Formal writing essay – 6 tips for dummies

Writing formal essays is something that students and some professionals will do over and over throughout their careers. Depending on formal focus of studies, some degrees require multiple essays throughout the academic process. You must focus and plan ahead to make your essay a good one that will earn you a good grade for all of you stress and hard work.

Even if you are new to the process of writing more formal essays, you can get the project done in no time if you follow some steps to make it easier on yourself.

6 Tips for Dummies: Formal Essay Writing

1. Pick Your Topic First: Before you do anything, decide which topics are most interesting to you. If a topic doesn’t peak your interest, you won’t be able to communicate it in a formal essay as effectively. Make it easier on yourself and pick a couple of good topic ideas that will keep you interested and engaged in your research. You don’t have to love every subject, but you should definitely gravitate toward those topics that will keep you going.
2. Research for Sources: Once you have decided on a couple of topic options, start reviewing your source options. If a specific topic doesn’t yield many results, or you are only able to find results that are slanted toward one particular point of view, consider picking your alternative topic. You should be able to find a handful of really good resources. And if your instructor has a minimum number of sources required, it is important to know you can meet – and preferably exceed – that number.
3. Review Your Sources: One you have found a number of sources, it is time to review them for content for your paper. Find specific information that relates to your argument – including quotes, figures, data, and other important information that will support your topic and thesis. If a source doesn’t yield any information, or you can’t properly source it, move forward to the next one. This is why having multiple source options is so critical – you can be choosy. And you should be!
4. Create Your Outline:Using the sources that you have decided are best, create an outline of your paper that places certain information into specific topic categories. With at least three discussion topics that lead back to your overall argument, there are clear places to drop information that will help you form each section.
5. Review Your Outline: If your outline is concise and lists everything you need properly, it should show you just how your paper will look. Fill in any holes or discrepancies.
6. Write Your Paper: With an effective outline that details quality research, it will be easy to make it into paper form. Take it point by point and you will have it done in no time.