Whether you are still studying online or are back to in-person classes, being able to write a good academic essay is an essential study skill for students of all ages. However, it is essential when you start studying at degree-level when your essays will make up a large percentage (if not all) of your final grade.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to stay on track when writing an academic essay.
Keep your deadline in mind. One of the biggest challenges that students face is balancing multiple deadlines and ensuring that they turn in assignments on time. However, not only does a missed deadline reflect poorly on your work, but examiners will often take marks away as a result. As a result, you should ensure that you keep your deadline in mind and give yourself plenty of time to complete the task. Don’t wait until the day before the assignment is due to get started.
Put together an essay plan. Various different factors contribute to a good essay, whether you’re writing a thesis or applying for college. It must be well-researched and structured and contain a competent and nuanced argument. The easiest way to achieve this goal is to put together an essay plan ahead of time. Think about your word count and break it into separate sections, dedicating a certain amount of words to each point you’d like to make. Print out the essay plan, and have it with you whenever you start writing.
Be prepared for tech problems. Our computers and laptops always seem to malfunction whenever we need them most - whether your battery dies or your keyboard stops working. As a result, you must brush up on your tech skills ahead of time so that you don’t waste hours trying to fix simple problems when this time could be better spent working on your essay. For example, you can use this guide to quickly fix your MacBook keyboard - https://setapp.com/how-to/quickly-fix-your-macbook-keyboard-not-working-issue.
Know when to take a break. If you have a lot riding on a certain essay, it's easy to feel that you need to dedicate every waking moment to working on it - but this is often not the case. In fact, taking a break and nurturing your passions and hobbies could actually be the key to performing well. This is because it gives you a chance to clear your mind so that when you sit back down at your desk, you are re-focused and motivated. Whenever you’ve spent a bit of time behind the screen, try to counter it by going for a short walk.
Set up the perfect study zone. While it may be tempting to grab your laptop and work from the comfort of your bed, having the perfect study zone set up can make all the difference when working on an essay. This is because it can help increase your focus and productivity levels by letting your brain know that you’re actually working. What’s more, studying from your bed can interrupt your sleep pattern as you begin to subconsciously associate the space with stress and work as opposed to sleep.
Make the most of the resources available to you. If you want to impress with your essay, you must make the most of your resources. For example, you should read plenty of supporting articles, check out books from your library, or even get in touch with your professor to ask for some feedback on your essay plan. This is a great way to know whether or not you are on the right track and shows them that you are serious about doing well. It can also help you learn to write better. Your professor will also be on hand to answer any questions you might have if you are struggling with the topic or essay question.
Set yourself daily goals. When you’re drowning in papers and research articles, it can be hard to pull yourself away from your desk. However, it can also feel like you’ve achieved very little each day. As a result, it's essential that you set yourself daily goals or targets so that you have something to work towards. For example, you may set yourself a daily word count or aim to read a certain number of articles.
Proofread carefully. Proofreading is another essential study skill and could be the difference between a good essay and an average one. While most sites (such as google docs) already have in-built spelling and grammar software for you to use. However, you should also make sure that you re-read your essay a few times - keeping an eye out for anything they might not have picked up on.
Check your references carefully. When writing an academic essay, you will likely refer back to other essays, books, or articles throughout - whether you are using them to back up your statements or provide an alternative opinion. However, to avoid potential plagiarism, it's crucial that you ensure you reference anything you use. There are different reference styles to choose from, but your professor will provide you with more specific guidance on which style is used within the department. You can also use sites such as Cite This For Me to make this process less time-consuming.
Get a study buddy. Another way in which you can ensure you stay on track when writing an essay is by getting a study buddy - someone who can hold you accountable and ensure that you are focusing when you need to focus and taking a break when you need one. If you work with somebody else on your course, you’ll also be able to ask them any questions you might have during the process, which can go a long way when it comes to putting together an essay.
Keep distractions to a minimum. Keeping distractions to a minimum is essential when working on an essay - but there are thankfully plenty of ways in which you can do this. For example, you can purchase sound-canceling headphones to wear when working.
