A good essay is not simply about content; the elements of style are equally important if a piece of writing is to receive top marks. An argument cannot be persuasive, incisive or elegant, if it is not lucid, and it will not be clear if it has not been redrafted, revised and rewritten several times over. The following reminders about writing will help produce well-rounded, and well-written essays.
Concise Essay Writing
In an effort to reach the required word limit, students often pad their essay with extra words mistakingly thinking that how much they write is more important that how they write. This is usually a sign that a student does not know what they want to say or are short on ideas. The result is papers that use lots of words but say nothing. A general rule is that less is more when it comes to essay writing. This does not mean that sentences should be short, but that students should make every word count (Strunk and White, p. 17).
Three tips for eliminating wordiness includes: 1) use the active voice. "Shirley loves Bob" is concise and active. The passive form is longer and less concise, "Bob is loved by Shirley." 2) Avoid phrases such as "It can be seen that," or "due to the fact that," "In this essay I will argue that." These are wordy and unnecessary. An argument , for example, should be clear without having to announce it to the reader. 3) Prune. Read each sentence and eliminate unnecessary words; "there are many women who never marry" can be shortened to "many women never marry" without changing the meaning.
The Art of Writing is Re-writing
Rewriting is the essence of all writing. It involves evaluating and reading each sentence from the perspective of a sceptical critic – is it clear? Is it relevant? Does it serve the argument in the best way possible? Be honest. Then re-write. And re-read. And revise. After a bout of late-night writing, re-read everything in the cold light of morning. Do not be surprised if ideas no longer seem as brilliantly conceived, or as beautifully expressed.
Three useful tips for revising a paper include:
- Wait a day or two before beginning to rewrite and revise; a short distance will help illuminate needed changes
- Adopt the position of a critic – ask what grade should this paper receive.
- Cut out all sentences or even whole paragraphs that are off topic – these will only distract and confuse the reader.
Proofreading an Essay
Proofreading means looking for grammatical, spelling, punctuation errors or misquotes. Essay grades can be negatively impacted by failing to proofread; mistakes suggest that the writer is disinterested or does not care about the results. 90% of mechanical errors can be avoided by simply, and carefully, reading the final draft for accuracy before submission.
Three useful techniques for catching errors include:
- Reading the paper out loud; this allows the writer to hear grammatical mistakes which may missed by reading silently.
- Read each sentence beginning with the last and working in reverse order to the start of the essay. This technique allows the writer to focus on the words in each sentence instread of the ideas offered in the paper.
- Writers are often so familiar with the essay they cannot see errors. Have someone else read the paper; a fresh pair of eyes will catch less obvious mistakes.
While ideas and arguments are important in college level essays, paying close attention to style is equally vital. Many good papers lose grades because they ignore basic writing rules such as being concise, taking the time to revise and rewrite, and careful proofreading. Successfully adopting these tips requires extra work, but regular practice will improve essay writing in the long run.
Source
Skunk and White, The Elements of Style. New York: Macmillan, 1959.
Marilyn Michaud - Marilyn Michaud teaches English Literature and writing in Toronto. Her research interests include American history and culture, Gothic ...
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