Essay writing can be a daunting task on top of your extracurriculars and personal life. You will need to write 5, 10, or even 20+ page papers in high school and college. This article will prepare you to write a quality essay, while being as efficient as possible.
1. Give yourself enough time.
First, we must address time management. You cannot routinely score high marks on your essays if you start the night before. You might do well at first, but this habit will catch up to you sooner rather than later. A good rule of thumb is to give yourself at least one week per 1,000 words. Following this strategy, you would write 150 words each day for a week to complete a 1,000 word essay— far more manageable than cranking it out the night before it’s due. Planning ahead will also give you more time to proofread at the end.
2. Ask better research questions.
Let’s say that you wanted to research Japanese nationalism after World War II. The first is an example of a weak research question, whereas the second is stronger:
What were the causes and effects of Japanese nationalism in the post-WWII era?
How did the Tokyo Trials affect the influence of Japanese nationalism post-WWII?
There are two components that make the second research question stronger. First, it begins with how instead of what. Questions that begin with what can be readily answered through Wikipedia, or general secondary source material. On the other hand, how questions encourage you to analyze your research, and construct a thesis statement. An essay should go beyond providing information, and articulate a defensible argument. Furthermore, the second question specifically asks how the Tokyo Trials affected Japanese nationalism, instead of being overly general.
3. Create a “skeleton,” and then fill in the details.
Once you have completed your research, you should create an essay “skeleton,” or outline. This can be tedious, but it will make the process of writing more efficient. If you write without an outline, you will experience writer’s block often. You should outline your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. I recommend using the PIE template for each body paragraph, or:
Point - An assertion that you are trying to prove
Illustration - Quotations, statistics, and evidence that support the point
Explanation - Analysis of your illustration, and how it proves the point
After making a comprehensive outline, you’ve done most of the leg work for your essay. At this point, you should only need to make your outlined paragraphs more cohesive by adding in transition words and topic sentences.
4. Make your thesis and body paragraphs relational.
Some students will make their thesis statement a list, and have each of their body paragraphs explain isolated components. For example, a poor thesis might assert, “Insufficient punishment from the Tokyo Trials, the exoneration of Hirohito, and revisionist history in textbooks caused Japanese nationalism to persist after World War II.” This thesis is uncomplex, and just lists different aspects of your argument. Instead, you want to make sure that your thesis and body paragraphs are relational, so that your essay is cohesive and sophisticated. A better thesis might state, “The Tokyo Trials insufficiently punished Japan by exonerating Hirohito, which allowed for nationalism to persist in Japanese textbooks and public consciousness.” In this thesis, there are clearer relationships between concepts that can be further explored in your body paragraphs.
5. Proofread Effectively.
After you have expressed all of your ideas into words, you should begin proofreading. Physically print out your essay, and carefully read it aloud. This technique encourages you to take your time, and makes errors seem readily apparent. Then, have a peer or teacher proofread, if possible. Once you are satisfied with your work, hit submit. Congratulations on a job well done!
Writing is an inherently difficult process that requires both time and discipline. Even seasoned college professors continually draft and revise before publishing new material. However, implementing these 5 steps will streamline the writing process, and save you hours of painstaking work. Give this a try on your next essay, and see how much easier it can be.
