Essay writing tips

I've thought about my last post some more and realized this is the time of year when people start freaking out over all of their essays and projects. I decided that it was probably a good idea to post some essay/paper writing tips for all of you who shudder when a teacher tells you there's a word limit, not a page limit (there's a huge difference).

So here are some tips for essays:

• Start early. There's nothing worse than pulling an all-nighter. Not only will you be exhausted, but you will have rushed your paper. Teachers give you the prompts early to keep you from doing this. They give you enough time to do the paper as well as your other work. Use the time they give you.
• There's nothing wrong with using Wikipedia first. Though teachers don't want you to cite it, you can use it for basic background information and links to sources on your topic that are reputable and useful.
• Go to the professor. Go to office hours and ask the teacher exactly what he/she wants. See if you can run a thesis or topic paragraph, or even a rough draft or outline by them before the paper is due. Seek all of the guidance you can from them. Listen to their advice. They will be the ones grading your paper, and you have to please them.
• Talk it out. Talking to someone about your ideas can help you identify possible holes in your arguments, as well as help you clarify your ideas.
• Go to librarians. They will help you find information on your topic and help you use databases. That is their job and they know what they're doing.
• Use other sources' citations. Often, the citations at the bottom of an article will link you to more useful information on your topic. This is a great way to tell if a source is reputable. Though you can't use Wikipedia as a source, the links at the bottom of Wikipedia are usually reputable.
• Do it in small chunks. Divide the prompt into several different sections. Often if you look closely, the prompt is already divided for you by the professor. Doing a paper in small sections will ease your stress and make the paper more manageable.
• Use an outline. Use the divided sections you've created and make an outline. You can stuff all of your information into this, including quotes and sources. It'll be much easier than starting from a blank page and writing the essay from scratch.
• Write a first draft. Have at least two people read this draft: one who is unfamiliar with the subject and one who is. They will assess whether your paper is both clear enough for someone who isn't familiar with the topic to understand, and whether you've adequately addressed the topic. This can be a friend, parent, or even the professor, if they are willing. This will also be a good way to catch spelling and grammar mistakes. Continually edit your paper. Don't write your first draft and say good riddance.
• Use an online citation maker. No one sits there and memorizes how to make citations anymore. All you have to do is put the information in and let the website do it for you.
• Reward yourself. Writing essays is stressful and time consuming. Though you might not have a ton of time to relax after finishing an essay, especially during finals week with all your other work, try to spend a little time relaxing. Have a dance party, get a snack, or take a nap. You've earned it.