Wednesday, April 21, 2021

A Comprehensive Guide to Essay-Writing

Editing and proofreading services, and even book proofreading services in the UK, should always be a writer’s go-to when they are nearing the end of the writing process. In the case of proofreading services, these are ideal when you have finalised your writing and need to add extra polish, while editing services are useful at an earlier stage when you are trying to optimise the way your writing comes across to its intended audience.



However, if you are nowhere near the stage of making use of editing and proofreading services, it’s useful to know about some of the resources and strategies that can help you along. For example, essay-writing – which is the focus of this article – is an often-daunting activity that editors and proofreaders cannot help you with, and so it’s worth learning about how to complete this particular task well.

 

What are the main types of essays?

Every scholar out there has their own classification system for essay types, but here are a few of the most common ones:

  • ·         Persuasive essay: Seeks to convince the reader of a certain point of view.
  • ·         Admissions essay: Explain why the candidate is interested in applying to a particular institution.
  • ·        Expository essay: Comprehensively introduces a given topic, ideally in an objective and unbiased way, to increase the awareness and knowledge of the reader.
  • ·        Comparison essay: Describes a pair of opposing issues, arguments, or – for that matter – anything else (e.g., artworks, computing systems, and so on).
  • ·         Personal essay: Communicates anecdotal events and typically written in a narrative structure.

 

What structure should an essay have?

Although there are many types of essays, most tend to follow a similar structure:

·         Introduction: Sets the background and context for the essay, the key topics it will cover, and – by the time it has finished – clearly communicates to the reader what the focal point of the essay is.

·         Body: A series of paragraphs or sections and subsections, ordered in a logical and coherent way, that present evidence in support of the focus of the essay.

·         Conclusion: Wraps up the essay, potentially reiterating its key points and, if the word count allows, adds a new perspective for understanding the focus of the essay. Generally, conclusions should not introduce new evidence.

 

How can I write a strong essay?

As noted earlier, it is usually recommended to call on a professional editor or proofreader only once you have written all – or most – of your essay. Once it is finished, the editor or proofreader can help you to optimise the written work you already have, but they cannot write the document for you.

If you’re not yet at a point where you can do this, consider following the process described below to help you along:

  • ·         Mapping ideas
  • ·         Planning
  • ·         Drafting
  • ·         Revising

During the final revision stage, it may be useful to consult with an editor to see if you have gone in the right direction. Also, remember that after the revision stage, it is essential to proofread your work.

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