One of the common tasks you might experience as a high school student is essay writing. It shows up everywhere, from homework to tests.
If you struggle with this, just know you’re not alone. In fact, about 41% of students who took the ACT in 2019 failed to meet the benchmark for college-level writing.
But what most people don’t realize is that they can improve if they follow the right tips. Let’s start with some of the top essay writing tips for high school students!
Practice Better Comprehension
One of the most important parts of writing an essay is having good comprehension. To be able to answer a question well, you should know exactly what it’s about.
You want to carefully read the prompt and break down its factors. This way, you can determine a list of topics you can discuss or address in your essay.
Moreover, this gives you an idea of how you should structure your essay. So, take your time to practice your comprehension skills through different questions and other similar activities.
Start with an Outline
When it comes to essays, most people will tell you to start with an outline for a reason. It serves as your primary guide to writing the essay and its content.
If you’re in a time crunch, you want to focus on keeping the format simple. This way, you can easily go through your ideas and categorize them accordingly.
Be sure you take note of your main idea throughout the process to avoid going too far off from your original thought. It also helps you keep everything cohesive as you go through different points.
Work on the Basics
A good essay isn’t only about the content, it also considers how well you understand basic language rules. It includes grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Improving in these aspects can help you keep your works polished and save you time during the proofreading process. Moreover, it teaches you how to validate your own work, helping you feel confident when you finish.
Note that these basics don’t only help you with essay writing, but it also applies when you take other English courses. You can even use it when you take the ACT Reading, English, or Writing tests!
Broaden Your Vocabulary
A broad vocabulary doesn’t only refer to knowing lots of words. Instead, it considers how well you understand each of them. This ensures you use them correctly and fit them well to your essay according to its tone and purpose.
Better vocabulary can also help make your essay seem put together since it means you know exactly what you mean when you write it down.
Always Consider the How
Writing an essay can come in different formats depending on the topic. But one constant thing is answering the question of how.
You want to be sure your readers have enough information and context to what you discuss. This way, your message comes across clearly and purposefully.
Improve Early with Essay Writing Tips for High School Students
Working on your writing skills at an early age can benefit you longer than you think. By starting with the right essay writing tips for high school students, you can focus on building a strong foundation for your skills. So, you can let it gradually improve along the way, all the way up to graduation day!
