Writing a powerful college paper takes a lot of clarity, cohesiveness, and conciseness. For your paper to stand out, you need to make an argument and support claims while also leading the reader to an unavoidable conclusion. That has to be based on the facts you have presented.
Creating the perfect essay requires skill, and you can learn these skills. Here are some ways to develop that skill:
1. Start your essay with a mini-story or an anecdote
When you write papers online for school, you need to captivate the reader with your introduction. It may seem easy to just jumble up some words for the introductory part of your paper. However, this is not ideal. Don’t focus on coming up with gimmicky lines to make an impression. Simply start with a mini-story or an anecdote.
As you consider this, pick a story that will give the readers a hint about the personality of the writer. This will engage them as they read through the paper. It should keep them hooked and create the impression you crave for.
2. Create concise and clear thesis statements
The thesis statement of all papers conveys the topic as well as the writer’s stance in one single sentence. This may seem impossible after researching on the topic. However, it helps you to consider the best ways to explain the paper to someone who doesn’t have any background information about your field. To make it easier, picture yourself having dinner with family and friends and explaining what the paper is about to them in a single sentence. Your opinion should be clarified on your thesis statement. Basically, a thesis statement is the summary of the argument.
3. Support Your Thesis Statement
Your argument may lack merit if it isn’t supported by solid secondary sources. If you have any issues finding a resource for this, try Wikipedia. The online library has a lot of citations for secondary sources. Beware of using Wikipedia as a source because it isn’t credible. Look for research articles, reviews according to the
For your argument to have merit, you need to support with solid secondary sources. Wikipedia is a great place to find citations for secondary sources but is not a credible source on its own. Depending on the topic, you may want to look for reviews or research articles. Scholarly articles from industry journals, such as The Journal of Hotel and Business Management, are a great option. Additionally, journal articles include extensive citations where you can find original research or more in-depth discussion of a topic.
4. Draw an outline and prepare the first draft
An excellent paper flows in a logical sequence from each paragraph to the next. It may be a lot more difficult to do this if you do not have an outline to map out your writing. Also, when you start writing, you may have some difficulties concluding logically. Using the outline, you can easily get back on track.
The initial draft shouldn’t be that final one. Take time to finish the first draft and return to it later. It may be difficult to spot your errors, typos, and inconsistencies. After a while, take a look again, and you will be able to see all the mistakes and make corrections.
5. Write the introduction after the main body
Introductory parts of papers are the most difficult to write. This part is crucial and essential to draw the attention of the reader. Writing the introduction last after laying out your argument will give it a better flow. You can also rewrite it if you have already written it before starting.
6. Know the assignment
Before writing the paper, you must know the assignment. Ensure that you understand all the expectations and requirements. Find out the length of the paper, or if it requires the inclusion of specific sources. Also, is the topic free-range or does it have a specific prompt?
When you learn it, start the paper with a good argument. What is the paper about? What is it trying to teach or prove? Do not just type all the ideas in your head to reach the word count. The paper has to be thoughtful, properly articulated to reach a nuanced conclusion. Anything short of this may not produce the ‘wow’ effect on your professor.
7. Proofread over and over
Typos can ruin your paper. Any grammar mistake and poor spelling can affect your grade. That is why you need to proofread your work thoroughly. It is good to use grammar tools to check your work. Some recommended tools include Grammarly and other grammar checkers. However, you should not rely too much on these grammar checkers. They are effective, may not be 100% accurate. Revise the work and get someone to read it for you if possible.