Shakespeare claims that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Yet, without a writer, a pen would be useless, right? So, it would be safe to say that the writer is mightier than a pen. After all, what a writer produces in print is what keeps the reader. However, writing the perfect essay is not an easy task. Writing is not as simple as constructing words. There are many things that go into it. Anyone can put words together, but that does not mean that the words will translate to something that people will read. But there is a trick to make writing easy. The key is to find the right techniques to help you ease into putting down your ideas into a great structure and seeing success in writing.
1. Lock in your ideas
There is value in targeting the right ideas. While one topic can give you many ideas, it isimportant that you identify what you want to write down. By narrowing your ideas, you canlock in which ideas should be included and which elements you do not need. Secondly, as you identify which ideas are important to your essay, you also begin to see where your essay will lead to.
2. Hook your audience in
The introduction of your essay shows what your position is on an issue or a topic. It will also tell whether the reader will continue reading your essay or not. That said, your essay should begin with something that not only grabs your reader’s attention but keeps them reading your essay. Examples of hooks include quotations, a contradicting statement, or a surprising research finding.
Once you have constructed your hook, you can now write your thesis statement. What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is one that declares and explains the writer’s position. With a thesis statement, you provide your reader with a preview of the rest of your essay.
3. Tie Ideas Together
At this point, you are now ready to create a body for your essay. It is important to note that the ideas you should be writing should always be related to your thesis statement. A good technique is to use are transitional words or phrases. Transitional words or phrases clearly shows where one section in your essay begins and where it ends. Think of it as cues that tell where a new idea starts and where the next one begins. Essentially, these words or phrases lead the reader to see connections between and across your ideas.
4. Create an equally great conclusion.
Your conclusion is as important as your introduction. Contrary to what many people think, a conclusion is not a repetition of an introduction. While it may contain similar elementsas the introduction, a conclusion is a reinforcement of your argument and boxes all of the major points of your essay. The final element in your conclusion signals to the reader that your essay has come to an end.
5. The internet is your friend.
Remember, when in doubt, Google it. The internet is filled with various resources you can use to help you get information, ideas or find words that would fit into your essay. These resources are free too! Just make sure that the information you find is accurate and that you do not plagiarize other people’s work.
Lastly, always remember that as with any skill, you need to practice, practice and practice. Good writing does not happen overnight. But give yourself time and very soon you will begin to see the changes in your writing skills.
