The Basics Of Essay Writing

The Basics Of Essay Writing Now it's time to gather the all-important information and quotes to support your arguments. It might seem a little counter-intuitive to start writing an essay before you've sourced all your quotes and references, but there's a method to our madness. Once you've done this, actually writing the essay should just be a case of bulking out each point and filling in the gaps. Start with the most obvious or all-encompassing argument, as this will allow you to progressively go into more detail on each of the smaller arguments â€" one of the keys to a good essay. Just write more if you are short of your count, or less if you’re over it. I am a medical student, and I have to write an essay about cancer. I fucked up by leaving it to the last minute, but the time required to research the content spans a couple of weeks. This is genuinely brilliant I have been in this situation a few times and this is exactly the best process I wish I had seen this as an undergraduate. I think actual writing time is a bit optimistic in truth it would be an all-nighter and I have always worked better with less food. Your marker probably won’t care about 50 or 100 words â€" it’s more important that your argument is convincing and adequately developed for an essay of the suggested length. Adding unnecessary words or complicated sentences will make your essay weaker and your argument less clear. The length of the essay also influences how much time you will need to spend on editing and proofreading. Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words and awkward phrasing. In this article you’ll find some general guidelines for the length of different types of essay. But keep in mind that quality is more important than quantity â€" focus on making a strong argument or analysis, not on hitting a specific word count. I don’t think the number of paragraphs really matters as long as you reach the assigned word count. If you're using 1.5 spacing, it would be around three pages. Don’t cut anything that is necessary to the logic of your argument. If you remove a paragraph, make sure to revise your transitions and fit all your points together. Check that every paragraph is relevant to your argument, and cut out irrelevant or out-of-place information. A belly full of porridge would send me back to bed but I'm a hefty bloke and missing a meal wont kill me. You've had your brain-fuelling lunch, and now it's time to get typing. 3,000 words sounds like a lot, and in many ways it is â€" but with your watertight essay plan under your belt, it should just be a case of expanding on all the points you've already listed. Also, if you're using Microsoft Word to write your essay, make use of the automatic referencing system. If you're having difficulty deciding what to write about, try brainstorming around the topic. Write down all the ideas that come to mind and you'll see a theme start to emerge. Next, decide your approach â€" how are you going to tackle the question? It's your essay and, as long as you keep relating your arguments to the question, you can take it in any direction you choose. Finally, check the format and the grammar as well as spelling mistakes. The conclusion of your essay provides closure of the topic while also summing up the ideas in your essay. What’s more, you need to provide your personal perspective on the topic. Often, the conclusion will be about three to five lines. In the beginning, you will have to write an introductory sentence to usher the reader into the topic. This is followed by statements supporting the topic including examples that touch on the topic. Make sure the information is correct and stick to the topic as well. Don't worry, it's far from the only brain food that'll help you write an essay. Check out our list of the best foods for brain fuel to see what else will get you off to the best start (and keep that flying start going!). Kettle Mag is a website and magazine designed to help journalism students build a professional portfolio of published work and to help improve their writing skills. Also, make sure you’ve hit the nail on the head by addressing the topic in the best way possible.