There are lots of tips on how to write a top-notch academic essay, but it may take too much time to gather all of them. So, here’s the ultimate guide with all the information you need to know. Get your notebook ready and let’s get that essay done!
Choose a Proper Topic
Depending on the subject, level, and requirements you have, choose a more generalized or more narrowed topic. Here’s something to consider before you do that:
- The theme shouldn’t be too popular to avoid copied works;
- You should have a lot of insight and interest in the topic;
- There should be enough material on it for you to research.
You can consult your professor if you’re not sure whether you’ve chosen a proper theme.
Research the Topic
Make sure you go deep into research for your academic essay. It’s always better to have more information than you need so you can add a useful fact to your paper and make it more interesting. This will also make your work unique, which will help you avoid plagiarism.
In case the topic you’ve got is too difficult or you’re not sure you’ll be able to research it well, ask for help from someone who are experts in paper writing. Look up “help me write an essay” online, and you’ll get access to tons of essay writing services like WriteMyPaperHub. They specialize in helping students complete their academic essays, so rest assured that a team of expert writers out there have your back.
Build an Easy-to-Follow Outline
If you’re writing the work yourself, the next step after thorough research is creating an outline. While the basic structure of any academic paper is usually the same (intro, the main body, conclusion), not everyone’s able to fill it in logically. Here’s how to create a great outline:
- Write out the main points of your future paper from the materials you’ve gathered;
- Categorize them into main and supporting, evidence and refutation, etc.
- Put them in order based on priority and logic. Take your draft thesis as a beacon.
These three steps will give you a logical main body structure. The intro and conclusion are always based on it, so there’s no need to structure them additionally.
Write the Paper
Before you write the final version of the paper, create a draft. If your outline is good enough, you will only have to fill it in with the materials you’ve got from your research. Here are some things to keep in mind while writing:
- Follow the logic of the paper;
- Use wise transitions;
- Avoid frequent word repetitions, use a thesaurus if needed;
- Stick to the mainstream of the topic;
- Keep it clear, avoid writing a lot of “empty” sentences.
As to the structure of the paper, here are some other recommendations:
- Make your introduction captivating by using a hook phrase, for instance;
- Make your thesis strong and clear;
- Remember the paragraph structure (5 sentences: 1 introductory, 3 supporting, 1 closing);
- Make sure you don’t include any new information in the conclusion.
Proofread Your Work
Proofreading your paper is a must, and there are a lot of techniques that involve:
- Reading it to yourself;
- Reading it out loud;
- Asking someone to read it to you;
- Going through it backwards, etc.
You can use whatever suits better, but try all of them first.
As to grammar, spelling, and punctuation, you can use some online services designed for checking those. To make sure your document is safe, don’t allow the service you use to save it.
Another thing, you might want to stretch the proofreading process to several days:
- Distance yourself from working on the paper for a day;
- Proofread and edit it the next day;
- Read again the day after that, and you’re done.
This will help you perceive your work much better.
A pro tip: create back-up copies in case you’re going to make changes to the file. This will ensure you don’t get any information lost.
Keep This Guide Nearby for Every Academic Work
Save this list of guidelines and go through it every time you have a new academic essay to write. It’s easy to forget something, and even the smallest detail can make a huge difference.
