Suggestions For Essay Writing

1. Use correct formats and procedures for citations (parenthetical documentation).
2. Have a creative title.
3. Have a works cited page.
4. Stick to your thesis. Do not wander.
5. Avoid plot summary except when absolutely necessary.
6. Get your facts straight. If you are not sure, do not write it.
7. Make specific references. Avoid vague generalizations.
8. Write in the present tense whenever you are discussing literature.
9. Do not put yourself or your reader in your paper. (Do not use “I” or “you”, the first person and second person pronouns).
10. Use correct grammar, but try to vary your sentence structure and vocabulary.
11. Write formally. Avoid slang and contractions.
12. Always proofread your paper.
13. Listen to your editors.
14. Write with originality and depth.
15. Meet the page requirement.
16. Write with care and feeling.