If you have to write a longer or more complex essay, it might help to outline both sides of the argument before you start writing. When you write the essay, you will need to choose one side to focus on. But as you prepare, having a side-by-side list of points can be helpful in developing your thesis.
Learning a new language is certainly an ambitious (challenging) task. There are so many small details to learn, and the process takes a lot of time and commitment. But with practice and study, you will improve.
As an example, you might be writing an essay arguing that people should drink less coffee. To argue both sides, you’ll need to consider the opposite side: the benefits of coffee. How will people quit if they are addicted? What about the antioxidants in coffee? Aren’t those good for you? Really explore the entire concept (both sides of the argument) before you write.
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4. Argue Both Sides
Visual Thesaurus is a resource that works just like a regular thesaurus, but it also shows you the connections between the words. For example, if you type in the word “stir,” you’ll immediately see a whole circle of other words connected to “stir” with lines. From there, you can click on any of the words in the circle (like “move,” in this case) and then see all the words related to that word. This helps you find and learn new words quickly, and it’s also fun!
This is an interesting approach to writing your essay. First, choose a topic and write a thesis. A thesis is the main argument of your essay. For instance, if your topic is reading, your thesis might be “Reading makes you smarter.”
This process will help expand your vocabulary over time. Using these words when you write will also make your essay more vibrant (energetic, colorful).
- Be careful that your subjects agree with your verbs. (Use singular verbs for singular subjects and plurals for plurals: Jim thinks, but he and Judy think.)
- Watch your spelling, capitalization (first word of each sentence, proper names like England and English, etc.), and punctuation.
- Write in complete, active sentences. (Avoid passives: “1984 was written by George Orwell.” Better: “George Orwell wrote 1984.”)В
- Vary your words and sentence structure. Use strong verbs and less adverbs. (“She whispered a name, and then ordered, 'Do it now!'" is much stronger than “She said a name softly, then said loudly. 'Do it now!'”)В
- Write clear transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
- Do not use contractions. (You may notice that I use them a lot in EnglishHints. That’s because I’m writing conversational English. I don’t want a formal tone. Academic writing, on the other hand, usually requires formality.)
Basics of Essay Writing includes six lessons demonstrating and practicing essential academic vocabulary and essay writing skills.
Pay special attention to your introduction. Make sure it clearly states your main point or argument and is as interesting as you can make it.
When writing an essay for a class assignment or for a major test like the IELTS essay writing or TOEFL Writing Tests, it’s important to understand the essay prompt—the instructions on what to write about.В В
Key Points for English Essay Writing
It includes the information and pages mentioned above and much more:
Keep reading for an overview of things to consider in English essay writing practice (and in order to get high scores on essays for classes and writing tests.) Below that are inexpensive packets of essay practice materials for individual or classroom use.
Be especially careful about using someone’s exact words. If you use someone else’s words without giving them credit, it’s plagiarism, which is a very serious offense in English writing.В
The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.
- Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
- As a final point…
- On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
- If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
- The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
- There are at least xxx points to highlight.
- Nevertheless, one should accept that…
- However, we also agree that…
- The last example highlights the fact that…
- Not only… but also…
- We would even go so far as to say that…
Transition Words and Phrases in English – Video
- For example…
- For instance…
- To illustrate this point…
- The first aspect to point out is that…
- Let us start by considering the facts.
- The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
- Central to the novel is…
- The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…
- On the other hand, we can observe that…
- The other side of the coin is, however, that…
- Another way of looking at this question is to…
Do you need help writing an essay? If you answered “yes” then you’re not alone. One of the biggest struggles that international students often face is writing an essay. For students whose first language is not English, writing an entire college essay in English can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are a number of honest essay writing resources to help you write a great essay.
There are still resources when it comes to help writing an essay without resorting to dishonest means. These essay writing help resources include:
EssayMaster is the premier application essay editing service, with some of the most experienced editors in the business. EssayMaster’s Harvard-educated editors are happy to help you edit your written essay so you have a better chance of getting into your top-choice college. Services provided include The Master Edit, their signature service in which an experienced editor provides feedback to help you improve your essay, The Second Read, the option to have another editor review your work after The Master Edit, and The Zoom Brainstorming Session, in which an experienced editor helps you strategize, and improve your essay in a Zoom call. EssayMaster offers quality services at affordable prices to help place you on the right track for success.
If you can’t find a class through your school, and you can’t afford to pay for a course, you can research this topic on your own. The internet is full of essay writing tips, and you can also study sample essays to get an idea of how a good essay is structured, how to craft a supporting argument, and what a strong thesis looks like. If you do this, it’s important to make sure your own writing remains distinct and different from the essays that you use to study
Academic Honesty
When you work one-on-one with an instructor, you’ll have more opportunities to discuss ideas, ask questions, and learn to organize, revise, edit, or proofread. After a few sessions, you’ll likely notice a difference in your writing process
When looking for help writing an essay it is important to stay honest and avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism refers to using someone else’s words or ideas without proper credit or citation and passing them off as your own. Colleges and universities all have their own policies for dealing with plagiarism, and the consequences are usually quite strict. You might find yourself failing the course, put on academic probation, or even asked to leave the school.
In larger classes, your professor will likely be assisted by a TA, or teaching assistant. This is likely a graduate student whose job is to grade assignments and provide students with help. They may even lead a class or two throughout the semester. If you’re struggling with an aspect of the class, such as writing essays, it’s always a good idea to stop by your TA’s office during their office hours and talk to them about your options. Your TA will be able to point you towards helpful resources on campus, and depending on their availability, they may offer to read over your essay drafts and give you advice and feedback. Your TA is there to help students who ask for it, and it’s never a bad idea to go to them for advice.
- The last example highlights the fact that…
- Not only… but also…
- We would even go so far as to say that…
- It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
- One should note here that…
The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.
- Furthermore, one should not forget that…
- In addition to…
- Moreover…
- It is important to add that…
Overview of an Essay
- It would also be interesting to see…
- One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
- Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
- The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
- From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
- All of this points to the conclusion that…
- To conclude…
- Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
- Compared to…
- On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…
- It is often said that…
- It is undeniable that…
- It is a well-known fact that…
- One of the most striking features of this text is…