Some people are natural writers and others are not. If you are not naturally a good writer, here are some tips that may help you write more effectively and easier. Most people remember things when they can relate it to something, therefore, I will share what I ask my adult students to help them remember how to write an essay. When beginning the unit on the writing process, I ask, "did you know that essays are like dating?" This usually grabs their attention. Most sit there trying to figure out how.
It's true, essays are like relationships. Let's review. We know that essays consists of an introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Now think, how do we approach someone of interest? We usually strive to make a good first impression, therefore, we do something memorable. Depending on how well we know the person or what we think they are interested in, we usually either tell a joke to get them laughing, or use interesting facts or famous quotes to spark up a conversation.
Now, you've definitely gotten their attention. Just the same, the introduction of an essay must pull the reader in and make the reader want to read the essay and want to know more. An introduction can make or break an essay, just as an introduction can lead to a relationship or a rejection. If the person, is interesting enough, the person will more than likely accept the invite. If not, the person will reject the invite.
Now that you've gotten the person's attention, now you want to pay attention to detail and support your claim. Another aspect that we pay attention to while in a relationship is the "body." Most people don't want to go out with someone who is too skinny. This usually implies that the person is not healthy or not receiving enough nutrition. Likewise, people don't usually date individuals who are too thick either. This implies that the person is receiving too much nutrition. The body of the essay works the same way. If the essay is too thin, chances are, you did not provide enough information. If the essay is too long, you may have provided too much information. Essays should provide just enough information to support your claim. Too little information will probably leave the readers with questions or will not make sense. Too much information becomes redundant.
Now, during the introduction to the person, you have included brief information about your purpose or intentions. Now, that you have gotten into the relationship (body), you must support your claim. For example, if you have told the person that you are romantic, you must do things to support this claim such as sending flowers or other gifts. If you don't support your claim, you may not seem genuine.
Now that you've supported your claim, you must conclude the essay. Like most essays, good or bad, most dates come to an end. Think of what you do at the end of a date. Most times, we highlight the good times and then conclude the night. Sometimes, the person is humorous, or recites quote or line of poetry or leaves us with something to think about. Again, an essay works the same way. We summarize the major point and end the essay. The essays can end as it began; with a joke, a famous quote, or interesting fact. This way, the reader will be left with something to think about and no unanswered questions.
However, most importantly, a person must remember to be themselves and be original with their ideas. It is o.k. to use someone else's idea, however, that person deserves credit. If this is not done properly, you can easily become a liar (plagiarism). Most people require honest people and like getting honest information. If the information is borrowed, people will want to know where you got it from so be sure to cite (give credit) to your source.
