Essays are a significant part of academics in Singapore. A well-written essay clearly conveys and communicates ideas.
Many students are naturally blessed with exceptional essay writing skills. They know how to craft a strong statement, utilise credible evidence, and draw a powerful conclusion.
However, some struggle to grasp the basics of writing skills.
And for them, we have gathered some of the expert-recommended tips to overcome this problem.
This blog will discuss some of the most effective strategies for creating a persuasive paper that guarantees a high grade.
What Is An Academic Essay?
An essay is a part of academic writing that focuses on a specific topic. Some academic essays are written for informational purposes, whereas others focus on presenting an argument.
The main purpose of an essay is to assess a student’s ability to analyse, interpret, and support their well-reasoned argument.
The structure of an essay is usually based on an,
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
Many Singaporean students struggle with writing skills. However, a professional essay writing service makes it easier for them to excel in their academics.
Types of Academic Essays
During your academic years in Singapore, you will come across a wide variety of essays. At every stage, the word ‘’essay’’ will have a distinct purpose and aim.
However, the purpose will be the same- to convey insights and perspectives on a certain topic.
The table below will summarise the main types of essays.
| Descriptive essay | Uses storytelling techniques to describe an event or an experience |
| Argumentative essays | Constructs a compelling argument supported by solid evidence and logical reasoning |
| Expository essay | It is used to explain a certain topic using an informative tone and detailed research. |
| Narrative essay | Used to describe a personal experience and conveys any lesson learned |
How to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills
Essay writing skills are a natural talent for most students. Proficiency in the techniques to write an academic essay can be extremely beneficial for your career and academics.
However, if you require help, you can always choose to hire a professional assignment helper.
And if you are planning to develop these skills, take a look at the strategies below to see actual results!
1 – Go Through The Prompt
Before you begin writing an essay, focus on the essay prompt. Develop a clear understanding of the intent, readers, and the kind of language to be used. This will help you in structuring the essay according to the key requirements.
So begin with a proper idea regarding,
- The length of your essay
- The purpose
- The target audience
- The answers expected
2 – Perform A Detailed Research
A top-quality academic essay is full of credible evidence supporting your argument. Make sure to conduct an extensive research process. Gather all the data, including facts and quotations that are relevant to your topic.
Remember, you don’t need to rely on one source. To ensure that your argument is presented after considering multiple perspectives, present insights from
- Academic journals
- Books
- Web sources
3 – Create An Outline Before Writing
Planning the structure of your essay is a significant step. It prevents your ideas from getting scattered. Make sure to create a draft, organise your information, and align each supporting evidence with it.
Creating an outline ensures that you have gathered sufficient evidence for each point of your essay.
Divide the information into,
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
Pro Tip: Don’t add any new information in the conclusion. Just sum up the key points from the essay that you are going to discuss in this section.
4 – Work On A Proper Understanding Of Grammar Basics
Focus on the proper use of grammar. Grammatical errors can change the purpose of your sentences, which can often lead to misunderstandings. Make the correct use of punctuation, subject-verb agreement, and ensure tense consistency.
Your essay should have an accurate sentence structure and the use of words that effectively present your ideas.
Keep these things in mind,
- Create a rough draft at first
- Proofread the draft
- Use active voice consistently
- Seek feedback before submission
5 – Use The Right Vocabulary
Essays are supposed to be persuasive. You need to convince the reader regarding your chosen topic. However, for that to happen, you need to show your expertise in the subject area.
Make sure to use the correct vocabulary according to your topic. If you are unaware of the meaning, don’t risk your marks with incorrect usage.
For this, you can,
- Use the thesaurus for appropriate word choice
- Align the tone with the purpose of the essay
- Learn new words to integrate them into your essay
6 – Apply Critical Thinking Skills
A good essay is not solely based on evidence. It requires a thorough application of critical thinking skills and an explanation of the evidence. Make sure to include only relevant sources.
After the research process, filter the evidence. Remove any unnecessary sources that do not directly support your argument.
Don’t forget to,
- Use evidence that connects with your topic
- Select information presented by authors with credentials
7 – End With A Strong Conclusion
One of the features of a premium-quality essay is that it ends with a strong conclusion. The last section of your essay should always leave an impression.
It should present a powerful statement that justifies the importance of your argument.
Many students write an exceptional essay, but only to end it with a boring conclusion that fails to support the discussion effectively. Don’t be one of them!
Here is what you should be doing,
- Restate the key points in a different wording
- Don’t repeat your sentences
- End with something that leaves an impact
Practice Writing Regularly
Perfect writing skills require consistent practice. Make sure to practice writing regularly to improve your writing skills. Get feedback from experts on your drafts. By receiving constructive criticism, you can identify weak areas and gain expertise in essay writing techniques.
You can also,
- Set a time for practicing writing
- Try writing on different essay topics
- Be open to feedback
8 – Proofread Your Essay
The final draft of your essay should be perfectly refined with proofreading techniques. Proofreading will allow you to catch grammar and punctuation mistakes. Moreover, proofreading also helps with coherence and a logical flow between paragraphs.
Proofreading helps with,
- Creating a polished paper
- Generating the best version of your paper
- Helps in strengthening the underdeveloped arguments
9 – Referencing
One of the qualities of an excellent essay is properly cited sentences and a reference list at the end. Make sure to follow the guidelines for the required referencing style and add a well-organised list at the end.
Common referencing styles include
- APA
- MLA
- Chicago
Wrapping Up
Essay writing can be an exhausting process for Singaporean students who lack the skills for writing a great essay. But remember, it is never too late to learn something new!
By implementing the above-mentioned strategies in your essay writing, you can witness a significant improvement in your writing. All it takes is a little patience and hard work, and you are all set to write a top-quality paper with full confidence!
