How To Improve Your Essay Writing Skills If You Don't Know Where To Start
Essay writing is a skill that any person can learn to build, provided you already understand some basics principles of writing. When writing an academic paper, you should present a solid and debatable thesis that is supported using relevant evidence either from your own research, or from other secondary sources. Oftentimes, academic writing will follow a standard set principles. Remembering some of the basic guidelines will enable you to produce valuable and persuasive papers, even when you are short of time. Here are some useful tips on how to improve your writing skills if you don’t know where to begin from.
Always Create an Outline
Even before you can begin writing an academic paper, it is important to first know what you intend to discuss. The simplest way to come up with a concise thesis or purpose and create a solid argument is to create a basic outline first. The primary structure of an essay includes an introduction, the body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should introduce the thesis. The body paragraphs should discuss evidence to support the thesis. The conclusion consolidates the entire discussion and links it to the thesisv
Understand some Basic Grammar, Punctuation and Style
Grammar, punctuation and style are inconceivably vital for the reader to understand your paper and take it seriously. You need to ensure that you have a firm understanding of the basics of grammar before you can begin writing an academic paper. The basics in grammar include subject and verb agreement, appropriate pronoun and article usage, and proper sentence structure. Additionally, always try to write in the active voice rather than the passive voice. This helps in making the tone of your essay sound stronger.
Use Appropriate Vocabulary
The kind of language you use in academic writing matters a lot. You should keep in mind the fact that you are attempting to persuade the reader that you are an expert and you can develop an intelligent argument. Avoid using too many big words, and do not use words that you are not sure of their meaning. Obscure language will also make the clarity of your ideas sound vague.
Clearly Understand the Argument and Analyze the Evidence Critically
When writing an academic paper, always have a clear understanding of the main argument. This will help in ensuring that your writing is more concise. It is always advisable to question the evidence you intend to include in your paper. Try to ask yourself if the evidence really supports your thesis.
Learn how to write a Good conclusion
The conclusion is often overlooked by many students when writing an academic paper. The conclusion should always tie all the research together in order to prove the thesis. It shouldn’t restate the introduction, nor should it be a direct copy of the thesis. A good conclusion should quickly outline the key evidence and directly ties the evidence to the thesis in order to demonstrate how the evidence disapproves or proves the main argument of the essay.