English has got to be one of the most difficult, time-consuming subjects for everyone. Unfortunately, we all have to take this course for graduation. Down below, I share some of my English tips and tricks to help you throughout the course!
My biggest personal tips:
1. Make your thesis strong.
When you are beginning to write an essay, write your thesis first. Then, rewrite the thesis several times until you have crafted a sentence with a subject, claim and the points supporting your claim. These components must be present for an effective thesis. Add impactful diction to make the thesis stronger.
Subject + claim + points = thesis
Subject - the general topic of the paper (ex. plants)
Claim - the argument you are making (plants increase biodiversity)
Points - the points supporting the claim (plants increase biodiversity through their ability to enrich their environment with nutrients and symbiotic relationships — not an impactful thesis but you get the idea right?)
2. Structure.
Follow the structure outlined in the link below. Make sure to introduce your points at the beginning of each paragraph along with their subpoints! This makes a very strong essay!
3. Communicate.
The sole purpose of your essay is to communicate a claim to the readers. Have a friend read your essay and see if they truly understand the meaning. If a sentence doesn’t make sense to them initially, reword the sentence to communicate your ideas more clearly. You want to make sure that your reader can read the essay without having to pause and re-read certain sentences!
4. Vocabulary.
Is your vocabulary and diction lacking? That’s okay! Write your essay the way you are able to and highlight words that don’t sound that great nor formal. Then, use online sources to find impactful synonyms for the highlighted words! However, use appropriate synonyms that effectively elevate the sentence.
5. Connections.
It is very important for your conclusion to be strong. The best way to make an effective conclusion is to make a connection to society. After re-stating important points, answer this question in your conclusion: what does your analysis say about our society?
6. Content distribution.
All your body paragraphs must be equal in importance for an effective essay! If the first paragraph starts off strong, but the last paragraph is weak, the entire essay will be affected. So, make sure that you make equally important points throughout your essay!
Though these tips will help you throughout the course, the most efficient method to increase your English grade is to read! Thus, we suggest scheduling in 15-30 minutes of reading every day. Trust us, you will see improvement in your writing :)
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