If you’re going to college and are worried about grades, you’re not alone. According to the Princeton Review , 92 percent of high school seniors feel like their grades are important and 56 percent think they have to have at least an A average to get into the college they want.
The pressure and stress can be overwhelming, especially as it relates to academic writing and essay tests, but there are ways you can stay on top of it without losing your mind in the process. Here are seven tips on how to ace your exams as a paper writer in college.
Come Up With a Clear Outline
Come up with an outline for the paper before you start writing. What is the purpose of your paper? What are your thesis statement and main points? Write them down. A clear outline will guide you through the process of writing and ensure that you stay on topic. A great way to come up with an outline is by brainstorming topics. Use what you know about your subject, or ask your teacher or professor, to help come up with some interesting topics.
Understand the Assignment
Every semester, I have a set of papers that I need to write. This can include essays, research papers, and other long-form documents. There are some things I’ve learned along the way that help me write better papers every time. Plan out your paper before you start writing it. Read through the paper after you’re done writing it and see what kind of changes you want to make before submitting it.
Organize your Resources Well
Having a good organizational system makes writing papers easier, and it will be easier for you to keep track of your research. You can use the outline method, or other methods that work best for you. You might also find it useful to create folders for each paper with all the resources grouped together. This way, you’ll always know where to look when you need them! Find a Writing Method That Works for You: There are many different ways to write papers, so try some different styles until you find one that works for you.
Write an Introduction that Hooks Readers
Write an introduction that hooks readers by giving them the information they need. Get straight to the point and make sure you are answering their questions. This intro should be your opportunity to tell readers what this essay is about so they can decide whether or not they want to read on. Remember, you have only one chance at first impressions; if your intro is not intriguing enough, then people will never read on. Start with something like: I am writing this essay because I want to share my personal experience with paper writing.
Stay on Topic
Stay on topic. Don’t waste time restating what was said before, keep the narrative moving forward. Use transitions between sentences to help the reader follow your train of thought more easily. For example, you can use In conclusion or Furthermore to signal that you are finishing one idea and starting another. Be concise but don’t forget important details.
Use the Right Words
To be the best paper writer you can be, you need to use the right words. But what does that mean? The answer is different for everyone, but one of the most important things to focus on is your word choice. This means using words that are appropriate for your audience and purpose. For example, if you’re writing an essay about how France impacted US culture, it might not be wise to use the word turd or shitty because these words are inappropriate for academic writing.
Avoid Common Mistakes
The first mistake is not getting enough sleep. The reason this is a mistake is because when you’re tired, you’re more likely to make mistakes and your writing will be less coherent. The second mistake people make is not having enough time. It’s important that you give yourself time to think and proofread your work before submitting it. This way, you can catch any errors before turning it in for grading. The third mistake people make is not practicing what they learned from the last paper.
