Whether it’s an earth science essay on the ocean or a summary of The Ballad the of White Horse, writing essays can be tiring and difficult to finish. Depending on the type of essay, there are lots of tips and tricks to help you finish the assignment with confidence in your work. Some MODG students and graduates have given their tips on how to make the most of your essay writing.

Maria F.: Use bullet points for your outlines (they’re so helpful) and write down any information you can think of. It can be one or two lines per bullet point, that’s okay if it’s not perfect, you can edit it once you add the information to the essay. I find it easier to write whatever comes to mind first rather than trying to make the outline the final draft of the paper before you’ve even written it! Also note taking is important before the essay. You can always include the info in your outline, which saves a lot of time. As far as writing the essay itself, be creative. Use interesting words you’ve never used before. Fine a synonym finder, a thesaurus, anything that can expand your writing style and make it sound better. Also, timing yourself can be really motivational to help you get a lot done faster.

Philip Roberts: If you don’t entirely understand the topic of the essay (for example, if the essay is on your interpretation of a novel), then reading a summary of the topic can help ensure that you fully understand it. Writing an outline (even a simple one) is helpful both to organize your thoughts and to properly structure your essay.

Ava Clare Joly: Always use an outline. It may not seem important or useful, but it is. It doesn’t have to be a super detailed outline, just something to highlight the main points of your paragraph. It helps me to have my main thoughts written down, and then I add in extra information.

Patrick Buehler: I would say prior research is a must. But what is really important is outlining everything you’ve researched and using that outline as the foundation for your paper.