Can I use first person in my paper? Is second person ever acceptable?
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It is best to stay in third person. Since you are the author of
the essay, your reader will automatically assume that the non-cited
claims in your paper are your own. Additionally, second person is
too direct and usually off-putting to the reader.
Should I introduce new information in my conclusion? What information should go in my conclusion?
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Your conclusion should not contain totally new information, but
you should go further than just restating the claims in your essay.
You should try to take the reader to the outside world by letting
them know why your essay is a worthwhile document for people to
read.
Should my thesis be specific or general?
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Your thesis should be specific enough to outline the purpose of
the essay, but you should not spell out all your claims in great
detail. Leave that for the body of your essay.
Present or past tense?
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Past tense is the easiest tense in which to write, but you want
to write about works of fiction or poems as if they are living
documents. So, present tense would work for essays that deal with
this type of subject matter.
Do I need an outline before writing?
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You should find a pre-writing method that works for you. There
is no set rule for this process, but pre-writing is important and
will help you organize your essay.
When should I use block quotations?
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You should use block quotations sparingly and use only the part
of the quotation that is most valuable to your claim.
How many quotations should I use? How do I introduce a quotation?
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No more than one-third of your paper should be comprised of
quotations. Primarily, your paper should be your own words and
thoughts. You should never include a quotation without explaining
its significance and blending it with your own writing.
Additionally, you should try to maintain focus and only use the
most relevant part of the quotation in your essay.
Can I switch verb tense?
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Usually you do not want to switch verb tenses, but if you are
writing about a work as if it is a living document in present
tense, then it is okay to switch to past tense when you are no
longer writing about the document.
How much time should I spend on summary?
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Unless you are writing a summary essay, your essay should have
very little summary in it. It is more important to analyze the work
you are addressing.
What is the best way to make clear transitions?
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The best way to make clear transitions is to remember to connect
the topic and concluding sentence of each paragraph directly to
your thesis. If you do this, your paper will flow smoothly.
How do I avoid sounding redundant?
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The best way to avoid sound redundant is to dig deep into your
subject matter. Go past the obvious and try to look at your claims
from different angles.
How long should my thesis be? Should my thesis come at the beginning or end of my introduction?
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Your thesis should be long enough to fully address the essay's
prompt. This may mean that your thesis is longer than one sentence.
Additionally, it is usually a good idea to state your thesis at the
end of your introduction paragraph and not the beginning.
What should I include in my introduction?
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Your introduction should begin with an engaging sentence. You
should then briefly touch on the main ideas of your essay and end
your introduction with your thesis.
Am I allowed to ask questions?
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You should avoid using questions in your paper because it is
your job to be an expert about your subject matter. Additionally,
you should avoid questions in your paper because it discounts your
authority.
How do I know when to start a new paragraph?
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You should start a new paragraph when you are switching to a new
subject. Remember that a balanced paragraph is usually 3 to 5
sentences long.
My writing prompt seems very broad, how do I decide on a topic?
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Be as specific as possible, but remember to choose a subject
that is open enough to fulfill your essay's page requirement.
What is the best way to edit my paper?
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There are numerous ways to edit your paper. We recommend reading
your paper aloud to a friend. Additionally, reading your paper
backwards is a good idea, starting with your last sentence.
I am not passionate about the topic I am writing about, what should I do?
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Since writing an essay is such an involved task, we recommend
choosing a topic that interests you. If the subject matter of the
prompt does not interest you at all, try to find a way to connect
to the subject matter and go from there.
How do I avoid passive voice?
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The best way to avoid passive is to write in declarative
statements with a clear subject and active verbs.