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How to Write The Perfect Essay

If you’re planning to pursue English or another subject within Arts and Humanities at university will require a lot of essay writing. This is an art to master as it demands both imagination and strategic planning. However, if you make sure you adhere to the following each time you write an essay, you should have the chance to achieve success:

1. Plan

It may seem time-consuming, however, if the writer has an effective plan you’ll actually save time writing your essay because you’ll know where your response is headed and won’t write yourself into a corner. Do not fret if you’re stuck in the beginning – just write down some ideas and you’ll be surprised by what will follow. I find it easiest to make a mind map every new bubble depicting one of my main paragraphs. I then create quotations, which can be used in my research around the bubble.

As an example, suppose I were to answer the question “To what degree is Curley’s wife depicted as being a subject in Of Mice and Men? It might be a good idea to create a mind map which looks something like this:

Continue to build this plan, crossing bits out and linking different bubbles whenever you see connections between them.At site this article from Our Articles While you might not have time to make such elaborate plans during exam conditions, it can be helpful just draw a simple sketch, including a few crucial words so that you don’t become overwhelmed and fall off-topic while writing your essay. If you’re not fond of the mind map format you have plenty of alternatives available: it is possible to create a table or flowchart or simply making a list with bullet points.

2. Create a clear structure

Think about this while you are making plans. The essay you write about is like an argument or a speech. It should have a clear structure, with your entire argument coming together to address the question. Begin with the basics. It is best to pick a few major points which can become the main paragraphs. Three main paragraphs is the ideal number for a test essay, since you will be on the clock. Make sure you organize your arguments in a pattern with Yes (agreement on the subject) + (another ‘YES’ point) BUT (disagreement or complications) if you agree with the whole question or YES , BUT and if you are not. This will ensure that you are always focused on your argument and you do not wander away from the issue.

For instance, you might make the Of Mice and Men sample query as follows:

In what way is Curley’s wife shown as an innocent as a victim of Of Mice and Men?’

  • YES – descriptive descriptions of her physical appearance
  • And, the attitude of others towards her
  • BUT – her position as the only female on the ranch confers her with power in using her femininity to benefit herself

If you want to write an essay that was longer then you can add more paragraphs in the “YES/AND” category, perhaps describing the ways in which Curley’s wife reveals her vulnerability as well as insecurities. She also shares her hopes and fears with other characters. On the other hand, you can even extend your essay by including another ‘BUT’ paragraph concerning her manipulative and cruel streak.

Of of course, this isn’t necessarily the only way to respond to this essay provided that you back your claims by citing your text, you’ll be able consider any perspective that makes sense.

3. Support your argument by analyzing your quotes

You wouldn’t write a scientific report without including evidence to back your claims So why should it be any different for an essay? Even though you aren’t strictly required to substantiate every single point you make with a quotation, there’s no harm in trying. An in-depth reading of your quotations can enrich your understanding of the subject and will be sure to impress examiners.

When selecting the right quotations to include in your essay, keep an eye for literary strategies that are specific to the author. For instance, you might examine the use of Curley’s wife’s an esoteric question when she asks, ‘What am I doing? We’re here talking to several stiffs of bindle’:

The question “An What is it I’m doing?” signifies that Curley’s wife is extremely insecure she is considering her own choices. Also, the fact she doesn’t expect anyone else to answer their question underscores her isolation.

Other literary strategies to keep an eye out for are:

  • Tricolon is a collection of three words or phrases put close to one another to emphasize
  • Tautology – using various words that are all the same like ‘frightening’, for instance, and frightening.
  • Parallelism – ABAB structure; often signifies shift from one concept to another
  • Chiasmus – ABBA structure that draws attention to that phrase
  • Polysyndeton – a variety of conjunctions within the same sentence
  • Asyndeton – absence of conjunctions may speed up the pace of the sentences
  • Polyptoton – – using the same term in different forms for emphasis, for example “done” and “doing”
  • Alliteration , repetition of the exact sound. Different forms of alliteration are assonance (similar vowel sounds) and plosive (‘b’, ‘d’ and ‘p’ the sounds) as well as sibilance (‘s sounds)
  • Anaphora: repetition of words; usually used for emphasis on a particular issue.

Don’t worry if you can’t locate all of these literary devices within the piece in question – it’s possible to additionally discuss the more obvious results that include metaphor, simile and onomatopoeia. There’s no problem if you can’t remember all the lengthy names. It’s far more important to explain the significance of these literary techniques and the relevance in the context of the inquiry than to employ the appropriate terminology.

4. Create and be original all the way through

Anyone could write an essay following the tips above, but the part that makes it ‘perfect’ is your own unique take on the subject you’re discussing. If you’ve seen something fascinating or unusual in your reading, point it out: If you like what you see there’s a good chance that the judge would too.

Writing essays and creative writing are more tightly linked than you’d imagine. take the idea that you’re making a speech or a debate in mind and you’re certain to attract your readers’ focus.

It’s important to set out your argument within your introduction, the main arguments and the general direction that your essay will go, but don’t forget to include something in the conclusion and conclusion, too. Sure, you have to summarize your main points, but if your essay is merely reiterating your points from your introduction, the essay itself becomes meaningless.

Think of your conclusion as the conclusion of your speech, that part all the other things have been leading towards, not your boring plenary at conclusion of all the exciting stuff.

To get back to Of Mice and Men once more, here’s a great illustration of a perfect difference of an intro and a concluding sentence:

Introduction:

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is presented as a ambiguous character. She is portrayed as a vicious sexually attractive temptress or as an isolated woman who is the victim of her society’s beliefs. Although it is true that she does possess a certain amount of sexual power, it’s evident that the wife of Curley is largely an innocent victim. This is backed up by the description given in her book of how she appears, other people’s views, her hopes and her apparent loneliness and insecurity.

Conclusion:

In general, it is apparent that Curley’s wife is a victim , and is depicted in this way throughout the novel, including their descriptions of appearances, fantasies and people’s attitudes towards her as well as her loneliness and insecurities. Yet, a character was a victim and only one thing else could be one-dimensional and Curley’s partner is not. Although she suffers in many ways however, she’s shown to assert herself by manipulating her femininity . This is a small anger against the shame she feels.

Both rely on the topic and provide a summary of the essay’s main points; however, the concluding paragraph adds something brand new, which was built into the main body of the essay but alters the simple summary that is provided in the Introduction.