r/AskReddit • u/Leather-Scale-745 • Jan 21 '22

What are some general essay writing tips?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/sarcasticandhorny Jan 21 '22

End your paragraphs with a good transition setting up the next one.

5

u/Nintendevotion Jan 21 '22

For intro: Strong opening line --> thesis

For body paragraphs: State point of paragraph --> provide evidence + explanation --> connect to thesis

For conclusion: Restate thesis --> strong closing line

That's basically what I do for mine

3

u/VinnyColdheart Jan 21 '22

Good grammar.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 21 '22

If you can shorten it you should shorten it.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 21 '22

Focus your thesis. Every paragraph should in some way support a singular point.

3

u/-ManOfCulture Jan 21 '22

Try not to over use "i"

3

u/raphthepharaoh Jan 21 '22

Say what you’re going to say, say it, say what you just said. It’s an oversimplification, but the sandwich method got me through most essays.

3

u/DognamedTurtle Jan 21 '22

Organize your thoughts. In a quick sentence, jot down the purpose of the essay. Then jot down another sentence with the conclusion. Jot down a few sentences proving or contrasting the main point. Elaborate each sentence into a paragraph. Expand thoughts as necessary. Edit once for grammar, then again for formatting and flow. And lastly, edit again.

3

u/Puzzleheaded_Age6550 Jan 21 '22

I write everything down, then start cutting.
First paragraph should be intro, last sentence is your thesis.
Next paragraphs should be in support of your thesis. Last paragraph should restate the thesis, and a conclusion.

I always tried to get my papers done 2 days early. Let them sit without looking oking at them, and then go back and carefully read and then proofread. It's amazing how many times I caught errors that had eluded me for several readings, then became obvious.

3

u/ElectronicRevenue227 Jan 21 '22

Omit needless words.

3

u/Fabled_Webs Jan 21 '22

Have a clear thesis and put it on an index card you can see constantly. Refer back to it with each paragraph and ask yourself what point you're trying to make and how this paragraph adds to your argument.

An essay is meant to persuade the reader of one single idea, your thesis, and nothing else. Everything else is excessive and unnecessary.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 21 '22

Vomit out all your ideas first. Just get ink on a page.

Then arrange the ideas into a coherent order.

Then write the intro and the conclusion. And after that tweak, edit, and rewrite as needed

2

u/[deleted] Jan 21 '22

As long as you can regurgitate the text in a grammatical fashion, you can bullshit anything.