Introduction
An essay writing society involves students coming together to aid in the writing and development of essay assignments. These societies can take many forms, from loose collaborations to formalized organizations with elected leadership. Regardless of structure, essay writing societies share the goal of supporting members through the essay writing process. This article will examine example orders from a hypothetical student essay writing society and analyze the benefits such orders could provide members.
Sample Order #1: Peer Review Exchange
The first sample order involves a peer review exchange between two society members. Member A submits a draft 800-word essay on industrialization in 19th century England. In exchange for reviewing this draft, Member A agrees to review a draft 750-word essay submitted by Member B on the causes of World War 1. Both students provide critical feedback on strengths and weaknesses, grammar issues, flow, thesis clarity and evidence used within two days. Students then revise their essays based on the peer feedback before the final submission deadline.
Benefits: Peer reviewing allows students to gain perspective on their own writing from an outside reader. It also helps improve essential writing skills like critical analysis, providing constructive criticism, and learning from examples of both strong and weak elements in a peer’s work. Having feedback from a classmate can make revisions more targeted and improve the overall quality of the final submission. The exchange structure encourages accountability and ensures both students benefit equally from the process.
Sample Order #2: Topic Brainstorming Session
For this order, four society members agree to meet and brainstorm potential essay topics that align with the parameters of an upcoming assignment. Each student brings 2-3 topic ideas to discuss in depth, outlining potential angles and sources of evidence available. The group offers feedback on feasibility and interesting angles to explore for each topic. Members are then encouraged to collaboratively develop at least one new topic idea during the session that combines elements from ideas proposed.
Benefits: Early topic selection and refinement is an important part of the writing process but can be challenging without input from others. Bouncing ideas between peers allows students to gain different perspectives, ensure topics are suitably focused and aligned to course goals, and collaboratively problem solve any issues. The session structure fosters group collaboration and creative thinking that expands initial ideas proposed by individual members.
Sample Order #3: Thesis Statement Consultation
For this order, a member requests a one-hour consultation with one of the society’s elected thesis statement consultants. The student meets with the consultant to discuss a 1,200-word draft that includes an introduction, outline of main points and preliminary research citations. The thesis statement remains unclear. During the consultation, the thesis consultant asks targeted questions to clarify the key arguments and evaluates example statements drafted. They provide substantive, solution-focused feedback on revising the thesis to most effectively guide and synthesize the essay. Both parties agree to briefly review any changes to the thesis made as a result of the session.
Benefits: Developing a strong, focused thesis is crucial but difficult for many student writers. Having an individual consultation with an experienced peer allows in-depth discussion to dissect issues and identify a cohesive main assertion. The session aims to solve a specific problem, with feedback tailored to the student’s work. Reviewing post-consultation changes fosters accountability and ensures the support achieved maximum benefit. It can significantly improve an important element of the paper to make the argument coherent and well-structured.
Sample Order #4: Writing Workshop
This order involves five society members who agree to dedicate 2 hours to a collaborative writing workshop focused on revising draft introduction paragraphs. Students first give a 3-minute introduction to their topic and thesis. Then, one student volunteer’s first paragraph is critically examined line-by-line on a shared document by the group. Constructive feedback tackles coherence, stance, hook, clarity and overall effectiveness. The student incorporates suggestions in real-time. Each workshop participant’s intro paragraph then receives the same real-time revision treatment. The session concludes with a debrief highlighting takeaways.
Benefits: Writing can improve dramatically with direct, solution-focused feedback from multiple perspectives. Having a structured workshop format focused on intros ensures targeted feedback within a set time period for maximum benefit. Real-time revision models the process and makes workshops engaging and interactive for attendees. With coherence and clarity being so vital in introductions, this intensive approach takes student writing to the next level through pooled knowledge of the group. Participants gain skills in providing and responding to constructive criticism in a supportive environment.
Sample Order #5: Research Clinic Session
For this society activity, two Research Clinic Sessions are held each month where 4 slots per session are reserved for members requiring research assistance on current assignments. Interested students sign up to meet one-on-one with one of two elected Research Consultants for 30 minutes in the library. They bring their research questions, preliminary sources and a summary of their paper requirements to date. The Research Consultant helps strategize key terms, suggests specialized databases and identifies 2-4 additional quality sources that directly relate to their focus. Both parties agree to follow up after 48 hours to check research progress.
Benefits: Conducting university-level research takes time to hone effective search strategies and skills. These targeted sessions allow peers to get expert guidance from student consultants who have excelled in research-heavy courses. Individualized attention ensures questions and focus are thoroughly addressed within the brief duration using available resources. Providing sample sources models best practices and gives students a strong foundation to efficiently continue independently. Follow up reinforces information retention and successful application of techniques learned. It builds confidence in self-directed future research abilities.
Conclusion
Properly structured essay writing society orders can offer students substantive benefits throughout all stages of the writing process. From the initial brainstorming and drafting to the research, organization and revisions phases, strategic collaborative and consultative activities pooled members’ skills, expanded perspectives and targeted areas needing development. They fostered accountability, peer learning and real-time feedback in supportive communities of practice. While the quality of learning outcomes depends on effective society administration and member participation, example orders demonstrated how peer-supported assignments can accelerate growth in essential college writing and research competencies. With mutual learning benefits, well-planned society activities facilitate stronger autonomous work and accomplish shared goals of enhanced academic writing abilities.
Andrew Stroud