College Essays: A Few Words Of Wisdom For All Those Words To Be Written

Probably the biggest “problem” with college essays is, if you’re going for the A, you won’t always know how to achieve it. With a multiple-choice test, you know that if you fill in all the right bubbles, you’ll get the A. But the essays are more elusive, more subjective and less clear-cut. And that’s what makes them tricky. But, oh, the volume! You’ll write thousands and thousands of words while crafting college essays, so keep a few tips in mind when chasing that A.

First off, read the prompt. One of the scariest realizations in

college results from a fatal misreading of the essay prompt:
you get your paper back, and you realize you missed the

whole point. While the directions themselves might be a bit vague, there will be a sentence or two that clearly defines what you’re supposed to be doing with all those words. Are you to make an argument for something? Should you be critically analyzing a certain topic? Or, should you just be writing about some personal experience of yours and how it’s shaped you? Maybe you’re supposed to do all three in one essay, but the point remains the same: know the objective and topic, and keep that in mind the whole time.

Once you know the topic and have your focus defined, it’s also wise to stay on topic. This might sound obvious, but when you’re hammering out thousands of words, it can get tempting and easy to let yourself veer from the course. Such misalignment is easy to spot by the arbiter of your grade, so keep that professor happy and stay on topic. If you know the objective and focus of the essay, make sure every sentence relates to it.

Actually, writing isn’t the first step. Before writing, start thinking, and think deeply and critically. The point of any essay, really, is to have some insight; it should share something or reveal some idea that isn’t at first obvious or known. Your ability to construct and present such critical insight forms the foundation of any well-written essay. Yet if you don’t take your time to do some thinking before you start writing, you risk droning on and on with material that the reader (your professor) already knows. So when it comes to your shared ideas and arguments, bring something new to the table, or page, rather.

When you’re all done, read that paper aloud. You’ve heard that tip before, but it’s rarely practiced. By reading and speaking, you’ll catch all matter of awkward and wordy sentences. Even if you’re not an English major, if you read a sentence and say it, your ear will tell you if it sounds right or if it sounds like you’re new to your language.

When things get tough, just keep in mind that writing comes down to two things: what you’re saying and how you’re saying it. It’s a simple structure, really, although you know there will be times when you’ll be at a loss for words on the page. When that occurs, don’t be afraid to ask the professor for some ideas and advice. Professors love sharing this, and no rulebook ever said the task of writing had to be accomplished unaided.