Crafting an Unforgettable College Essay: 7 Tips to Succeed

During college years, students face hundreds of writing assignments that they have to handle. For some learners, academic writing is an easy thing, but some students do not feel comfortable with writing essays and other papers. Of course, one can turn to a college essay writing service for assistance, but it is no secret that students often live on a budget, and they can afford such help all the time. Thus, in this article, we will take a look at some tips that can help you learn how to write a strong paper that rocks.

Tip #1: Choose a unique topic

First, it is important to choose a topic that hooks you, but at the same time, the topic must be unique. In most cases, instructors allow students to choose topics for their writing because they understand that researching the issues they like is much more interesting than working on forced ones. Well, if your instructor has assigned a specific topic to you, you also can ask him/her to change the issue. At times, college programs are organized to cover specific questions, but in most cases, you can choose a related topic that will be more interesting for you. Just ask; it is okay!

Here are some helpful tips that can help you choose a topic that inspires you:

• Do you remember your mate’s recent essays? Was there anything that hooked you?
• Do you have hobbies? Is there anything to discuss that can fit your professor’s requirements?
• Read some newspaper articles. Is there an issue that you would like to discuss with your classmates?

Tip #2: Use your authentic voice

If you want to create a hooking story, it is essential to make it vivid and authentic. If there are no restrictions concerning the voice of writing, write using your ordinary tone. When you write in your own voice, this makes your paper light and attracts your audience because they feel you. You may wonder, but admissions officers appreciate essays that feel genuine. Authenticity comes from sharing true experiences, emotions, and reflections. Students should be comfortable revealing their vulnerabilities, struggles, or even failures, as these moments often highlight personal growth.

Tip #3: Show, don’t tell

When writing your essay, ensure your audience can feel what you write about. Professional writers say that essays that interact with human senses are more likely to be listened to and recognized. Use specific examples and vivid details rather than just stating facts or feelings. For example, when you want to describe a crowded place, you should better not say that there are many people who are talking and making noise. But how to describe such a loud place? Well, you can ask your audience to imagine this particular place by providing some hints that will influence their hearing. For example, you can ask your audience to imagine a place where a child cries, the man next to this child yells into his cell phone because his boss does not understand him, and the police officer turns the siren on to force drivers to give them a way… Well, we hope you have no doubts it is a loud spot in the city.

Tip #4: Strong introduction

It is a fact that the introduction sets the tone and grabs the reader’s attention from the start. If you succeed in hooking the reader at this stage, you are more likely to make him/her listen to you till the very end. Use an engaging opening sentence to capture the reader’s interest. There are so many ideas on how to start your introduction; you can use an intriguing question, a surprising fact, a bold statement, or a short, vivid anecdote related to the topic, etc. The only nuance is to ensure the assigned essay type allows the chosen alternative.

Tip #5: Structurize your writing clearly

Focus on organizing your ideas logically so that your essay flows smoothly. The idea should come from the previous one to make your readers involved and interested. If you hop from one issue to another, you risk confusing your readers, and, as a result, they won’t proceed to listen to you. Your audience should be able to easily follow your arguments.

Here is a standard structure you can follow. 

• Introduction. Provide background information or context for the topic and write a clear thesis statement that presents the main idea of the essay.
• Body paragraph (requirements for each piece). Each body paragraph should focus on one point that supports the thesis. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. Then, give examples, facts, or quotes to support the point and explain how these relate to the argument. Finally, end the paragraph with a transition sentence to lead into the next idea smoothly.
• Conclusion. Summarize the main points of the essay. Restate the thesis in a new way, and end with a final thought, insight, or call to action, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. Note: Do not introduce new information in the conclusion!

Tip #6: Reflect upon the topic

Reflecting upon your essay topic deepens understanding and adds depth to the argument. With the help of such an action, you activate critical thinking, which can help you explore multiple perspectives and insights into the issue. As a result, you motivate your readers to research the related questions and, for example, debate in the future. Of course, the type of essay influences the way you can reflect upon the issue. For example, when writing about overcoming challenges, you can reflect on your own struggles and experiences. If you are a foreign student and you have to complete a reflective essay, you can look back on a specific event and reflect on how it changed your worldview.

Tip #7: Proofread and revise your paper

The last step is to proofread your writing. Even though all the previous steps are important, quality proofreading is crucial. It is highly recommended that you leave your writing for some time and return to it after rest. This can help you stay focused and detect even the slightest problems with ease. You can also ask your mate to revise your paper and share his/her feedback with you; this can help you improve your essay even better. 

You know, practice makes perfect, and the more you practice writing, the better you write. You can write anything, from an Instagram post to a college research paper. Just do this and improve your skills with every new writing.