importance of clear writing essay

Importance of Clarity and Conciseness in Writing Essay

Introduction.

The importance of clear and concise writing cannot be overstated. Although clarity and conciseness are words that are often used together and sometimes interchangeably, there is a fundamental difference between them. Clarity means writing in a way that is easy to understand. Writing clearly entails presenting information so that readers understand exactly what the author intends. On the other hand, conciseness means conveying a message using only the necessary words. Being concise means being mindful of one’s choice of words. It is important to be clear and concise in writing to make text easy to understand, hold the reader’s attention, and save time.

One reason why writers should strive to write clearly and concisely is to produce understandable material. A writer’s communication style affects the understandability of a text. It is essential to note that the manner in which a message is formulated influences the way it is received (Holmberg & Sperlich, 2021). When an author’s writing is dense, it becomes difficult for readers to absorb. For instance, using complex sentence structure when writing to a general audience makes a text incomprehensible. Additionally, using many unnecessary words diminishes the impact of the more important words. Such text is likely to be dismissed by the audience as superfluous. For instance, when students are excessively wordy in their essays, teachers assume that they are simply trying to hit the word count. In general, writers should communicate as clearly and concisely as possible to enhance audience understanding.

Besides making the text easy to understand, clarity and conciseness in writing hold the reader’s attention. A person may start to read a piece of writing but quickly abandon it if they find it dense or verbose. Unclear writing easily loses the audience’s attention because the text becomes difficult to read. Similarly, long-winded setups and irrelevant details could easily become annoying to readers who simply want to get to the point of a piece of writing (Hotaling, 2020). For instance, some readers fail to finish novels that are included unnecessarily lengthy descriptions that do not add to the plot of the story. Other readers have short attention spans that cannot sustain prolonged periods of reading dense or redundant texts. Therefore, to keep the audience interested, writing should be clear and concise.

Another reason for maintaining clarity and conciseness in writing is to save time. Time is a precious resource for both writers and readers. Unclear or wordy messages waste the time of the writer as well as the readers. Time spent writing unnecessarily long messages could otherwise have been spent proofreading the texts and making them more palatable to readers. Similarly, succinct writing saves time for readers as they are able to quickly make sense of a piece of literature. Ranaut (2018) comments that conciseness is necessary in business writing so that workers can be productive. Unclear writing forces the audience to waste time asking for clarification or further instructions. Writing should be done clearly and efficiently to avoid time wastage.

In summary, clarity and conciseness are integral components of writing. Regardless of the target audience of a piece of writing, writers must recognize the importance of efficient word choice. Writing style affects the way a message is understood, and writers must be conscious of the words they use and how they use them. The mark of a good writer is one who can communicate succinctly.

Holmberg, H. C., & Sperlich, B. (2021). Some personal advice concerning how to write precise, concise and eloquent research articles. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living , 3 , 648929.

Hotaling, S. (2020). Simple rules for concise scientific writing. Limnology and Oceanography Letters , 5 (6), 379-383.

Ranaut, B. (2018). Importance of good business writing skills. International Journal of Language and Linguistics , 5 (2), 32-41.

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OASIS: Writing Center

Scholarly voice: precision, clarity, and academic expression.

According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA, 2020), academic writing should be concise and clear, and using words frugally creates a more readable paper. APA states, “Some writers may fear that writing concisely will make their papers too short  However, adding extraneous material or ‘fluff’ to make your paper longer will dilute its focus and meaning and will not improve your chances of publication or of getting a favorable grade” (p. 113). Students should aim to write clearly and concisely (see APA 7, Section 4.4) and eliminate wordiness and redundancy (see APA 7, Section 4.5).

Read the following subpages to master the skills needed to be a precise, clear, smooth, and economic writer.

Engaging Writing Video Playlist

Note that these videos were created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

• Engaging Writing: What Does It Mean to Engage Your Reader (video transcript)
• Engaging Writing: Overview of Tools for Engaging Readers (video transcript)
• Engaging Writing: Tool 1—Syntax (video transcript)
• Engaging Writing: Tool 2—Sentence Structure (video transcript)
• Engaging Writing: Tool 3—Punctuation (video transcript)

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Frequently asked questions

Why is structure important in an essay.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Frequently asked questions: Writing an essay

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

If you’re not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.

The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general.

If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

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You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

Module 8: Revising a Research Paper

Writing clearly, learning objectives.

Identify hallmarks of clear writing

Clear writing:

• is clear thinking on paper
• contains specific information which is relevant to the reader
• keeps to plain language principles
• is logically arranged and easy to follow

Clear writing is effortless reading that makes you want to read more. It is clear and concise, uses short sentences and simple words. It keeps to the facts and is easy to read and to understand.

Two factors to consider when writing clearly are the intended audience and purpose or reason for writing.  If you’re writing a letter to your grandparents to thank them for a birthday present, then the audience and purpose will be completely different than if you’re writing a cover letter for a prospective employer.

If you know that your audience is familiar with your subject, then you won’t need as many details to make the subject clear.

If you’re writing an essay about a short story for your college instructor, then you can assume that he/she is familiar with the short story — you won’t need much background information or summary of the short story .  Those details might be necessary, though, if the essay is supposed to be written for your peers who haven’t read the short story.

In each of these cases, clarity would depend on your audience.

Think about what your audience knows about the situation or topic you’re writing about. Then, guide them through the information they need to know. To help you do this, try answering the following questions:

• Who is my audience?
• What does my audience already know about the subject?
• What does my audience need to know?
• What questions will my audience have?
• What’s the best outcome for our audience? What do I need to say to get this outcome?

Once you’ve established your audience, then consider your purpose or reason for writing this piece.

Are you trying to persuade your reader to change a viewpoint?  Are you explaining a concept or teaching a new idea?  Are you comparing and contrasting information from different articles?  Are you reporting a breaking story or a community event?

Determining the purpose for the writing can help you as you revise for clarity.  Is that purpose clear to your readers?

• In a persuasive essay, you’ll want to make sure that your own voice is heard clearly throughout and doesn’t get drowned out by outside sources.
• If the focus is to explain or teach, clarity will depend on giving steps in the correct order or not moving too quickly from one idea to the next.
• When you compare and contrast, it’s important that the reader can clearly find the two (or more!) items or ideas that you’re comparing and can also follow your organization.
• If you’re writing an article to report an event, you’ll want to eliminate bias as much as possible and stick to “just the facts” to make the story clear.
• Clear Writing and Plain Language. Authored by : Nick Wright. Located at : https://www.plainlanguage.gov/about/definitions/clear-writing-and-plain-language/ . License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright
• Writing Clearly. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

Clarity In Writing: Why It’s Important And How To Improve

• May 12, 2022

When you remove complexity, your content becomes easier to understand. Customers get the right message, at the right time, and in the right context. Every organization can benefit from the clarity that using plain language brings. When it comes to proposal writing, clarity is crucial for a successful outcome. Clarity can also help to establish credibility and trust with potential stakeholders. It demonstrates that you have a solid understanding of the proposal requirements.

What is clarity in writing?

Clarity in writing refers to being clear and concise to your intended audience. Clear writing communicates ideas effectively, without any ambiguity or confusion. It involves using plain language and avoiding jargon that might be unfamiliar to the reader. 

Clarity in writing also involves ensuring that the tone and style of the writing are appropriate for the audience. It ensures any supporting evidence or data is presented in a way that is easy to understand and relevant. 

Clarity in proposal writing can help to avoid misunderstandings or misinterpretations of your proposal.  Ultimately, a clear, well-written proposal can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of winning.  

Why is clarity in writing so important?

Clarity is essential to communicating your message clearly and using plain language underpins it. Plain language unlocks products and services for a wide range of customers, regardless of their literacy or education levels. The majority of people can clearly understand clear communication. It informs people in a straightforward way, with no room for misunderstanding.

Clarity is a critical element of effective proposal writing. It enables the reader to quickly and easily understand the message being conveyed. A proposal that lacks clarity can cause confusion and lead to misunderstandings. Which can significantly reduce its impact and effectiveness. 

Using proposal software will help to create content that is well-organized and structured. Clear communication typically uses short sentences, simple words, does not contain jargon and gets to the point quickly. The goal of clear communication is to improve or enhance the customer journey. The reader will see that you are communicating with them in an accessible and transparent way. This type of interaction goes a long way toward building trust and loyalty.

What is the cost of unclear communication?

Unclear or poor communication is bad for business. From wasting employee time and limiting employee engagement to losing bids and customers. Former Forrester Research senior VP and best-selling author, Josh Bernoff, studied the cost implications of bad business writing . He found that poor writing imposes what he calls a multibillion-dollar “tax” on US organizations. “America is spending 6% of total wages on time wasted attempting to get meaning out of poorly written material. Every company, every manager, every professional pays this tax, which consumes $396 billion of our national income.”

This is a jaw-dropping amount of money. But the worrying thing here is that this is just the cost of wasted time. Now imagine adding in the cost of lost business, customer churn, customer service queries and bad reviews. Suddenly the true cost of unclear messaging becomes even more serious.

8 reasons why clarity in writing is key 

Boosts your customer experience.

When we have a message that we want to get across, it’s easy to forget what the customer wants to hear.  It’s important to remember to tailor your sales pitch to your customer needs. When those areas line up, it is phenomenal. And you will have something that can truly win and create a great partnership.

Communication is central to the customer experience. Customers want to feel valued and organizations make them feel valued by telling them. Simple communications, and delivering clear messages make for solid customer experience management. The rewards of enhancing your customer experience are obvious. 75%  said they will spend more on a company that offers a great customer experience over cheaper competitors.   

Encourages customer loyalty

Satisfied customers are more likely to become loyal customers. Those who feel valued and informed are happy to stay with your brand. Clarity in writing fosters that feeling of appreciation. It ensures:

• You keep customers up to date
• They have ready access to the information they need
• They can navigate and understand the information
• Believe they have an open and transparent relationship with your brand

Reduces customer frustration

Today’s consumer is busy. They don’t want to spend unnecessary time trying to understand the overly-complicated instructions on their new flat-pack coffee table. Clarity at all points across the customer journey means you will never confuse your customers. Clear instructions, intuitive web copy, informative product care, and obvious consumer rights information. All of this leads to happy customers.

Removes friction points

The customer journey needs to be smooth. Any sticking points can lead to loss of bids or poor reviews. Clarity in writing can help to smooth out any rough edges in the customer experience. With clear messaging, you can direct customers easily to where they need to go. This ensures there are no problem points or obstacles that cause confusion. This smooth journey leads to a more streamlined customer experience.

Decreases product problems

The main goals of any product should be that it works and is easy to use. This is where clear messaging has a huge part to play. Advertising and marketing collateral should clearly represent the product – this is what you get. The clarity of that messaging should follow through to the actual product and how it works. If there are any issues with the product, you should communicate them clearly. Outline the problem and what the customer needs to do next. With consistent communication across the product journey, organizations can keep issues to a minimum. 

Reduces wasted time

If you provide customers with clear messaging about your organization, product, or service they will have fewer follow-up questions. Over half of consumers say the main reason they cannot resolve an issue on their own is that there is too little information online. Making easy-to-understand information readily available to your customers will reduce the number of queries you receive. 

Boosts competitive advantage

Good customer experience is one of the most significant assets an organization can have. According to a Zendesk study, 87% of American respondents said great customer service influenced them .  American Express research revealed that consumers are happy to spend up to 17% more to get that positive experience. Customers want to feel valued, and when organizations deliver poor customer experiences, people often choose to switch brands.

Saves money

We’ve highlighted how much poor communication or lack of clarity in writing is costing businesses. Making simple changes to your communications strategy can make big differences, including

• productivity increase,
• sales increase,
• winning more bids,
• customer loyalty,
• gain a competitive advantage,
• and your customer service team is not inundated with basic queries you could have answered with clearer messaging. 

8 plain language tips to improve the clarity of your writing 

• Keep sentences short: Don’t overfill your sentences. Break longer sentences into two or three shorter ones.
• Use simple words: Don’t use overly long or complicated words . The simpler, the better.
• Avoid jargon: Committee or tech speak isn’t widely accessible. Appeal to a wider audience with straightforward vocabulary .
• Assume people are reading from phone screens: Consumers today are using their phones for all kinds of brand interactions. With smaller screens, it’s even more important to keep your sentences and words short and simple.
• Lead with key information: Don’t hide your main point in the middle of your message. Ensure it is front and center so people don’t need to search for it.
• Write for people who have limited time: Get to the point quickly. Assume people are in a hurry and need pertinent information right away.
• Establish a review process: Build an internal process where key messaging is reviewed prior to publication.
• Be consistent: From tone of voice to basic grammar, your writing should be the same across all communication channels.

How can VT Writer help ensure your clarity in writing?

Using proposal software to help you align your communications can transform how your organization communicates. VT Writer provides instant measurable and scalable feedback to ensure consistency in your communications at an individual and organizational level.

VT Writer ensures that communication is clear and consistent and uses plain language as standard. 

• Flags jargon and complexity. VT Writer helps to simplify content and communications and helps to ensure you have a single tone of voice across the entire organization.
• Measures the readability and usability of content at scale. VT Writer highlights Watch Words specific to your role or industry. It also suggests improvements to sentence length, grade level, and passive voice. Over time, these prompts train content creators in your organization to write with clarity and consistency. 

Clear, accessible communication is the foundation of a good customer experience. In an age where the customer is central to an organization’s success, customer experience has never been more important. With simple, accurate and transparent communications, organizations can dramatically enhance their customer experience and ensure their customers feel valued. 

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9.3 Organizing Your Writing

Learning objectives.

• Understand how and why organizational techniques help writers and readers stay focused.
• Assess how and when to use chronological order to organize an essay.
• Recognize how and when to use order of importance to organize an essay.
• Determine how and when to use spatial order to organize an essay.

The method of organization you choose for your essay is just as important as its content. Without a clear organizational pattern, your reader could become confused and lose interest. The way you structure your essay helps your readers draw connections between the body and the thesis, and the structure also keeps you focused as you plan and write the essay. Choosing your organizational pattern before you outline ensures that each body paragraph works to support and develop your thesis.

This section covers three ways to organize body paragraphs:

• Chronological order
• Order of importance
• Spatial order

When you begin to draft your essay, your ideas may seem to flow from your mind in a seemingly random manner. Your readers, who bring to the table different backgrounds, viewpoints, and ideas, need you to clearly organize these ideas in order to help process and accept them.

A solid organizational pattern gives your ideas a path that you can follow as you develop your draft. Knowing how you will organize your paragraphs allows you to better express and analyze your thoughts. Planning the structure of your essay before you choose supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and targeted research.

Chronological Order

In Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , you learned that chronological arrangement has the following purposes:

• To explain the history of an event or a topic
• To tell a story or relate an experience
• To explain how to do or to make something
• To explain the steps in a process

Chronological order is mostly used in expository writing , which is a form of writing that narrates, describes, informs, or explains a process. When using chronological order, arrange the events in the order that they actually happened, or will happen if you are giving instructions. This method requires you to use words such as first , second , then , after that , later , and finally . These transition words guide you and your reader through the paper as you expand your thesis.

For example, if you are writing an essay about the history of the airline industry, you would begin with its conception and detail the essential timeline events up until present day. You would follow the chain of events using words such as first , then , next , and so on.

Writing at Work

At some point in your career you may have to file a complaint with your human resources department. Using chronological order is a useful tool in describing the events that led up to your filing the grievance. You would logically lay out the events in the order that they occurred using the key transition words. The more logical your complaint, the more likely you will be well received and helped.

Choose an accomplishment you have achieved in your life. The important moment could be in sports, schooling, or extracurricular activities. On your own sheet of paper, list the steps you took to reach your goal. Try to be as specific as possible with the steps you took. Pay attention to using transition words to focus your writing.

Keep in mind that chronological order is most appropriate for the following purposes:

• Writing essays containing heavy research
• Writing essays with the aim of listing, explaining, or narrating
• Writing essays that analyze literary works such as poems, plays, or books

When using chronological order, your introduction should indicate the information you will cover and in what order, and the introduction should also establish the relevance of the information. Your body paragraphs should then provide clear divisions or steps in chronology. You can divide your paragraphs by time (such as decades, wars, or other historical events) or by the same structure of the work you are examining (such as a line-by-line explication of a poem).

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that describes a process you are familiar with and can do well. Assume that your reader is unfamiliar with the procedure. Remember to use the chronological key words, such as first , second , then , and finally .

Order of Importance

Recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” that order of importance is best used for the following purposes:

• Persuading and convincing
• Ranking items by their importance, benefit, or significance
• Illustrating a situation, problem, or solution

Most essays move from the least to the most important point, and the paragraphs are arranged in an effort to build the essay’s strength. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to begin with your most important supporting point, such as in an essay that contains a thesis that is highly debatable. When writing a persuasive essay, it is best to begin with the most important point because it immediately captivates your readers and compels them to continue reading.

For example, if you were supporting your thesis that homework is detrimental to the education of high school students, you would want to present your most convincing argument first, and then move on to the less important points for your case.

Some key transitional words you should use with this method of organization are most importantly , almost as importantly , just as importantly , and finally .

During your career, you may be required to work on a team that devises a strategy for a specific goal of your company, such as increasing profits. When planning your strategy you should organize your steps in order of importance. This demonstrates the ability to prioritize and plan. Using the order of importance technique also shows that you can create a resolution with logical steps for accomplishing a common goal.

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that discusses a passion of yours. Your passion could be music, a particular sport, filmmaking, and so on. Your paragraph should be built upon the reasons why you feel so strongly. Briefly discuss your reasons in the order of least to greatest importance.

Spatial Order

As stated in Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , spatial order is best used for the following purposes:

• Helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it
• Evoking a scene using the senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound)
• Writing a descriptive essay

Spatial order means that you explain or describe objects as they are arranged around you in your space, for example in a bedroom. As the writer, you create a picture for your reader, and their perspective is the viewpoint from which you describe what is around you.

The view must move in an orderly, logical progression, giving the reader clear directional signals to follow from place to place. The key to using this method is to choose a specific starting point and then guide the reader to follow your eye as it moves in an orderly trajectory from your starting point.

Pay attention to the following student’s description of her bedroom and how she guides the reader through the viewing process, foot by foot.

Attached to my bedroom wall is a small wooden rack dangling with red and turquoise necklaces that shimmer as you enter. Just to the right of the rack is my window, framed by billowy white curtains. The peace of such an image is a stark contrast to my desk, which sits to the right of the window, layered in textbooks, crumpled papers, coffee cups, and an overflowing ashtray. Turning my head to the right, I see a set of two bare windows that frame the trees outside the glass like a 3D painting. Below the windows is an oak chest from which blankets and scarves are protruding. Against the wall opposite the billowy curtains is an antique dresser, on top of which sits a jewelry box and a few picture frames. A tall mirror attached to the dresser takes up most of the wall, which is the color of lavender.

The paragraph incorporates two objectives you have learned in this chapter: using an implied topic sentence and applying spatial order. Often in a descriptive essay, the two work together.

The following are possible transition words to include when using spatial order:

• Just to the left or just to the right
• On the left or on the right
• Across from
• A little further down
• To the south, to the east, and so on
• A few yards away
• Turning left or turning right

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph using spatial order that describes your commute to work, school, or another location you visit often.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Key Takeaways

• The way you organize your body paragraphs ensures you and your readers stay focused on and draw connections to, your thesis statement.
• A strong organizational pattern allows you to articulate, analyze, and clarify your thoughts.
• Planning the organizational structure for your essay before you begin to search for supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and directed research.
• Chronological order is most commonly used in expository writing. It is useful for explaining the history of your subject, for telling a story, or for explaining a process.
• Order of importance is most appropriate in a persuasion paper as well as for essays in which you rank things, people, or events by their significance.
• Spatial order describes things as they are arranged in space and is best for helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it; it creates a dominant impression.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Home » The Importance of Structuring Your Essay: Creating a Solid Outline

The Importance of Structuring Your Essay: Creating a Solid Outline

Introduction

Writing an essay can sometimes feel like an intimidating endeavor. When confronted with a blank page and a multitude of thoughts swirling in your mind, it’s natural to feel a sense of uncertainty and struggle to articulate your ideas effectively. However, there is a valuable tool that can assist you in navigating this process and ensuring that your essay is well-structured and cohesive: creating a solid outline.

A. Hook: The Significance of Organization

Imagine entering a room that is meticulously organized. Each item has its designated place, and there is a clear path to move around. You feel a sense of ease and clarity as you navigate the space. Now, envision a cluttered room, where objects are haphazardly strewn about, obstructing your movement and leaving you feeling disoriented and overwhelmed. The same principle applies to essay writing. Just as organization brings order to a physical space, structuring your essay through the use of an outline brings coherence and structure to your thoughts.

B. Background on Essay Writing

Before delving into the importance of essay structure and outlining, it is essential to understand the purpose and nature of essay writing. Essays are a common form of academic writing that allow individuals to express their ideas, analyze information, and provide arguments or opinions on a specific topic. They serve as a means of communication, enabling writers to convey their thoughts effectively to readers.

C. Thesis Statement: The Value of a Solid Essay Outline

A well-crafted essay outline serves as a roadmap that guides the writer throughout the entire writing process. It acts as a skeleton, providing a framework for organizing ideas, developing arguments, and presenting evidence. A solid outline ensures that your essay has a logical flow, maintains focus, and effectively communicates your message to the reader. It is an invaluable tool that facilitates the creation of a well-structured, coherent, and impactful essay.

D. Preview of Key Points

In this blog post, we will explore the significance of creating a solid outline for your essay. We will discuss how a well-structured outline enhances the organization and clarity of your writing, saves you time during the writing process, and ensures a smooth flow of ideas. Additionally, we will provide step-by-step guidance on how to create an effective essay outline, including pre-writing strategies, formulating a thesis statement, identifying main points, and selecting appropriate organizational strategies. Furthermore, we will discuss the importance of refining and revising your outline and provide examples and templates to assist you in implementing these strategies effectively.

By the end of this blog post, you will understand the importance of structuring your essay and creating a solid outline. You will be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to enhance your essay-writing skills and produce high-quality, well-organized essays that captivate and engage your readers. Let’s embark on this journey of discovering the power of a solid essay outline and how it can transform your writing experience.

Understanding Essay Structure

A. definition of essay structure.

When it comes to writing an essay, structure refers to the organization and arrangement of ideas within your piece. It provides a framework that allows your thoughts to flow logically and coherently. Essay structure encompasses various elements, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each section has a specific purpose and contributes to the overall development and presentation of your ideas.

B. The Role of an Outline

An outline is a tool that helps you create a solid structure for your essay. It serves as a blueprint, guiding the progression of your thoughts and ensuring that you stay focused on your main topic. By outlining your essay, you establish a clear roadmap that helps you maintain coherence and avoid tangents or rambling.

The outline allows you to see the big picture of your essay before diving into the writing process. It helps you organize your ideas and determine the most effective way to present them. An outline acts as a foundation for your essay, providing a structure that supports the development of your arguments and ensures a logical flow of information.

C. Key Elements of Essay Structure

To understand essay structure better, let’s explore the key elements that comprise it:

• Introduction: The introduction serves as the opening of your essay and sets the tone for the entire piece. It captures the reader’s attention, provides background information, and presents your thesis statement. A well-crafted introduction should be engaging, concise, and clearly outline the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.
• Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs make up the main content of your essay. They develop and support your thesis statement by presenting evidence, examples, and arguments. Each body paragraph focuses on a specific idea or aspect related to your topic. It is crucial to organize your body paragraphs in a logical manner, ensuring a smooth transition between ideas and maintaining coherence throughout your essay.
• Topic Sentences and Supporting Evidence: Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the main point or argument of that paragraph. The topic sentence provides a clear focus and acts as a guide for the rest of the paragraph. To support your topic sentence, you should include relevant evidence, such as examples, facts, or quotations. This evidence helps validate your claims and strengthens the overall argument of your essay.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final section of your essay. It summarizes your main points, restates your thesis statement, and leaves the reader with a lasting impression. A well-crafted conclusion should provide a sense of closure and reiterate the significance of your topic. It is an opportunity to leave your reader with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action.

Understanding these key elements of essay structure is crucial for creating a well-organized and coherent piece of writing. An effective essay structure allows your ideas to flow naturally and ensures that your arguments are presented in a logical and persuasive manner. By utilizing an outline, you can plan and visualize the structure of your essay before diving into the writing process, enabling you to produce a more polished and well-structured piece of work.

Advantages of Creating a Solid Outline

Creating a solid outline before diving into the actual writing process offers numerous advantages. Let’s explore the key benefits of outlining your essay.

A. Organization and Coherence

One of the primary advantages of creating a solid outline is the enhanced organization and coherence it brings to your essay. An outline provides a clear structure for your ideas, ensuring that they are presented in a logical and systematic manner. It helps you arrange your thoughts and arguments in a way that flows smoothly, making it easier for your readers to follow your line of thinking.

By organizing your ideas in a structured outline, you can identify any gaps in your logic or areas that require further development. This allows you to refine your arguments and ensure that your essay maintains a cohesive and coherent narrative. Without a solid outline, you may find yourself meandering between different ideas or losing focus, resulting in a disjointed and confusing essay.

B. Time-Saving

Another significant advantage of outlining your essay is the time it saves during the writing process. By having a clear roadmap provided by your outline, you eliminate the need to constantly stop and think about what comes next. The outline acts as a guide, helping you stay on track and maintain a consistent flow of ideas.

With an outline in place, you can focus on writing each section or paragraph without getting stuck or experiencing writer’s block. It provides a structure that streamlines the writing process, making it more efficient and allowing you to make better use of your time. Instead of contemplating the overall organization of your essay as you write, you can devote your energy to crafting well-developed arguments and providing supporting evidence.

C. Flow and Logical Progression

An effective outline ensures that your essay maintains a smooth flow and logical progression of ideas. It helps you connect the different sections and paragraphs, creating seamless transitions that guide the reader through your argument.

Through the use of topic sentences and subpoints in your outline, you can establish a clear hierarchy of ideas and ensure that each point is introduced and supported in a coherent manner. This logical progression allows your readers to follow your thought process and understand the relationships between different concepts or arguments.

Moreover, an outline enables you to evaluate the order in which you present your ideas. You can rearrange and reorganize your outline to create a more compelling and persuasive flow of information. By considering the best sequence for presenting your arguments, you can build upon each point and lead your readers to a logical conclusion.

D. Flexibility and Adaptability

While an outline provides structure, it is important to note that it is not set in stone. One of the advantages of using an outline is the flexibility it offers. As you delve into the writing process, you may encounter new ideas or find that certain points require further exploration. With an outline, you can easily incorporate these adjustments and adapt your essay accordingly.

If you find that a certain section needs more supporting evidence or that a particular argument is better suited for a different part of your essay, you can revise your outline accordingly. This flexibility allows you to refine and improve your essay as you progress, ensuring that it remains well-organized and cohesive.

E. Enhanced Clarity and Focus

By creating a solid outline, you gain a clearer understanding of your essay’s structure and purpose. It helps you define your main points and ensures that each section of your essay contributes to your overall argument. This clarity and focus not only benefit you as the writer but also make it easier for your readers to comprehend your ideas.

An outline helps you stay on track and avoid tangents or irrelevant information. It acts as a compass, guiding you toward your intended destination. With a clear roadmap provided by your outline, you can maintain a concise and focused approach, eliminating unnecessary digressions and ensuring that your essay remains concise and to the point.

Overall, creating a solid outline for your essay offers several advantages. It enhances the organization and coherence of your writing, saving you valuable time and effort. By outlining your essay, you can establish a logical flow of ideas, ensuring that your arguments are presented in a compelling and well-structured manner. The flexibility and adaptability of an outline allow you to incorporate new insights and refine your essay as you progress. Moreover, outlining your essay provides you with enhanced clarity and focus, enabling you to communicate your ideas more effectively to your readers. Embracing the practice of creating a solid outline will undoubtedly elevate the quality of your essay and improve your overall writing process.

Steps to Create an Effective Essay Outline

A. pre-writing.

Before diving into the process of creating an essay outline, it is essential to engage in pre-writing activities that will help you gather relevant information, conduct research, and brainstorm ideas. These steps lay the groundwork for an effective outline and provide a solid foundation for your essay.

• Gathering Relevant Information: Start by identifying the key sources of information related to your topic. This may include textbooks, scholarly articles, reputable websites, or interviews. Ensure that the sources you choose are reliable and provide credible information. Take notes on important concepts, arguments, or evidence that you come across during your research.
• Conducting Research: Dive deeper into your topic by conducting research to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Look for different perspectives and arguments related to your topic. This research will help you develop a well-rounded and informed essay. Remember to keep track of the sources you use for referencing purposes.
• Brainstorming Ideas: Take time to brainstorm ideas and jot down your initial thoughts on the topic. Consider the main points you want to discuss and any supporting details or examples that come to mind. Freewriting or creating a mind map can help you generate ideas and connections between different concepts. This step will assist you in developing a clear direction for your essay.

B. Thesis Statement and Main Points

Once you have gathered relevant information and brainstormed ideas, it is time to craft a strong thesis statement and identify the main points that will support your argument. The thesis statement acts as the focal point of your essay, guiding the development of your outline.

• Developing a Strong Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main argument or point you intend to make in your essay. It should be concise, specific, and arguable. A strong thesis statement provides a roadmap for your essay and sets the tone for the entire piece. It helps you stay focused on your main argument while developing your outline.
• Identifying Main Points: Based on your thesis statement, identify the main points that will support your argument. These main points should be distinct and relevant to your topic. Consider the most compelling ideas or arguments that strengthen your thesis statement. Aim for three to five main points, depending on the length and complexity of your essay.

C. Subpoints and Evidence

Once you have identified your main points, it is essential to develop subpoints and gather supporting evidence for each main point. Subpoints provide further explanation, analysis, or examples that substantiate your main argument. Supporting evidence adds credibility to your claims and strengthens the overall quality of your essay.

• Identifying Subpoints: Under each main point, identify subpoints that contribute to the development of that particular argument. These subpoints should be relevant and provide more specific information or analysis. Think about what details, examples, or explanations are necessary to support your main argument effectively.
• Finding Supporting Evidence: Gather supporting evidence to reinforce your subpoints and main arguments. This evidence can take the form of quotes, statistics, research findings, or examples from reputable sources. Ensure that the evidence you use is reliable, up-to-date, and directly supports your claims. Cite your sources accurately to give credit to the original authors and to avoid plagiarism.

D. Organizational Strategies

Once you have developed your main points, subpoints, and supporting evidence, it is crucial to consider the most appropriate organizational strategy for your essay. Different organizational techniques, such as chronological order, cause and effect, or problem-solution, help structure your outline and determine the flow of your arguments.

• Chronological Order: This organizational strategy arranges your points and evidence based on the order in which events occurred. It is particularly useful when discussing historical topics or narratives that unfold over time.
• Cause and Effect: This strategy explores the relationship between causes and their corresponding effects. It helps you analyze the reasons behind certain phenomena and their consequences.
• Problem-Solution: In this organizational approach, you present a problem or issue, followed by potential solutions or recommendations. It is commonly used in persuasive or argumentative essays addressing real-world problems.

Choose the most appropriate organizational strategy that aligns with your topic and the nature of your arguments. Consider the logical progression of ideas and how they connect to ensure a coherent and cohesive essay.

By following these steps, you can create an effective essay outline that provides a clear roadmap for your writing process. Remember to review and refine your outline as needed, ensuring that it accurately reflects your arguments and supports the overall structure of your essay.

Refining and Revising the Outline

Creating an initial essay outline is an important first step, but it’s equally crucial to refine and revise your outline as you progress through the writing process. Refining and revising your outline allows you to clarify your ideas, improve the organization and coherence of your essay, and ensure that your arguments are presented effectively. In this section, we will explore the key steps involved in refining and revising your essay outline.

A. Reviewing and reorganizing:

Once you have created your initial outline, take the time to review and assess its effectiveness. Read through each section and evaluate the clarity and coherence of your ideas. Consider whether the order of your main points and subpoints is logical and whether each section flows smoothly into the next. Look for any gaps or inconsistencies in your outline and make notes on areas that require improvement.

During this review process, you may find it necessary to reorganize your outline. Sometimes, as you delve deeper into your topic, you may discover that certain sections should be moved or reordered to improve the overall structure. Don’t be afraid to rearrange the sections of your outline to create a more coherent and persuasive essay.

B. Adding or removing sections:

As you review your outline, you may also identify areas where additional sections or subpoints are needed to strengthen your arguments or provide further clarification. If you find that a particular point requires more extensive discussion or evidence, consider adding a new section or subpoint to accommodate it. Similarly, if you come across sections that are redundant or not as relevant to your thesis statement, be willing to remove or condense them.

The flexibility of the outline allows you to adapt and adjust as you refine your ideas and gain a clearer understanding of how your arguments should unfold. Remember that your outline is a dynamic tool, and it should reflect the evolving nature of your thoughts and the requirements of your essay.

C. Seeking feedback:

Obtaining feedback on your outline can greatly enhance the quality of your essay. Share your outline with trusted peers, instructors, or writing centers and ask for their input. They can provide valuable insights, pointing out areas where your arguments may need further development or suggesting alternative organizational strategies.

When seeking feedback, be open to constructive criticism and different perspectives. Consider the suggestions provided and evaluate how they align with your overall goals for the essay. Incorporate the feedback that resonates with you and helps strengthen your arguments and structure.

Furthermore, seeking feedback is not a one-time endeavor. As you progress through the writing process, continue to refine and revise your outline based on the feedback received. Regularly revisit your outline and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it aligns with the evolving direction of your essay.

By refining and revising your outline, you will develop a more polished and effective roadmap for your essay. Your ideas will become clearer, the organization will be more coherent, and the overall impact of your writing will be heightened.

Remember that the outline is a tool to guide your writing process, but it should also allow for flexibility and adaptability. Be willing to make changes, add or remove sections, and seek feedback to refine your outline and ultimately enhance the quality of your essay.

Examples and Templates

When it comes to creating an essay outline, having examples and templates can be incredibly helpful. They provide you with visual representations and practical frameworks that can serve as starting points for your own outline. In this section, we will explore the importance of examples and templates and provide guidance on how to utilize them effectively.

Essay outlines/templates

When using sample outlines, it’s important to remember that they should not be copied verbatim. Instead, treat them as references and adapt them to suit your own ideas and arguments. Use them as a starting point to understand the structure and organization of an essay, and then tailor them to fit your unique perspective and writing style.

There are various outline formats you can choose from when creating your essay outline. Understanding these formats and their advantages will help you select the most suitable one for your needs. The two commonly used outline formats are alphanumeric and decimal.

• Alphanumeric outline format: This format uses a combination of numbers, letters, and Roman numerals to denote the hierarchy of ideas. It typically follows the pattern of I., A., 1., a., i., etc. Alphanumeric outlines are often used for formal and structured essays.
• Decimal outline format: The decimal outline format employs a system of numbers only. It uses a decimal point system to indicate the hierarchy of ideas, such as 1.0, 1.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, and so on. Decimal outlines are known for their precision and can be particularly useful for complex essays with multiple levels of subpoints.

When selecting an outline format, consider the complexity of your essay and the level of detail you want to incorporate. Both formats can effectively organize your ideas, so choose the one that feels most comfortable to you and best suits the requirements of your essay.

Alphanumeric Outline Format:

I. Introduction A. Attention Grabber B. Background Information C. Thesis Statement

II. Analysis of the Problem A. Description of the Problem B. Causes of the Problem C. Effects of the Problem

III. Proposed Solutions A. Solution 1 1. Explanation of the Solution 2. Benefits of the Solution B. Solution 2 1. Explanation of the Solution 2. Benefits of the Solution C. Solution 3 1. Explanation of the Solution 2. Benefits of the Solution

IV. Implementation Plan A. Step 1 B. Step 2 C. Step 3

V. Counterarguments and Rebuttals A. Counterargument 1 1. Rebuttal B. Counterargument 2 1. Rebuttal C. Counterargument 3 1. Rebuttal

VI. Conclusion A. Restate Thesis Statement B. Summary of Main Points C. Future Research

Decimal Outline Format:

1. Introduction 1.1 Attention Grabber 1.2 Background Information 1.3 Thesis Statement

2. Analysis of the Problem 2.1 Description of the Problem 2.2 Causes of the Problem 2.3 Effects of the Problem

3. Proposed Solutions 3.1 Solution 1 3.1.1 Explanation of the Solution 3.1.2 Benefits of the Solution 3.2 Solution 2 3.2.1 Explanation of the Solution 3.2.2 Benefits of the Solution 3.3 Solution 3 3.3.1 Explanation of the Solution 3.3.2 Benefits of the Solution

4. Implementation Plan 4.1 Step 1 4.2 Step 2 4.3 Step 3

5. Counterarguments and Rebuttals 5.1 Counterargument 1 5.1.1 Rebuttal 5.2 Counterargument 2 5.2.1 Rebuttal 5.3 Counterargument 3 5.3.1 Rebuttal

6. Conclusion 6.1 Restate Thesis Statement 6.2 Summary of Main Points 6.3 Future Research

In today’s fast-paced and information-driven world, effective communication through writing has become more important than ever. Whether you are a student, a professional, or an aspiring writer, mastering the art of essay writing is crucial for conveying your ideas and arguments with clarity and impact. One key aspect of essay writing that should never be overlooked is the process of structuring your essay and creating a solid outline.

A well-structured essay is like a well-constructed building. It has a strong foundation, clear pillars of support, and a cohesive framework that holds everything together. Without proper structuring, an essay can become a jumbled mess, confusing the reader and diluting the impact of your message. This is where creating a solid outline comes into play.

The process of creating an outline before writing your essay has several important advantages. Firstly, it helps you organize your thoughts and ideas. By outlining the main points and supporting details, you gain a clear overview of the structure of your essay. This organization allows you to present your arguments in a logical sequence, making it easier for the reader to follow your thought process and understand your message.

Moreover, a solid outline enhances the coherence of your essay. It ensures that your ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to another, maintaining a consistent thread throughout the entire piece. With a well-structured outline, you can identify any gaps or inconsistencies in your arguments early on and address them effectively. This results in a more cohesive and persuasive essay that resonates with the reader.

Creating an outline also saves you valuable time during the writing process. It serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the various sections of your essay. With a clear plan in place, you can focus your energy on developing and expanding upon your ideas, rather than getting lost in the midst of disorganized thoughts. The outline keeps you on track, ensuring that you cover all the necessary points in a systematic and efficient manner.

Furthermore, a solid outline facilitates effective research. It helps you identify the key areas where you need supporting evidence or examples to strengthen your arguments. With a clear plan of what information you need to gather, you can streamline your research process and find the relevant sources more efficiently. This targeted approach to research saves you time and ensures that your essay is well-supported and credible.

Structuring your essay and creating a solid outline is a fundamental step in the essay-writing process. It provides organization, coherence, and clarity to your writing, allowing your ideas to shine and your arguments to be presented effectively. By taking the time to craft a well-thought-out outline, you set yourself up for success, saving time, enhancing the flow of your essay, and ultimately producing a more impactful piece of writing.

So, the next time you sit down to write an essay, remember the importance of structuring your thoughts and ideas with a solid outline. Embrace the power of organization, coherence, and efficiency. Your essays will become more persuasive, engaging, and memorable, leaving a lasting impression on your readers. Explore the possibilities offered by reputable essay writing services to unlock your full writing potential and achieve your academic or professional goals. Happy writing!

By Evelyn Edwards

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Writing Center

Strategic enrollment management and student success, conclusions and why they matter, a guide to what they are, how they work, and how to master them, conclusions vs. introductions.

Similarly to introductions, conclusions exist to guide readers. While introductions guide readers into essays, conclusions guide readers out. These functions are equally important in the structure of an essay. A conclusion is a paragraph (or set of paragraphs) that comes at the very end of an essay and it must restate the thesis (say what the essay has argued) and summarize the argument.

Think about a conclusion from the reader's point of view as the end of a conversation

Hey!   Don't hang up on me!

Sometimes it's hard to know what to say in a conclusion. after all, you've just written the essay, what else can possibly be left to say? A lot of writers feel this way. However, an essay without a conclusion is similar to hanging up the phone the instant after you've told your friend a great story - your friend is going to think about how rude you were rather than about your story. In a phone conversation, you've got to wrap things up and say goodbye, this is also true for an essay. Make sure to provide your reader with a summary.

• A summary:   Since good stories are complex and can't be learned by heart the first time, give your reader a device to help remember and master your story (your argument).
• A sense of relevance:   Help the reader understand the point of your story by explaining the relevance of it.

How conclusions work

What does it really mean to say that a conclusion resembles the end of a phone conversation?

• All things come to an end.   Of course, you can't keep talking on the phone forever; both you and your friend expect an end to your conversation. At the same time, a conversation is something produced by two people, meaning that its end must be agreed upon, and if you hang up without warning, then you've seized all control, which isn't friendly. Even though the conclusion of an essay may be just a repetition of ideas found elsewhere, a reader needs to be able to see that things are winding down.
• An end means a last look.   If you sound polite and cheerful in saying goodbye, your friend will be much more likely to recall the story you've told and to look forward to hearing from you in the future. Because the conclusion to an essay is a reader's last impression of a writer's work, the writer must maintain excellence up to the last sentence, not dash something off quickly or run out of steam.
• A last look is a kind of legacy.   While you probably wouldn't tell your friend a pointless story, or one with no relation to any shared experience, making the relevance clear helps your friend know how to think about your story. Similarly, an essay that leaves a reader with something to think about is an essay that is more likely to be judged favorably and even reread. Connecting the writing to the reader is central to succeeding in communicating the importance of your story.

Acing the conclusion

The strategies below can help you write a conclusion that leaves your reader satisfied and feeling like they've gotten closure on your ideas.

Remind and encapsulate

Remember that even though you are already familiar with your essay, your reader is not. Having a reader who wants to reread your work is great, but your reader shouldn't have to reread. Giving your reader a summary is similar to taking a snapshot of your whole essay. Looking at that snapshot reminds your reader of the main points that have come before. A snapshot is a lot easier to carry around than a thousand little details.

Acknowledge loose ends

Since issues are complex and often do not have a single, neat resolution, the topic of your essay doesn't need to either. What possible resolutions do you see for the issue you have presented? Is there even a resolution? In either case, say what you see. Don't present answers if you haven't found any. Just be honest.

Make connections

Show your reader the point of reading your essay. What did you learn from writing your essay? How might reading your essay be helpful to your reader? What does your essay contribute?

Don't get carried away

You don't have to revolutionize the world or say the absolute final world on an age-old debate. In fact, a grandiose conclusion may seem out of proportion in anything as short as an essay. Communicating an idea is enough.

Now let's apply these ideas to an example conclusion

The trend towards "good taste" in mass-market products draws into question the idea of good taste altogether   (Thesis) . Many things symbolizing high class living are in danger of losing their status simply because they can now be purchased at any Home Depot or Ikea;   (Summary 1: the first main point)   however, critics call décor and furniture exports such as Pier 1 Imports and Pottery Barn "cheap" not for offering sophisticated designs at bargain prices, but for offering them to all, even to mail-order costumers   (Summary 2: the second main point) . Worst of all, Martha Stewart is said to have reduced good taste to merely another brand name by creating a line of home wares for the suburban superstore K-Mart   (Summary 3: the third main point) . The implication is that a fine object loses its fineness as it gains wider appreciation, that beauty and elegance are qualities conferred by the elite and that an object's glow vanishes once too many have touched it, In other words, the wealthy and influential are not content with wealth and influence, but must have a world all to themselves; when others enter this world, they come to destroy   (Relevance 1: a synthesis of the main points that reveals their significance in a wider context) . Martha Stewart would have to disagree. Sconce lights might look out of place on a cattle ranch, but their popularity does not equate them with the neon signs that one sees in the windows of bars - quality is quality. If replacing the average household's melamine plates with porcelain makes some people insecure, then so be it   (Relevance 2: a stance that applies to readers) .

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The Importance of Essay Writing Skills in Education: Why Students Should Master It

Essay writing is a crucial skill that every student should strive to master. It is not only a requirement for academic success, but also a skill that will benefit them in the long run. Writing essays broadens their knowledge on various topics, improves their analytical thinking, and promotes better communication.

First and foremost, essay writing requires students to conduct in-depth research on the given topic. This research helps them identify the main points and arguments that they should include in their essay. By doing so, they become more knowledgeable about the subject matter and are able to present well-informed ideas to their readers.

Moreover, essay writing promotes better analytical thinking. Students learn to critically analyze the information they gather and to identify the most relevant and significant points. This skill is not only valuable in academia, but also in the job market. Employers value individuals who are able to quickly and effectively identify and evaluate information.

Furthermore, writing essays improves communication skills. The ability to clearly convey ideas and thoughts is important in every aspect of life. Essay writing helps students learn how to express themselves in a clear and concise manner, without losing the intended meaning. This skill is particularly important in high-stakes situations, such as job interviews or public speaking engagements.

Last but not least, essay writing promotes better spelling and grammar. Students are required to proofread their essays and make sure that there are no mistakes in their writing. This attention to detail not only improves their writing skills, but also creates a positive impression on their readers. It shows that they are able to produce high-quality work and that they take pride in their final product.

The Importance of Essay Writing Skills in Education

• Improves Reading and Learning: Writing essays allows you to engage with texts on a deeper level. When you write an essay, you need to read and understand the topic clearly and in detail. This improves your comprehension skills and enhances your ability to identify the main ideas, arguments, and statements in a text.
• Develops Critical Thinking: Essay writing helps you develop critical thinking skills. When you write an essay, you need to analyze and evaluate the information you have gathered, and present it in a logical and coherent way. This promotes the ability to think critically and express your own ideas and opinions.
• Promotes Better Grades: Essay writing is often a part of academic assessments. By mastering essay writing skills, you are more likely to excel in your exams and assignments, leading to better grades.
• Enhances Communication: Essay writing allows you to express your thoughts, ideas, and arguments clearly and effectively. This enables you to communicate your message to your readers in a concise and organized manner.
• Improves Research Skills: Writing an essay requires you to conduct research on the topic. This enhances your research skills and gives you access to a wide range of information and resources.
• Records Your Learning: Writing essays helps you record and reflect on your learning. It allows you to document your thoughts and ideas, and track your progress over time.
• Provides Real-Life Applications: Essay writing prepares you for real-life situations where you may be asked to present arguments, respond to texts, or express your opinions. It equips you with the skills to confidently participate in discussions and debates.

Why Students Should Master Essay Writing Skills

1. Academic Success: Essay writing promotes critical thinking and analytical skills. It requires students to develop clear and well-structured arguments and to identify and analyze relevant information. When students are able to express their thoughts and opinions in a written form, they are more likely to do well on exams and assignments, which ultimately leads to better grades.

2. Promotes Clear Communication: Writing essays helps students to express themselves clearly. It improves their ability to organize their thoughts and present complex ideas in a logical and coherent manner. This skill is not only important for academic success but also for any professional job where clear communication is essential.

3. Demonstrates Knowledge and Understanding: Writing essays allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of a particular topic. It shows that they have done the necessary research and have a deep understanding of the subject matter. This can be particularly important in subjects like sociology or any other field where critical analysis and the ability to make well-supported statements are valued.

4. Develops Persuasive Skills: Essay writing requires students to develop persuasive arguments and to present evidence to support their claims. This skill is valuable not only in academic settings but also in the real world, where individuals often need to convince others of their ideas or opinions.

5. Improves Writing Style and Grammar: Writing essays helps students improve their writing style, spelling, and grammar. It requires them to pay attention to the details of their writing and to edit and revise their work. This can lead to significant improvements in their overall writing skills.

6. Length and Structure: Essay writing teaches students how to write longer pieces of work and how to structure their writing effectively. This skill is important in many academic and professional settings where individuals are asked to write reports or thesis papers.

7. Self-Expression: Essay writing provides students with a platform to express themselves and their ideas. It allows them to explore their own thoughts and feelings and to develop their own unique writing voice. This can be a valuable way for students to discover and better understand themselves.

Improves Research Skills

By conducting research, students learn how to identify reliable sources of information and evaluate the credibility of the information they find. This is essential in a world where there is an abundance of information available, and being able to distinguish between trustworthy and unreliable sources is crucial.

Moreover, essay writing promotes critical thinking skills. Through the research process, students are encouraged to analyze different viewpoints and develop their own arguments based on the evidence they gather. This helps them to develop their analytical skills and think critically about complex issues.

In addition, essay writing also improves students’ ability to organize their thoughts and present them in a structured manner. Students are required to create a clear thesis statement and support it with well-developed paragraphs and arguments. This not only helps them to communicate their ideas effectively, but also provides them with a solid foundation for future academic and professional writing.

Furthermore, essay writing helps students to improve their writing style and grammar. They learn how to write cohesive and coherent sentences, use appropriate vocabulary, and adhere to grammar rules. This is important not only for academic success, but also for future career opportunities where good writing skills are highly valued.

Lastly, essay writing allows students to practice their communication skills. It is not only about writing for the sake of writing, but also about conveying information in a way that is clear and persuasive. Being able to communicate effectively is essential in every aspect of life, and essay writing helps students to develop this important skill.

Enhances Critical Thinking Abilities

1. Increases Critical Thinking Abilities

Writing essays requires students to engage in a deep analysis of the topic they are writing about. This process helps them develop their ability to think critically, as they need to evaluate different perspectives and evidence to support their arguments. By critically examining various sources and weighing their credibility, students learn how to form their own informed opinions and think independently.

2. Benefits in Education

The ability to think critically is a crucial skill in education. It allows students to evaluate information, make informed decisions, and solve problems effectively. Writing essays helps students acquire these skills by requiring them to engage in a thoughtful analysis of the topic at hand.

3. Promotes Learning and Reading

Essay writing encourages students to engage deeply with the topic and conduct thorough research. This not only helps them to acquire knowledge but also develops their reading skills. Students are required to read and understand various sources, which broadens their understanding of the topic and promotes a love for learning.

4. Makes Writing Easier

By mastering the skill of essay writing, students will find it easier to express their thoughts and ideas in a clear and concise manner. They will be able to structure their arguments effectively, ensuring that their essay is coherent and well-organized. This skill is transferable to other forms of writing, making it beneficial in various academic and professional contexts.

5. Boosts Brain Power

Essay writing is like a workout for the brain. It requires students to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. As students tackle different topics and present well-rounded arguments, they stimulate their intellect and improve their cognitive abilities.

6. Access to High-Value Opportunities

Strong essay writing skills are highly valued in the academic and professional world. Employers and universities often require applicants to submit essays to assess their critical thinking abilities and communication skills. By mastering the skill of essay writing, students open up opportunities for higher education and future career success.

7. Tips on Essay Writing

To excel in essay writing, students need to keep a few crucial tips in mind. Firstly, they should always start with a strong thesis statement that outlines the main argument of their essay. Secondly, students should use clear and concise language to express their ideas and support their arguments. Lastly, they should always proofread and edit their work to ensure that it is free from errors and presents their thoughts accurately.

Develops Effective Communication

When writing an essay, you need to conduct research on the topic, gather relevant information, and organize your thoughts in a structured way. This process helps you to develop your communication skills as you learn how to present your ideas in a logical and coherent manner. Furthermore, having a clear thesis statement and supporting arguments in your essay demonstrates your ability to articulate and convey your thoughts effectively.

Moreover, being a good essay writer can benefit you in many ways. Employers value individuals who are able to write well because it reflects their ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and organize their thoughts. Good writing skills can open up numerous career opportunities as it is an essential skill in many fields.

Prepares Students for Professional Life

When you learn how to write, you not only improve your ability to communicate with others, but you also enhance your own critical thinking and intelligence. Writing forces you to organize your thoughts and arguments in a structured manner, which increases your ability to think critically and evaluate information effectively. This is why employers often look for candidates with strong writing skills, as it demonstrates that they have the necessary analytical and communication skills needed to succeed in a professional setting.

Furthermore, writing essays teaches you how to cover complex topics in a concise and coherent manner. It helps you to break down complex ideas into smaller paragraphs and develop a clear thesis statement to guide your writing. This skill is important in the real world, where you’ll often need to explain complex concepts to others in a simple and understandable way.

Moreover, writing essays improves your spelling and grammar skills. In a world where written texts dominate, being able to write fluently without making simple spelling or grammar mistakes is essential. It demonstrates to readers that you pay attention to detail and have a good grasp of the English language.

In addition, being able to write well broadens your access to opportunities. Whether you’re applying for a scholarship, a job, or a grant, having strong writing skills gives you a competitive edge over others. It allows you to articulate your thoughts and achievements in a compelling way, increasing your chances of success.

Furthermore, writing essays helps to promote self-reflection and personal growth. When you write about a particular topic, you often need to do research and explore different perspectives. This process allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and encourages you to think critically about your own beliefs and values.

Lastly, being able to write well increases your market value. In today’s highly competitive job market, employers are looking for candidates who can think critically, communicate effectively, and solve complex problems. By mastering essay writing skills, you’ll be able to demonstrate these abilities and stand out from the crowd.

Why is essay writing important in education?

Essay writing is important in education because it helps students develop critical thinking skills, improve their communication skills, and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of a subject. It also helps students to organize their thoughts and ideas in a structured manner.

How can essay writing skills benefit students in their future careers?

Essay writing skills can benefit students in their future careers by enabling them to effectively communicate their ideas and arguments. Many professions require strong written communication skills, and being able to write clear and coherent essays can help individuals succeed in their chosen careers.

What are some tips for improving essay writing skills?

Some tips for improving essay writing skills include reading widely, practicing writing regularly, seeking feedback and guidance from teachers or peers, and learning to effectively structure an essay. It is also important to revise and edit your work to ensure clarity and coherence.

Is it necessary to write essays in every subject?

While essays may not be required in every subject, they are commonly used as an assessment tool in many educational settings. Even in subjects where essays are not typically assigned, writing skills are still valuable and can be applied in various ways, such as in writing research papers or reports.

Can essay writing help students develop their creativity?

Yes, essay writing can help students develop their creativity as it requires them to think critically, analyze information, and come up with unique and original ideas. It allows students to express their thoughts and perspectives in a creative and meaningful way.

Essay writing is important in education because it helps develop critical thinking and analytical skills. It allows students to organize their thoughts and communicate their ideas effectively. Additionally, essay writing promotes research skills and helps students deepen their understanding of a subject.

By Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD, is a well-known doctor. He is famous for studying aging, genetics, and other medical conditions. He works at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics. His scientific research has been published in the most reputable international magazines. Alex holds a BA in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California , and a TEFL certification from The Boston Language Institute.

Frequently asked questions

Why is structure important in an essay.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarised in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

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Top 10 Importance of Writing Essay

Writing is a very important part of our history and lives as humans. There are several advantages that come with writing, but in this article, we have selected some of the top 10 importance of writing essays.

It may interest you to know that ever since the Greek and Roman eras, humans have been writing essays and papers. We have always been looking for ways to tell our stories, share our ideas, and even keep records by writing.

In our world today, essay writing forms a vital part of our degree programs and academic work . Some people may consider this irrelevant, but it has so many benefits that it creates which we will discuss in detail later.

However, before you can fully understand the importance of essay writing, you’ll need to know what an essay really is including its structures and categories. 

The following section gives you a brief introduction to essay writing, describes the structure of an effective essay, and offers you an interesting fact about essay writing you may have never known. 

Let’s dive right in together…

Table of Contents

Introduction to Essay Writing

Below are some things you’ll need to know about writing an essay.

What is an essay

An essay is a piece of writing about a particular subject, that is aimed at presenting the author’s point of view, sharing an idea, expressing an opinion or emotion, and communicating to others. 

It is believed that the word “essay” was derived from the French verb “essayer” which means “to try” . The word was originally known to mean “an attempt” or “a trial” in the English language.

However, the word began to acquire a new meaning when Michel de Montaigne (a French Man) described his writings as Essays. This was his way of characterizing his written work as “an attempt” to write down his thoughts. 

Classification of Essays 

Essay writing has been classified under two broad categories which are:

• Formal essays
• Informal essays 

Formal Essays:

These are also referred to as impersonal essays. They are often written in corporate settings and may require research, facts, and evidence to back them up. Some formal essays are written in the 3rd person voice or view.

Informal Essays:

Writing informal essays may not require a lot of research like formal essays. Essays like this can also be referred to as personal essays and are often written in the first person point of view. They can be subjective and conversational in nature and the author may freely express his/her opinions without necessarily providing evidence to prove them.

Structure of An Essay

To guide your essay writing, the structure of the essay sometimes called the shape of an essay is often broken down into 3 parts:

• An introduction 
• The main Body
• Conclusion 

An introduction:

This is where you present your topic, offer your reader background and provide a thesis statement if you have any. The introduction of an essay usually contains;

• Thesis statement

The Main Body: 

Writers often use the body of their essay to express more clearly and broadly the statements or ideas in their introduction. When writing an essay, you can use the body to explain core arguments, give clear analysis, and present evidence to back up your claims. It is recommended to start each paragraph of your essay body with a topic sentence.

Conclusion:

After you’ve exhausted your points and explanations in the body of your essay, you’ll need to round everything up. A conclusion helps you to do that by tying up your main points and showing clearly the conclusions you wish your readers to acquire from your essay.

What are the Benefits of Essay Writing?

Below is a list of the top 10 importance of Essay Writing:

• Makes You A Better Writer
• Improves your Communication Skills
• Acquire Research Skills
• Essay writing Improves Creativity
• Essay Writing is Useful for Professional and Employment Purposes
• Broaden Your Knowledge Base
• Essential for Academic Success
• Helps You Become More Aware of your Choices
• You make better decisions
• Think Smarter.

Thinking about the general importance of writing skills? Read these top 10 importance of writing and find out for yourself. Let’s quickly get down to the benefits of Essay Writing.

1.  Makes You A Better Writer

It is said that practice makes perfect. That statement holds true for essay writing as it does for other things too. Writing essays will help you improve your writing skills, produce better papers, and may also improve your college score.

If you write essays often, you may begin to discover new ways to write, new writing tips, tricks, and new strategies.

You become able to structure a more clear argument and write persuasively.

2. Improves your Communication Skills

As long as we live in the midst of people, we would always need to communicate our ideas, feelings, and desires to others.

Essay writing helps you to develop the ability to clearly lay out your thoughts and express them in the best possible way. It is believed that great communicators have a greater chance to get what they want and become successful.

With essay writing, you learn to structure your thoughts into words and this develops your ability to communicate better.

3. Acquire Research Skills 

Most essays will require you to conduct research inorder to find facts and evidence to defend your work. In the process of finding these facts for your essay, you begin to pick up essential research skills that will help you in other areas of your life.

Essay writing will help you know how to find accurate and trusted information from the vast amount of information on the web.

4. Essay writing Improves Creativity 

Some essay topics may cause you to stretch your mind inorder to find creative ways to deliver them. This does something to your ability to reason and come up with creative ideas.

You may begin to search for new information, a new presentation style, and other creative ways to make your essay come out well. All these activities will help you discover new aspects of your creativity you never knew you had.

5. Essay Writing is Useful for Professional and Employment Purposes

Essay writing involves a lot of information gathering, analysis, and research. These activities are also useful in professional organizations.

For example, marketers will need to provide reports, programmers will need to prepare documentation and other professionals may need to send out letters.

If you’ve already had a previous essay writing background, this may come in handy.

6. Broaden Your Knowledge Base

Writing has a way to help you see things in a more clear way. As you make research for your essays, you become enlightened on subjects you had little or no knowledge about.

You begin to see certain connections and you begin to have a better understanding of certain subjects and concepts.

Also, you may be given essay writing assignments in fields you’re not knowledgeable in.

As you carry out your research, everything begins to become clearer and you learn more about the subject than you knew before.

7. Essential for Academic Success 

In our educational institutions today, writing is one of the core aspects of everything we do.

It is important if you want to acquire good academic grades in fulfillment of your educational pursuit. Students who are aware of this employ essay writing services to help them ace their projects and/or assignments.

8. Helps You Become More Aware of your Choices.

Let’s say you had a particular opinion about a subject you were told to write an essay about. While you were gathering information, you became aware of what the subject really entailed and you began to see the cracks in your past opinion.

That’s exactly what essay writing can do for you. It can help you see more clearly why your opinion on a particular topic may have been biased or uninformed.

9. You make better decisions 

The research skills you pick up from essay writing will help you to make better decisions. You’ll learn how to use research to guide the decisions you make.

Research essays train your mind to decide upon the most credible and reasonable options thereby teaching you how to pick the better option from a list of other conflicting alternatives.

10. Think Smarter

Some people wrongly believe that essay writing should be for only people in the arts, language studies, or writing. When you begin to develop an essay with your outline, you’ll learn how to pick the best approach to your essay. You’ll naturally begin to have the tendency to think Smarter as you delve deeper into topics.

As you do this continuously, you’ll begin to see beyond surface level understanding, and you’ll start engaging in critical thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Essay Writing 

1. what is the most important thing when writing an essay.

Your Thesis or Argument. The main argument of your essay must be clearly written with logical facts, evidence and proof. Make a strong argument and persuade your readers with a well-written thesis.

2. What are the important parts of essay?

There are 3 major parts of an essay which includes: •The Introduction. •The Body. •The Conclusion. Using an outline before you start writing, will help you identify how to properly structure your essay within these parts.

3. What are the important uses of writing?

Writing is a vital part of our lives and history. There are several uses of writing, but some of them include: •Communication, •Keep Records, •Store information.

4. What purpose does writing serve?

Writing has so many purposes. However, there are 5 purposes that stands out. They are; 1. Persuasion. 2. Information. 3. Entertainment. 4. Explanation. 5. Record Keeping.

5. What is the purpose of essay writing?

Essay Writing can serve so many purposes. However, a major purpose of essay writing is to present an opinion, idea, or argument in response to a subject matter or question and offer evidence that persuades your readers that your opinion is correct or reasonable.

Important Recommendations 

• 100 Best Free Online Books to Read for Kids and Adults
• Benefits of Studying Abroad
• Top 20 Sites to Read Free Books Online Without Downloading
• 20 Importance of Education .

You can acquire a lot of soft and hard skills from your essay writing projects and activities. This article has outlined just 10 importance of writing essays, but there are other benefits that we’ve not discussed.

Writing Essays may be a tedious and difficult task, but it pays off if done properly and with a goal in mind. Recently, a lot of software has also been developed to help people become better writers and make writing fun.

This article was written to help you, we hope it did. Check out other valuable recommendations and articles within the blog.

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