how fishermen and their families make sense of the economic risk and occasional illicit activity that characterize their careers. My thesis in anthropology pulled evidence directly from the conversations I had, interactions I watched, and time I spent with the community. I am extremely grateful for the university's support for my research and the Islanders’ willingness to welcome me, without which my project wouldn't have been possible.

To me, this photo shows the grit and the beauty of fishermen’s life. Lost and unattended lobster traps continue trapping lobsters indefinitely, an environmental hazard known as “ghost fishing.” The fishermen's union hires crews to search the region for traps between fishing seasons. I was lucky enough to join this boat for a day on the hunt for ghost fishing traps. If you look closely, you can make out the fishermen's coffee cups and cigarettes, silhouetted by the sunrise as we left the harbor.

Sophia Rodriguez-Bell, AB’24, participated in a direct enrollment program at Trinity College Cambridge. She won first prize for her writing entry titled Fuera del hogar, ya estoy aquí (Away from home, I am already here), which explores how her Chicana identity influenced her daily experience at a British university. 

Although I knew before going to the U.K. that I would almost always be the only Chicano or Chicana in the room, I didn’t quite grasp how isolating that would be. For the most part, it was fine. But every now and then, it would hit me. A holiday I celebrate would come and go, and there was no one else who celebrated. I would crave tamales, but the only place I trusted was 2.5 hours each way and double the price I was used to paying.

Being one of a few is normal, but being one of one was jarring. I would mull this over every now and then, but I couldn’t find an effective outlet for it. My writing entry was essentially a thought dump. It’s unpolished, but that’s authentic to how I was thinking at the time.

Below is the opening paragraph to her award-winning essay :

Two UK pints of whole milk is £1.20. A UK pint is 20oz. A pound is $1.25, give or take two pennies for market fluctuation. I do back-of-the-hand math in the Sainsbury’s refrigerated aisle, as the store worker next to me refills the student-ravaged shelves. It is 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. This milk means maybe two weeks worth of hot chocolate. How expensive does this make each cup? Crushed Ibarra tablets sit on my shelf in an empty, 10oz plastic container that used to house Parmesan. I don’t know how much the Ibarra weighs, how much of the 100lbs I stuffed between two suitcases was taken up by hot chocolate powder. Factor in my backpack and me, and I don’t know how much of the exorbitant United airfare here was spent on bringing Mexican hot chocolate to the UK. Whatever it was, it was more expensive than the milk. I get in the self-checkout queue.

Michael Ibrahim, AB’24, joined the Middle Eastern Civilizations program in Cairo. He won first prize for his video entry “Egyptian Adventure, 2024”, which presents a mosaic of Egypt shown through short video snippets of his many adventures.

It really started before I even got to Egypt, when I heard the song that I ended up using on TikTok. It’s a trap remix of the Egyptian song “Batwanes Beek” by Warda, and I thought it would be fun to make a video to the song. In a sense the whole video was really built around the song. I knew I wanted to have the transitions line up with the beat of the music, and there was a part of the song right before the beat drop where I knew I wanted to have a fast montage of short video clips and pictures. I'm always taking videos with my phone, so I had a lot of material to work with. Once I started to take videos, I had some ideas of where I wanted certain clips to go but I only really started editing the video when I got back. I made the whole thing on my phone using the video editing app CapCut. 

Egypt is a beautiful country and I really wanted to showcase that in my video. A lot of the clips are from Cairo and Giza, where I tried to show a lot of beautiful mosques, buildings, and streets from Old Cairo as well as the better-known pyramids. Most of the clips, though, were not taken in Cairo but in Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and Siwa. I think Egypt’s natural beauty is underrated. Take for example Siwa, which is a palm-filled oasis in the middle of the desert surrounded by sweeping sand dunes, beautiful white rock formations, and pristine natural springs; or Luxor, where you can see the sun set over the mighty Nile, across which you can see lush green fields and the Theban mountains. Overall, I mostly just tried to have fun with it and make a cool video highlighting my experience.

Video by Michael Ibrahim, AB’24

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Boost your persuasive writing skills with these powerful essay strategies.

Writing persuasive essays is a skill that can have a profound impact on one’s ability to influence others. Whether you are trying to sway an audience to adopt a certain point of view or persuade someone to take a particular action, the power of persuasive writing is undeniable. By mastering the art of persuasive writing, you can change minds, inspire action, and drive change.

But what exactly makes a persuasive essay successful? It’s not just about presenting a compelling argument or marshaling evidence to support your claims. Effective persuasive writing also involves understanding your audience, anticipating their objections, and crafting a message that resonates with them on a deep level. It’s about using language, structure, and rhetorical devices to create a persuasive narrative that compels readers to see things from your perspective.

The Power of Persuasion

The power of persuasion is a skill that can be learned and mastered through practice. It is the art of convincing others to agree with your point of view, take a specific action, or see things from your perspective. Persuasion is all about using language and communication effectively to influence and persuade others.

Whether you are writing a persuasive essay, delivering a speech, or engaging in a debate, understanding the principles of persuasion is essential. By mastering the techniques of persuasion, you can effectively convey your ideas, inspire action, and persuade others to see things from your point of view.

By harnessing the power of persuasion, you can become a more effective communicator, a successful advocate for your ideas, and a persuasive writer.

Understanding the Basics

Writing a persuasive essay is a skill that requires a deep understanding of the basics. Before diving into the art of persuasion, it’s important to grasp the fundamental concepts that form the foundation of a persuasive piece of writing.

First and foremost, persuasive writing is all about convincing your audience to adopt your point of view or take a specific action. To achieve this, you need to understand your audience and tailor your arguments to appeal to their values, beliefs, and emotions.

The key elements of persuasive writing include a clear thesis statement that presents your argument, strong supporting evidence to back up your claims, and a logical structure that guides the reader through your reasoning. Additionally, the tone and language you use in your essay play a crucial role in persuading your audience. Showcasing confidence, credibility, and empathy in your writing can significantly enhance your persuasive power.

By mastering the basics of persuasive writing, you can effectively communicate your ideas, influence opinions, and inspire action.

Crafting Compelling Arguments

When it comes to writing persuasive essays, one of the key elements is crafting compelling arguments that will sway your readers to your point of view. Here are some tips to help you create strong, convincing arguments:

• Research: Before you start writing, make sure you have done thorough research on your topic. This will help you gather evidence and examples to support your arguments.
• Logical reasoning: Your arguments should be grounded in logic and reason. Make sure your points are clear and well-supported with facts.
• Use of evidence: Back up your claims with strong evidence, such as statistics, research studies, or expert opinions. This will make your arguments more convincing.
• Consider the opposing view: Acknowledge and address counterarguments to your thesis. By doing so, you demonstrate a thorough understanding of the topic and strengthen your own arguments.
• Emotional appeal: Don’t forget the power of emotional appeal in persuasion. Use storytelling, anecdotes, or personal experiences to connect with your readers on a deeper level.
• Structure: Organize your arguments in a logical and coherent manner. Have a clear introduction, body paragraphs that present your arguments, and a strong conclusion that reinforces your main points.

By mastering the art of crafting compelling arguments, you will be well-equipped to write persuasive essays that resonate with your audience and make a lasting impact.

Using Emotional Appeal

One powerful way to persuade your audience in a persuasive essay is to appeal to their emotions. By evoking strong feelings such as empathy, fear, or joy, you can make your argument more impactful and memorable. When crafting your essay, consider using vivid language and storytelling techniques to engage your readers on an emotional level.

Remember to choose emotional appeals that resonate with your target audience and support your main argument effectively. Be careful not to manipulate emotions or rely solely on emotional appeal without backing it up with logical reasoning and evidence. Balance is key in using emotional appeal to strengthen your persuasive essay.

Establishing Credibility

When writing a persuasive essay, it is essential to establish your credibility with your audience. Your readers need to trust that you are knowledgeable and well-informed on the topic you are discussing. One way to establish credibility is by citing reputable sources and experts in the field. By including evidence from respected sources, you show that your argument is well-researched and grounded in facts.

Another way to build credibility is to address potential counterarguments and acknowledge differing viewpoints. By demonstrating that you have considered opposing ideas and are prepared to respond to them, you show that you are open-minded and willing to engage in thoughtful debate. This can help you gain the trust of your readers and make them more receptive to your persuasive arguments.

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