Philadelphia, PA - Having an effective academic essay requires extensive research. Oftentimes, at the university level, your essay will not be marked if it does not show evidence of research. Keep your main argument in mind and only include information supporting it. Do not go off on a tangent and present new idea. This is a sure way to confuse your reader and lose marks.
Thesis statement
A perfect academic essay has a clear thesis statement that sets out what the writer is arguing. The thesis statement helps the reader understand the paper's scope and what to expect from the rest of the essay. It also provides the basis for all of the other research that will be included in the essay.
The essay’s main argument should always be at the forefront of the mind when writing. It is easy to go off on a tangent about an interesting side note, but this can cause the essay to lose its focus. It is important to keep the argument concise and to only include evidence that supports it.
Having someone else read your essay before you hand it in is a good idea. They may catch errors that you have missed. In addition, they can help you clarify or rephrase passages that might be confusing. You can find many good examples of this at https://www.paperhelp.org/.
Body paragraphs
Ideally, the paragraphs in your essay will build on each other to form a coherent argument. This requires ensuring that each paragraph displays relevant evidence and reasoning while avoiding redundancy or repetition. Additionally, you must ensure that each paragraph ties back to your essay’s main idea.
Each body paragraph should also contain at least one piece of evidence that supports the point you’re trying to make. This evidence may include quotes and paraphrases from sources, data, facts, or personal experiences. When citing outside sources, you must be careful to follow the citation style guidelines set out by your faculty (see our cite your work page).
Finally, a good body paragraph includes an explanation of the evidence provided. This might be a detailed analysis, elaboration, or evaluation of the information presented. This step is crucial because it will help your reader connect the dots between the information and your essay’s point.
Conclusions
Your essay conclusion is the last thing your marker will see. It's a good idea to spend time on it so that you can leave them with a powerful impression of your work.
The final paragraph should be succinct, reiterating the key points of your essay and demonstrating that you understand the subject well. It's also a good opportunity to add a little flair and style to your writing, but don't overdo it. The last thing you want to do is bore your reader with excessive jargon.
Topic sentences
A good topic sentence in an academic essay sets the tone for the following paragraph. It should clearly state your argument, use signpost language like “similarly” and “conversely,” and avoid colloquialisms and cliches. It should also leave room for expansion in the supporting sentences.
A clear and concise topic sentence is also important for the clarity of your essay. You should try to keep it short, but make sure you give the reader enough information to pique their interest and prepare them for what will come next.
A good topic sentence can also help you establish a connection between your paragraphs and the thesis statement. Including a keyword from the thesis statement in the topic sentence can be a good idea, but you should not overdo it. For example, in the example above, Connor sets up readers’ expectations that she will explain how Marx saw the flaws in capitalism.
Transition sentences
Writing an academic essay can initially seem intimidating, especially if you are unfamiliar with the rules and requirements. However, if you follow a few key steps, you can write an excellent essay that will impress your professor.
One of the most important parts of an academic essay is its transition sentences. These sentences allow you to connect ideas and establish relationships between paragraphs. They also help you avoid cliches in your writing, which can distract readers.
To use a transition sentence effectively, look at the information in each paragraph and ask how it is connected to the previous paragraph. Then, check the table below for a word or phrase that best expresses the kind of logical relationship you want to convey.
Formatting
If you want to write an excellent academic essay, then you should keep a few key things in mind. First, make sure to reference your work as you go along. It's much easier to do this than to backtrack over your essay and try to locate quotes, paraphrasing, and sources later on. Using a referencing system specified by your teacher and following their guidelines is essential.
Second, avoid adding too much description to your paragraphs. Added description distracts from your goal of providing evidence and analysis. Instead, use signpost language like "similarly" and "conversely" to guide the reader through your argument.
Finally, ensure all your paragraphs are relevant to your thesis. Make sure that each paragraph explains how the information presented in that paragraph supports your argument. You should also be careful to avoid confusing your readers by having too long sentences.
