We’ve been writing essays for as long as anyone can remember. But when you become a university graduate, the essay topics elevate as well, eliminating suggestions like your best friend or places you’d travel to. Instead, there’s a lot of research to do, citing authentic references and staying relevant to the topic while following all the formatting guidelines.
Take a deep breath; we’re not trying to scare you away! Rather, we’ve come up with a perfect blog guide to help you write a university essay in 2023. Also, note down the important details and highlight effective suggestions for better insight. That said, let’s get started.
The Basics: Understanding The Instructions
Suppose you’ve received an essay prompt, which may seem slightly intimidating at first glance. But fear not! Analyzing the essay prompt is like unraveling a puzzle—once you understand it, you’ll know exactly what to do.
Identifying The Main Purpose
So, take a deep breath and read the prompt carefully. Highlight the keywords and phrases that hint at what the essay is asking. For example, is it asking for your opinion, a comparison, or an analysis? Understanding the purpose of the essay will help you shape your approach.
Further, look for any specific guidelines, such as word count, formatting style, or required sources. And pay close attention to the grading criteria to understand what your professors expect from your essay.
Next Step: Planning & Organising
Understood the requirements? Great, now let’s move on to the next step, i.e., planning and organizing. This section covers what you’ll be writing in your essay and how. And here’s how to get things right;
First, create an outline with sections like an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Then, you’ve got to plan what you’ll write in those sections. For example, while the introduction of your essay must have a thesis statement, the rest of the body paragraphs should revolve around supporting that statement with authentic references. And when writing a conclusion, you just have to round up what you’ve written in your essay.
But how do you get that thesis statement right? Don’t worry; we know a hack! Just remember that your thesis statement is the central idea of your essay. But make sure to sum it in 2-3 lines maximum, and each word should be clear. Also, set your tone per the type of essay you’re writing.
After writing the thesis statement, try looking up the references and evidence you’ll add to your paragraphs. And for the best results, keep them in one place. In this way, you can easily access them later and wouldn’t forget anything.
In-depth Research
Though we’ve been talking about research and its importance in a university essay since the beginning. There’s a way to conquer this obstacle with winning results.
When it comes to research, credibility is key. Though it’s easy to find sources online. But not everything you’ll come across will be authentic. So, make sure to use sources that are reliable and trustworthy. You can also look for books, scholarly articles, and reputable websites written by experts in the field. These sources will add weight to your arguments and make your essay perfect.
If you’re wondering how to quote those references in your essay, the simple answer is citations! Since most institutes follow popular ones like MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard, you will have to cite your references following one of these styles.
However, we’re aware of how tricky that can be, so for that, you can refer to online citation tools for quick and efficient results.
Beginning With The Writing Process
We’ve already discussed the way to write a thesis statement. But your essay should have other elements correctly as well. So, let’s highlight them in this section;
When writing an introduction, make sure it’s engaging but relevant enough to make the reader read the rest. And besides the thesis statement, it should have a hook, i.e., a catchy opening and a relevant background detail to intrigue the reader before you give away the central idea.
Moving on to the body paragraphs, the best way to construct them is by starting with a topic sentence, i.e., your argument. And then back that up with an authentic reference. This will make your essay appear coherent and credible. Further, for smooth flow, use transition words such as firstly, secondly, thirdly, however, nevertheless, etc.
Lastly, when summing up the conclusion, don’t introduce any new points! Many students make this mistake and mess up their overall grades.
Editing & Proofreading
Now that you’ve crafted your essay, it’s time to give it a good once-over. When you’re occupied with writing, making mistakes and writing unclear sentences is common. So, check for errors such as typos, missing commas, and run-on sentences. By fixing these errors, your essay will shine like a polished gem.
Your essay should reflect clarity, guiding your reader through your thoughts effortlessly. So, read your essay aloud, as if you’re telling a story to a friend. And while you do that, don’t forget to find the answers to questions like, does it flow smoothly? Are your ideas clear and organized? If something seems confusing or out of place, make adjustments.
Lastly, when editing or proofreading your essay, make sure you’ve taken a break after the writing process. Otherwise, the chances of finding errors with an exhausted mind would be quite low!
Seeking Feedback
Even the greatest writers need a second opinion. So, share your essay with a trusted friend, classmate, or professor. Ask them for feedback and suggestions. They can help you improve or provide insights you might have missed.
Acknowledging The Practicality
While academic essays can’t always be perfect and require several improvements, don’t stress yourself much. Instead, try to be confident in what you’ve written, and don’t let the pressure consume you entirely.
The Takeaway
So, this is all in this 2023 guide on writing a perfect university essay. With all the points discussed above, you can easily aim for higher grades and excel in essay writing.
Besides this, if you need help with your assignments, why not check out our other blogs? You won’t be disappointed!
