Education in San Antonio

All high school and college students know that getting good marks on essay tests is one of their biggest tasks in any academic year. If you can learn how to consistently write good essays then you will have gained an academic tool that will be of immense value to you in the coming years. In case you need some tips on how to be a better essay writer, then I would like to share my experience with you.

1. Take a careful look at the exam and plan your response accordingly. Don’t start writing immediately. Go through all of the questions carefully and find out how many questions you have to do and see if there are any choices that you can make. If you start writing without a careful look at the entire exam there is even the chance that you may leave out a question, and this could cost you dearly.

2. Plan what you are going to do and allocate time accordingly. Once you know how many questions there are, then allocate time for each question. Bring a watch with you because it may not be convenient to look at the wall clock which may not be in a convenient position, or may not even be there. One of the best ways to plan your answer is to make an outline of the points that you are going to cover. After you make your outline, then start writing and make sure that you cover all of your points while staying aware of how much time you are taking to do the essay.

3. Open with a well-written introduction. Your first paragraph is very important. A good technique is to start by restating the question and then give a brief idea of what you are going to say that will answer that question. An introductory paragraph will not only give the examiner a better idea of what is coming, but it will also guide you as well.

4. In the main section show what you have learned in this course. Here is your chance to demonstrate that you have read the course material, understood discussion in the classroom and have the ability to use this knowledge to answer the questions. This is the section where you have to answer the question and the best way to do it is to back up your statements, opinions and ideas with a reference to books, authors and authorities that you have read about or discussed in the course. Stick to what you know rather than trying to fill up the essay with rambling words that don’t have much weight.

5. Write in a Concise and Clear Style. Knowing the material is not enough, in order to do well on an essay exam you have to express yourself clearly. Use a simple sentence structure, rather than rambling, run-on sentences. Stick to terms that you are familiar with and can use properly rather than trying to use vocabulary that is unfamiliar. Do your best to make your essay readable and remember that the person grading the exam has to go through many essays besides yours.

6. Conclude your essay with confidence. Sum it all up in the end. You can refer to your introductory paragraph and then show how your answered the question. Your final sentence or sentences should be clear and give the instructor an idea that you know what you are talking about.

Learning how to write essays is an extremely important scholastic skill. If you follow these tips you will end up with an ability that will not only serve you well during your school years, but will also prove handy throughout your life.

Andrew Carson is a newspaper columnist who produces articles on scholarships, online colleges, financial aid, college search tips, and adult education.