The philosopher Walter Benjamin said that “the essay is the game of theory.” In other words, it is a text in which you can expose and develop your ideas, as if you were playing. They can be objective or subjective. However, regardless of their orientation, they follow a specific pattern: the introduction, the content, and the conclusion.
Essays are of great importance for academic development, for what reason? Teachers want the student to delve into the subject, look for references, analyze the facts, and more. However, most students have problems doing it. For this reason, in the following paragraphs, we will tell you what you need to know to make it excellent.
The biggest flaw during essay writing is disorganization. This brings us to the first adversity students face: a blank mind. Therefore, the first thing you should take into account is its structure. And as we mentioned before, it is made up of:
- The introduction. Analysts advise that you make a summary of the tenth part of your essay, which perfectly covers the topics on which you focus. In case you have doubts, you can see examples on how to make an introduction, but it is quite simple: create a line of argument that mentions the main ideas, linking them with solid bases (facts and references.)
- The content. This is the central part of the essay, and the greatest extension of development, considering that it must cover 80% of it. What will you present in the content? The comments and arguments you plan against the main idea (either supporting or rejecting it). Here it is important that you write down the references: magazines, books, authors, videos, etc. On the other hand, for the essay to be valid, you must make sure that the different topics are related and well linked.
- And the conclusion. This is the last tenth part of the essay, where you will dedicate yourself to summarizing the most important ideas. (Remember that the introduction explains what are the topics you will talk about and why; the conclusion, on the other hand, will focus on your ideas and the facts). Do not forget that a good conclusion highlights the ideas that help to give belief to the author of the text, so it is easier to understand his vision.
Top 4 + 1 tips to write the best essay for college
Knowing the basics of the essay is step number one to show off your writing, now you just need to know the correct way to express your ideas. Here are the top five tips:
1. Focus on evaluating the theme
The order and arguments of the essay lose importance when the topic does not solve a problem or a question, but rather focuses on a whim. Write about a current topic: analyze it and explain it taking into account the audience it is aimed at. We recommend that you check local newspapers and other topics that are related to yours. This will give you a better view of the puzzle.
2. Focus on knowing the subject one hundred percent
A good essay is based on facts, so it’s important to find viable sources before you start writing your essay. Most people decide to go to the local library or search for information on the Internet; however, they are not the only options: talk to people, question your teachers, and more. Creativity is the limit. Also, if you are going to look for sources online, never use Wikipedia, for what reason? The information may be good, but it is never 100% true: research on other pages and do not keep the data provided by one.
3. Focus on studying other essays on the topic
Understand that the professional essays were those that were referenced by other works. But not just any writing, but the best. We invite you to learn from it. Find the most outstanding essay in your category and analyze its style, typology, and content.
4. Focus on keeping it simple
Many people think that the bigger and longer an essay is, the better it will fare. That’s not true. The best essays never talk about everything that revolves around a topic, on the contrary: they are specific. Avoid writing paragraphs that don’t intertwine with the main idea; Similarly, avoid making long sentences. For the reader to maintain interest in reading, have paragraphs of 6-8 lines maximum and use short sentences, no longer than 30 words.
5. Focus on making your readers flex
As objective as your essay may be, always include a paragraph motivating reflection and a change in the reader’s perspective: in the end, this is the purpose of the work.
