Writing a college essay can be a daunting task, but there are several productive things you can do while working on your paper to make the writing process smoother and help you generate better quality content. While it’s easy to get distracted or procrastinate, focusing your energy on positive habits will lead to better results. Here are some of the top recommendations for things you should prioritize doing while writing an essay.
Research Thoroughly
One of the most important things you can do for your essay is conducting in-depth research on your topic. The research process doesn’t end once you’ve gathered a few basic facts – you need to fully immerse yourself in your subject matter so you have a comprehensive understanding. Go beyond a simple Google search by utilizing your school’s online research databases and library resources to find scholarly journal articles, books, and other credible sources that can provide analysis and insight into your topic rather than just facts or opinions. Taking detailed notes as you research will make it easier to incorporate relevant information and citations into your paper. Aim to research for at least a few hours for a standard 5-paragraph essay so you have plenty of high-quality content to draw from. Thorough research is key to writing a compelling, well-supported essay.
Create an Outline
Developing a detailed outline is one of the most important planning steps for ensuring your essay is coherent, well-organized and meets the assignment requirements. An outline allows you to structure your key ideas and arguments in a logical flow before beginning to write. It also helps with time management by blocking out how long you intend to spend on each section. Most college essays follow some type of intro-body-conclusion structure, so your outline should include an introduction with a clear thesis statement, three to five main topic sentences or points to address in the body paragraphs, and a conclusion that ties everything together. You may also want to note potential quotes, facts, or stories you could include to support each point. Taking the time to create a detailed outline up front can save you work in the long run compared to writing chaotically without a plan.
Write in Timed Sessions
When it comes to prolonged writing, working in intervals spaced throughout the day tends to be more productive than marathon sessions. Research shows that focus and creativity start to decline after 50-90 minutes of writing or studying. To maximize your energy and mental stamina for essay writing, aim to tackle it in multi-hour blocks with breaks in between. For example, you might work on it for two hours, take a 30 minute break, then do another hour-long session. Using a kitchen timer can help hold you accountable to staying on task during intervals without phone or internet distractions. Pacing yourself also prevents procrastination and allows your subconscious mind time to percolate on your ideas between sessions, leading to better overall work. Consistency is key – don’t leave the bulk of writing for the night before it’s due.
Have Guest Readers Provide Feedback
Getting feedback on your drafts from others can be hugely helpful for improving your essay. Ask knowledgeable friends, peers, classmates, teachers, teaching assistants or writing tutors to review your work and provide both content and structural feedback before finalizing your paper. Have them pay attention to the clarity of your thesis, flow and organization, strength of arguments and evidence, quality of writing, and adherence to assignment guidelines. Incorporate the feedback by clarifying weak areas, finding examples when needed, reworking paragraphs as suggested, and fixing any errors. Getting outside perspectives on your work is an invaluable part of the writing-revision process. It helps you look at your essay more objectively and discover any lingering problems others may spot that you missed during self-editing.
Use a Writing Checklist
To make sure your final essay meets quality standards before submission, go through a writing checklist. Common items to include are grammar/formatting, content elements, research integration, mechanics, style guidelines and proofreading. For example, does your introduction have a clear, specific thesis statement? Are your body paragraphs structured with a topic sentence followed by elaboration/evidence? Have you properly attributed all direct quotes and paraphrased information to avoid plagiarism? Have you double-checked your in-text citations and reference list against the assignment formatting rules? Using a writing checklist helps you systematically go through essay components line-by-line to quality check your work, catch remaining errors, and ensure completeness before submitting. Adding this extra validation step gives you peace of mind that your hard work is properly presented.
Take Regular Breaks
While it’s important to commit blocks of time to writing productively, you don’t want to sit for hours on end without a break. Getting up to move around and clear your head periodically is crucial when tackling a lengthy writing project. Make sure to stretch, grab a healthy snack or meal, chat with friends, do light exercise or go for a short walk during breaks. Spending time away from your essay refreshes both your mind and body. It prevents eye strain, backaches, headaches and fatigue that interfere with focus over the long run. Incorporating breaks recharges your motivation so you can return to your writing feeling more energized to tackle the next section. A time management strategy for writing a full essay may include two hour sessions with 10-15 minutes of active break time in between. Be sure not to sacrifice quality thinking and rest periods for the sake of speed, which can negatively impact your work.
Have Support Materials on Hand
Finally, make your writing space conducive to focus by having all necessary reference materials and resources readily available. Keep your research articles, books, notes and drafting documents easily accessible digitally or on your desk surface without needing to constantly get up to retrieve them. Also consider augmenting materials that support your workflow like helpful writing guides, dictionaries, style manuals and paper formatting tools. Comfort items like water, light snacks and music playlists can make long sessions more enjoyable as well. Eliminating unnecessary disruptions gives your mind the permission it needs to delve fully into the essay task without fussing over environment or supplies. Setting up a dedicated, distraction-free writing station is a small investment in your ability to concentrate and pace yourself efficiently throughout the writing process.
Taking the time for thorough research, advance planning with outlines, committing adequate hours spread over multiple days, enlisting guest feedback, conducting quality checks and penciling in supportive breaks are all crucial habits for optimizing the essay writing experience. Following best practices is key to successfully generating a well-constructed, proficient final draft that expresses your ideas compellingly and fulfills the assignment requirements to the fullest. Employing positive techniques improves your chances of writing a paper you can feel truly proud of submitting.
Andrew Stroud