How to Write a Really Good College Essay

I’m an English major, so needless to say, I’ve written a LOT of essays.  I’m happy to say, that in addition to writing a lot of them, they’ve all been really well-received by my professors, which is why I’m helping you, dear reader, to write a bodacious college essay without breaking your back. 

First of all, if you can pick your own subject, pick something you’re really interested in.  For example, if I was taking a world history class and I could pick the topic for an essay, I would write something like: The Impacts of Alexander the Great’s Conquests on the Modern World.  I think Alexander is really interesting, and it’s certain that his empire, reaching from Greece almost to China, had repercussions that affected the world we live in now.  Pick a subject that really makes you say: “Hey, that’s cool!” This step is the key to writing a good essay.  This will make any research you have to do almost painless.  Also, chances are, you already know a little bit about it, which also reduces the need for a ton and a half of extra research.  If the subject is assigned, well, you’ll just have to make the best of it, but often, you’ll be required to analyze such and such piece of artwork versus another piece of artwork, or why a certain situation (for example: the Civil War in the United States) occured.  Maybe if you’re taking an English literature course you’ll be asked to describe why a certain character acts the way he does.  There’s a myriad of things a professor could ask you to do, but the key is to keep an open mind, find an aspect of the subject that you can really get excited about, even in an assigned subject essay, and wrap your head around the issue so you can write a decent paper. 

The second step, before you do any research at all, is to think about, for a few minutes, what it is you have to write about.  Just sit down with a cup of coffee (or something stronger…) and think: Why do I think Othello killed Desdemona? If I was him, how would I feel after I did that? Why would society think this work of art is so important? Just think about it for about two seconds before you start researching…it’ll give your research direction.  Once you decide what direction you want your essay to take, that’ll make research a lot easier, if you have to do it.  OK, now get on the internet and do a bit of research.  This is important, listen closely: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RESEARCH EVERYTHING IN-DEPTH.  Depending on the length of the essay, you can afford to not research, for example, every single thing Alexander the Great ever did.  Pick a few defining points of his illustrious career, and that should be perfect for a nice little 3 or 4 page essay. 

Now comes the writing part.  This is what I have trouble with, you say! I can’t write!! It takes me hours!! Not so.  Anybody can write an essay.  The main thing is purpose and direction.  Think about those few main points you need to talk about.  Then figure out in which order you want to discuss them (chronological works best).  This is the body of your essay, the meat, the stuff that makes the prof say: “Wow.  They really know what they’re talking about!”.  Write an introduction that has some personal flavour in it.  This is really important, because it shows that you’re excited about the subject.  “This essay is about…” doesn’t cut it.  “The life of Alexander the Great first caught my attention when I saw…I wondered to myself how his life impacts us today…” Now that’s a beginning of an essay! Say why you’re interested, or what you think about the issue, then present your main points.  Ta-da! Insta-introduction.  Once you get to the meat of the essay, outline things IN ORDER, in a well-organized way.  That’s it.  Every once in a while, throw in an “I think…” or “In my opinion…” This shows that you’re thinking about what you’re doing, and also, if you have something smart to say about what you’re writing about, the professor will be impressed.  Now you’re almost done.  It’s time for the conclusion.  This should be a wrap-up of your opinions and main points, with a nice snappy last sentence to add a bit of spice.  I can’t help you with the snappiness of the sentence, but it should have something to do with the a) larger meaning or philosophical point of the subject at hand or b) the massive world consequences of the event.  An example: “Despite the unfortunate lack of arms and a head, she still manages to convey the sense of power and strength that she was originally meant to represent.” (talking about the Nike of Samothrace, a sculpture) The key is to find something moving and intelligent to say at the end that will make your professor think, or at least be convinced that YOU thought.   

A couple final pieces of advice:

1. Reference everything you used for research in a bibliography if you don’t want to get nailed for plagiarism.
2. You might have to think about the opening and ending sentences for a few minutes before you come up with a good one that you like…don’t get discouraged.  Hooking the reader (i.e., your professor, who’ll be grading your paper…) in with a great opening and leaving them satisfied with a great ending is worth another three minutes.