See How Easily You Can Write a Thesis

If you need to develop a successful thesis, you might as well consider some important tips. Below, we describe easy steps in order to write the best thesis ever. Do not fall for low quality guidance. The best is yet to come! Discover a fascinating approach. 

Defining the issue

The definition of the research essay topic is certainly the most important decision in the entire process that culminates with the presentation of the thesis. Many often pose issues, and this appears to be a difficult problem. The main reason is because you have to circumscribe enough to make it manageable, and this is not always easy. In addition, you must choose a field of reflection that can motivate student interest for several months. Therefore, the choice of thesis topic is very important! The student must find an area of research that appears attractive. 

The subject should be as precise and limited as possible. A proposed monographic treatment of topics may enable the deepening of the analysis and formulation of conclusions, new and purposeful. The research process should not be a lonely job. It requires constant monitoring and supervising of one or more advisers.

Assumptions and procedure                                              

Once the topic is chosen, it is important to establish a working hypothesis to propose an interpretation or explanation of the problem was identified in the definition of the subject. This sets the target of the investigation and responds to question: what will you do? It is also important to identify the reasons why it is important to carry out the work that is, pointing out the relevance of the problem linked to the social world. Thus, you must establish how the actors are affected, involved in social problem, and how they will benefit from the investigation. This establishes the justification for the research and answers the question why you are actually doing this.

Finally, consider how you will address the problem selected. There are different approaches and thus, they require different methodological activities and skills. You should therefore discuss with your counselor and supervisor about the best way to address the problem, prove or disprove the hypothesis, and that are suitable for student profile and interests. This establishes the methodology of work and answers the question how you can carry out the work. What follows is gathering the information, which is necessary for the completion of the thesis. Following is proper and detailed guidance on how to achieve it.

Information Collection

The first type of source that offers information is books and magazines. For this reason, the first places to look for information are libraries. You can browse catalogs and sources online, too. Consider finding databases and access to the leading universities in the city. 

As you can tell, this is not so hard! Yet, do not settle for poor quality data. Only the best sources will help you get the best approach. A rich thesis will be achieved!

Are you ready to follow the above steps and thesis tips? Have you ever been in trouble when writing a thesis? Share your comments today!

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: write a thesis

Written Assignments vs Exams. Are Sitting Exams Becoming A Thing Of The Past?

Critics of tests and exams often argue that such assessment tools are neither valid nor reliable. They hold that a student's performance on standardized tests is a better measure of the examinee's attention span and understanding of the test makers' logic rather than a measure of content mastery. Judging a student's understanding of a semester's worth of information based on a 60 minute exam seems especially unfair to students with test anxiety.

Though written assignments eliminate some of those concerns, exams remain a standard assessment tool for good reasons. Most teachers use a combination of both tools to fairly evaluate each student. Consider the unique benefits of using exams and written assignments:

Benefits of Exams

Sitting exams ensure that students are not receiving outside help. In the technological age, plagiarizing is becoming easier and easier. In a controlled setting, students must draw upon their own resources to prove that they understand material.

Many jobs require high-stake performance evaluations. Though you will likely never have to identify lines from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, you may have to memorize the product codes of every fruit and vegetable in a grocery store.

Exam grades are easier to quantify. Assigning a grade based on responses to multiple choice questions is easier than creating and using a rubric for a writing assignment. Exam grades are viewed as more objective and therefore are easier to explain to angry students and parents.

Exams are inevitable. Testing starts in elementary school. In order for the government to collect national samples, standardized testing methods are as simple and objective as possible. Teachers are encouraged to shape their curriculum around state instruments, so they create tests to prepare students for bigger tests. The PSAT is practice for the SAT, high school exams are practice for college exams, and college exams are practice for the GRE, LSAT and MCAT.

Benefits of Written Assignments

Students can take time developing their ideas. Proponents of written assignments argue that test anxiety puts many students at a disadvantage. A smart student can easily get a bad test score if they are sick or having a bad day. Written assignments take more time and energy, so they are a better assessment of a student's understanding.

Though exams can test higher order thinking skills, written assignments always do. Written assignments can be open-ended; students can pick their own topics, allowing them to apply what they are studying to things they are actually interested in. The research process helps students get a more comprehensive understanding of material than simply memorizing facts.

Writing is a dying art. Many high paying occupations require writing, so students who excel at writing will have a strong competitive edge in the job market.

Should teachers expect all students to perform equally well on exams and written assignments? Should teachers assess students only by their strengths? Teachers should ponder these questions while bearing in mind that high stakes exams probably are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Richmond University are the American University in London offering Batchelor degrees in history and psychology, as well as good number of postgraduate subjects.

Categories: College Life   Tags: exams, written assignments, sitting exams

What You Need to Know About Descriptive Essay Writing

When it comes to writing a descriptive essay, you need to be creative. Share with art originality, intensity and beauty of expression. In a descriptive essay, there is definitely a specific style, but the writing depends on the author’s nature. But there is an important condition that we should all meet: the expression has to be clear, this transparency can give the reader a better idea whether the thoughts embodied by the test are authentic or not. 

What are the characteristics of a descriptive essay: 

  • Free standing structure 
  • Summarizes and relatively short extension 
  • Variety of topics 
  • Careful and elegant style 
  • Varied tone, corresponding to the particular way so the author sees and interprets the world. 

What are the steps to writing an essay? 

Reading: this should be done in work attitude, is a reading of study. It is imperative to locate the main ideas of the authors.

Analysis: is the classification of information, in order and in a readable way.

Facts

The essay of a literary descriptive genre may be linked to fiction or poetry. We can identify a descriptive essay because it is written briefly and it analyzes, interprets or evaluates a particular topic. Typically, the title shows what it's all about and even serves as a central question that is the backbone of the writing. 

It has certain features that make it identifiable: it is usually descriptive and it is oriented to an audience that does not have any prior knowledge on the subject, the content is relevant and well documented and the author shows his knowledge about the subject. 

Before writing a descriptive essay

Before writing a descriptive essay, you must choose a theme. Once we have this documented and studied in depth the issue (look what it is, its development, history, authors, trivia, quotes known, images, bibliography ...). Finally, turn once to define the issue before you display all the information, for example, and a question that underpins the essay.

Essay samples

You can always find essay samples online. Remember that these examples are for guidance, ask your teacher about the best direction for your essay. You can easily get inspired by looking at descriptive essay topic ideas. Yet, try not to copy ideas since this will be plagiarism. Online platforms abound, you can reach interesting papers without a doubt.

Ordering a descriptive essay online

If you happen to feel overwhelmed, you can ask for guidance. If this is not enough, you might want to find a reputable custom writing company. Ordering a descriptive essay might not be the best idea but you can get a few benefits. Forget about delivering a paper late and get prepared to increase your grades! Experts recommend putting into practice the above tips to write the best descriptive essay ever. You can make it happen so don’t limit your capabilities.

Are you feeling tired of your many essay assignments? Do you believe writing a descriptive essay is difficult? Do you think essay samples available online may help you develop a quality paper? Are you looking for quotes to come up with the best essay? 

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: descriptive essay writing

Advantages of Using Quotes in an Essay

Writing an essay not only requires good grammar and right spelling to capture the readers’ approval. You also need to know how to catch their attention and interest. And you can only do that by adding some spice to your essay. Leave something your readers will surely not forget. You may raise questions or use quotations. But what are the advantages of using quotes in an essay?

Advantages of Using Quotes in an Essay

  • Using quotes in an essay provides authenticity to the paper.
  • It signifies that the arguments raised in the essay are based on facts from a reputable author’s idea.
  • It ensures that the essay is of good quality.
  • It clearly validates a point.
  • It contains great ideas which you may use as the basis as you expand the arguments of the essay.
  • It sets an idea on how your essay will flow.
  • It gives influence and integrity to your essay statement.
  • It is a simple yet efficient way of making a claim.
  • It elaborates the essay’s significance and purpose.
  • It speaks about the author’s own points and opinions.
  • It gives impact.
  • It is the right way of persuading readers.
  • It prevents readers from getting bored while going through the rest of the essay.
  • It adds more interest.
  • It leaves readers with something to ponder.

It is evident that using quotes in an easy is helpful enough to connect the main points of the whole paper. However, inserting quotes in an essay is not that easy. There are specific things to remember before integrating them with your essay.

How to Use Quotes in an Essay?

  1. Remember that when you choose a quote for your essay, it shouldn’t contradict with what you are supposed to say.
  2. You also have to explain the significance of the quote in relevance to the content of the essay.
  3. What you are trying to point out should coincide with the quotation.
  4. Don’t just insert quotes in your essay. Blend them with your own ideas.
  5. Make sure that the readers will understand the quotes you cited.
  6. Explain the relevance of the quotes to your essay.
  7. Don’t use quotes like you just plagiarized the essay. Illustrate the quotes using your own words.
  8. Acknowledge the author of the quote you used to verify that it is authentic.

Don’t limit yourself to the traditional way of writing that you have been so familiar with. Sometimes, it is better to put some twist and add some spice to what you are writing to prevent your readers from having tedious moments while reading. And after knowing all the advantages of using quotes in an essay, you then need to use them in the right way. It is not just simply inserting quotes to your paragraphs. There are certain rules that you have to follow. So avoid committing errors when it comes to writing.

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: using quotes in an essay, using quotes

3 Most Coveted Online Courses as Per Popular Survey

Online education is becoming more and more popular by the day, and there can actually be no doubt about the fact that these are immensely useful. Not only are these online education courses much cheaper than the regular college courses, requiring no more than the course fees without the requirement for living far from home and taking on several additional but related expenses. Moreover, these courses are also highly beneficial for those who have already launched a career and need some further education to help them along. Besides, a lot of people opting for online courses are those that wish to change tracks in their career. 

There are a wide variety of online degree programs on offer for those interested. According to recent statistics, however, there are a few courses that have been picked up by students from across the globe more than the others. There are various reasons behind the popularity of these particular degrees; mostly, however, it is the potential of these courses in the job market that has drawn people toward them. 

Computer and Information Technology

In this age of information, there is naturally a huge demand for this particular course. There is a lot of demand in the job market for people with formal education in information technology, thanks to the rapid digitalization of practically every aspect of our lives. The computer is used in practically every corner of the world, and there is a huge amount of contention for jobs in sectors like network administration and online computer support. Moreover, advanced degrees in highly specialized branches of this particular science can also secure you jobs in the realm of cyber crime and security.

Criminal Justice

This is one of the most popular courses taken by students all around the world. The best part about this particular field is that these are available in really advanced online masters degree programs; aside from this, some of these courses are also designed especially for people who are already in the field, in order to equip them to get further in their career, and also to become better equipped to handle their job much more efficiently. Needless to say, what really has played the role of being the biggest factor in drawing students is the course’s highly vocational nature.

Psychology

This had indeed become one of the most popular subjects taken by students all around the globe. While the demand of this particular subject is more or less uniformly huge in almost every regular college, the online graduate programs in this field have surpassed even that. The reason behind this can be seen from the fact that the online courses involve a lot of practical work like preparing case studies based on actual people. Moreover, some of the courses also include a semester of internship with a practicing psychiatrist or psychologist, something that acts as invaluable hands on experience when the time for embarking in the career arrives. Besides, this field also has a huge number of branches like child psychology and behavioral psychology. 

Stephen Strings is one of the most prolific bloggers in the field of online education. He likes to write highly informative articles on subjects like online business degree, courses on criminal justice and a variety of such other online education degrees. He is currently associated with ww.EDegreeUSA.com, the online information portal for pursuing e-learning courses.

Categories: College Life   Tags: online courses

How to Write a Synthesis Essay

What is a natural gender essay and when does it begin to form as a literary genre? As one of the four natural-other genres: poetry, fiction, essays dramatically represent the mode of communication: persuasive communication by using reflection. What happens when you need to write a synthesis essay? This may get a bit complex for some so let’s take a look at a few aspects. 

Historical point of view

As a historical literary genre, the essay appears as thinking without a precise rhetoric, that is, without a series of formal characteristics that limit. In this sense we can go back to classical Greece and talk about the essays by Plato in his dialogues, or essays by Seneca in what he called Epistles. Both writers set the historical principles of the new literary genre. When writing a synthesis essay, you need to keep that in mind. You cannot forget about the specific structure and the proper outline. Yet, you will need to organize your ideas correctly. 

What are the characteristics of the synthesis essay from the perspective of the author? 

When a writer decides to communicate his or her ideas through a synthesis essay, he or she also implicitly communicates according to certain principles of the rhetoric of the essay: 

- The essayist seeks to influence the reader's opinion, but it does give ideas made (as in a treaty or in didactic works). The essayist wants the reader to adopt his way of thinking (or understand it as a possible way of thinking). 

- The essayist externalized subjectivity in the essay; this is like an intellectual confession of the author, to express a form of thinking in a brief way. The author is projected in the text, so it is common to use the first person. 

- The essayist reflects on a topic, not exhaustive, just wants to delve into any aspect of the subject.

- The essayist writes for the majority of cults. That is, he does not write for a professional, he uses very few technical terms and when used, does so in a context so the general reader can understand that. You don’t need to go for details. 

What are the characteristics that allow us to recognize the synthesis essay? 

The shape of a poem or a story is usually enough to recognize it. To differentiate an article in an essay published in the same newspaper, we need to read and understand the characteristics of the essay and the article. When it comes to an essay, it is important to consider reflections in the article - we are interested in data, straight to the point. 

Generalities

The essay is usually written in prose of moderate length (rarely more than 30 pages long). Why we talk about books of essays, that is, books that gather several essays that can be read independently. 

Length 

Essay length and objectives of treating only one aspect of the subject does not mean that the test is a fragment. A fragment is a part of a whole (a chapter of a treaty, for example). The essay is a way of thinking, a way of presenting a different perspective, and as this is its objective.

Are you ready to write the best synthesis essay? Do you feel overwhelmed by the many essay parts? We woudl like to hear your opinion...

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: how to write a synthesis essay, synthesis essays

How to Ace the GMAT AWA Essay

The best known sections of the GMAT are the verbal and quantitative sections, but that doesn’t mean you can escape the business school admissions test without writing. The GMAT has four components: A quantitative section, a verbal section, a new "integrated reasoning" section, and the "Analytical Writing Assessment" AWA the GMAT essay. While all four aspects are required, only the quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT count to your score of 800 - the score business schools use to evaluate you as part of your application. 

Even though the essay doesn't count toward your score of 800, you still need to complete it, and complete it prior to starting on your verbal and quant sections. Here's the point of the essay: Admissions wants to make sure you can write legible, understandable English. That's it!  The essay is scored from 0-6, with 90 percent of test-takers scoring a 3 or above. An admissions committee from a top business will be thrilled with a 6, happy with a 4.5-5.5 and satisfied with a 4. In other words, don't stress about the essay - just follow the steps below to make sure you get a decent score, and save your energy for the harder - and more important - verbal and quant sections. 

1. Read and evaluate the argument

The prompt for the AWA essay will be a few sentences. Your job is to read it, to evaluate it, and to determine what pieces of evidence are missing and where the argument could be strengthened. You should do this in less than 5 minutes.

2. Outline

Take a few minutes (no more than 5) to outline your essay. Most essays will look like this:

P1: Introduction - what the author is trying to say, and why the statement isn't as strong as it could be. 

P2: Your first supporting paragraph. Your first strongest point in evaluating the argument.

P3. Your second supporting paragraph. Your second strongest point in evaluating the argument. 

P4. Your third supporting paragraph. Your third strongest point in evaluating the argument. 

P5. Conclusion - tell the reader what you just proved. 

Make sure you break your supporting paragraphs up into more than one paragraph. Even if the paragraphs are super short, each piece of evidence you site should have its own paragraph. 

3. Write

Start writing. The good news is, you can keep it really simple and really straightforward. Say what your point is, list out the evidence that would strengthen your point, and then move on to your next sentence. For example, here's how your first supporting paragraph could start:

"First, the argument made by the author X could be strengthened by mentioning Y. One piece of evidence the author could cite that would make the argument stronger is Z." 

Spend about 15-20 minutes writing (you can spend more if you took less time with reading and evaluating the prompt and writing your essay). 

4. Edit

Give yourself 3-5 minutes to read over your essay and make sure there's no silly grammar or spelling mistakes. Each GMAT essay is read and evaluated by a computer and by an actual person, so if there are mistakes, they'll definitely be spotted. 

When you take the GMAT, your goal should be to finish the AWA essay with little stress. Just follow the plan above to save your brainpower for the verbal and quant sections.

Laura Oppenheimer works in San Francisco for an online physics tutoring company.

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: AWA essay, GMAT essay

Ways to Approach Your Research Paper

A research paper is somehow like a dialogue. More precise, an imaginary dialogue between worlds where there is marvelous communication with the writer's body of knowledge and the readers. The most important research questions are exposed. It is about developments and surprises that can recover the living ideas of human beings through the time and space. 

Many ways

Obviously, there are different ways to approach the development of a research paper. A dialogue is established and it is supposed to be devoted to a conversation, another is the learner who is in a stage of initiation. In both cases the spirit that should prevail is the communication of knowledge in an open and participatory exercise, this is crucial!

Coding system

For an essay we consider we are dealing with the written language of science, so it is necessary to use a coding system according to the rules of communication of the scientific discourse. As you may know, the development of an essay is a task that we face when we inform readers about the partial results of the research we are doing. In this sense, the research questions that guide this work are: 

  • What is a scientific research trial?
  • What are its main features?
  • What are the basic elements for its development?

Purpose

These unresolved issues pretty much form the basic structure of this document which presents a set of guiding criteria. Remember that the purpose is to present a basic methodological guide that allows analyzing the key points. This is also good to properly evaluate the production of essays considering scientific research, the fundamental rules and codes that dictate the production of knowledge!

Developing a guide

Considering that at present time one of the most significant works in science is the construction of knowledge through a detailed development of tests, a guide to the development of research papers, must be fully understood. This will serve to give you the elementary principles of scientific communication code. 

Definition Test 

It is always relevant in the first instance to generate paths on the meaning of words. Within this framework of ideas, it should be noted that the analysis comprises two main parts: 

  • The first time we drive on the diachronic sense of the word 
  • The other time we make a reference to the meaning of the so called term synchronic. 

This methodology gives us an overview for reflection on how we can actually conceive the word trial from the perspective of historical development. 

Word Analysis Test 

Words such as humans are located in their own history. Given this starting point, it should be noted that words cannot be understood in its fullness without reviewing their evolutionary step; the meaning of words gives the reader a proper biography and displays the different uses. By following this line and by applying the elements that give the respective character in terms of research, will help you develop the top paper! For instance, the word essay comes from the verb that actually means trying to test. It is all about a way of expression.

Do you enjoy writing research papers? Get ready to write the best paper ever! Feel free to share your knowledge today!

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: research papers

Top 5 Tips to Get You Ready For Your GCSE Exams

Now that the festive season is behind us thousands of teenagers are starting to refocus their attention at their forthcoming GCSE exams. For many this can be an anxious period in the school calendar as many have put-off revising or weren’t able to devote as much time as they’d hoped.

It’s common for nerves and the anticipation of the exam results to play on your mind. You don’t need us to tell you not to worry. That’s why we’re not going to, instead we’ve come up with 5 easy tips that’ll help you make the most of the short time you have remaining. Whether you’re on the tail end of your revision programme or just getting started, these tips could help make the difference.

Within your GCSE examins, markers are looking for candidates to evidence their understanding and demonstrate the ability to develop a reasoned argument. Many ‘how-to’ revision guides and articles will offer a full programme for GCSE revision, we could but we’re concentrating on those who don’t have that time.

Here’s your guide to last-minute GCSE revision:

1. Prioritise, prioritise… prioritise 

Time is ticking so we need to prioritise between tasks, either on a sheet of A3 or on the calendar on your smart phone, enter all of your exam dates, location (hall no., classroom no., etc) and any other exam day information. Then work out the time remaining and issue yourself with challenging but achievable daily targets (study periods may vary depending on your daily commitments but remember this is your last chance to make a difference). Dedicate as much time as possible and stick to it, the effort and time you put in now will be reflected in the results you achieve at the end. 

To encourage yourself to keep to these targets make your calendar public, stick your A3 sheet up in the kitchen or living room, or share your iCalendar dates on your smart phone with relatives. This will tie-you in to the targets you’ve set and involve everyone in your action plan. Sharing these dates will also lighten the pressure as you’ll be able to discuss your progress with your family.

2. Facts, figures and dates

If last-minute is an understatement, you’ll need to start with the facts, key dates, theories, iconic or memorable people and locations, etc. Begin with identifying the basic, core information, this will be easier to digest and will help you ease into your revision rather than attempting to wade through thick notepads or folders of black and white printouts. 

Now you’re on the right track – starting was always going to be tough!

3. Do what works best for you

Throughout each term you receive endless printouts and bits of paper from your teachers. Now with the added load of past exam papers, revising could again feel like an uphill struggle.

If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch you could try an online revision tool. There are loads out there so picking one that suits you is key. Visual and interactive resources are often the most effective – watching GCSE revision videos direct on your device can turn weighty subjects into bite-size clips that are easy-to-follow. LearnersCloud is one of the leading online resources for revision and exam prep as their tutor videos follow AQA, Edexcel and OCR exam specs and cover GCSE Maths, GCSE English, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. 

If you don’t have access to a smart device you’ll need to work from your notes and course textbooks.

4. Don’t waste time, revise what’s needed

Often handed out by your teacher at the start of each term, you should have an overview of your course syllabus, which lists all of the topics covered in your exam. If you can’t find these you can always access your exam boards specification online (AQA, Edexcel or OCR). 

Once you’ve identified the key areas begin with refreshing your memory by reading through the end of topic summaries for each module in your course textbooks. Don’t worry if something feels completely new, for now this is only intended to help you establish the key facts, theories and points to cover.

If you’ve decided to use an online resource, make sure the content is separated by examination board. LearnersCloud categorises each clip by exam board and the unit it covers, useful if you’re really short on time.

5. Getting it done!

Now that we’ve established; how long we have left before the exams, how much time we aim to spend on revision each day, the key areas to cover and an approach to getting started – now we’ve got to get it done!

If you’ve reached this point of the article you’ll be shouting how! how! 

We won’t hold you in suspense, here’s two options; one for those who prefer to use an online revision resource and the other, an offline method.

If you take anything away from this article, which we hope you do of course – take every opportunity that you have to revise; whether you’re on the bus or at home waiting for your favourite TV show to start make use of the time to learn, revise and test yourself. 

Offline revision: Those of you who are revising with your own notes and the course textbooks we’d suggest you begin by collating your notes for each unit. If you don’t have these we won’t tut but your time will be stretched even more. Remember the end of topic summaries, you will need to work through each unit in your textbook and take notes on the key pieces of information. Try and be specific, limit your notes to the core points that’ll jog your memory when you’re reading back through. 

Once you’ve finished try using flash cards or small blank cards to condense your notes down further. These handy cards are much more accessible and transportable than thick notepads and heavy textbooks. They also limit your space to write notes so you’re forced to read through each point and think about the meaning in order to accurately minimise the note made.

Online GCSE revision: If you’re using LearnersCloud and you’ve customised your course preferences you can start watching content online. All subscription types mean you can transfer the subscription to your Apple devices, so whether it’s on your Mac, iPhone or iPad you can watch lesson tutorials, test yourself with the end-of-topic questions and review what areas you need to spend more time on. 

Whether you’re using an offline (flash cards) or online method - revision should be on going, at every opportunity read through or watch content specific to your exam board syllabus. This can help you work through difficult concepts and timeline stages of events. Repetition although not a tool for in depth learning can also help you to remember key points in the exam that then prompt your train of thought.

Final week before exams

This is crunch time, make or break, this could be the turning point for your future – ignore all of these clichés and statements, all they’ll do is create added pressure. You’ve revised the material; you’re still reinforcing your understanding – now it’s just the part to test all of that.

In your final week before your exams continue with these revision techniques but also look at past exam papers. 

Always remember that starting can often be the hardest part. Go through the steps we’ve suggested, put the time and effort in and when the invigilator says “put down your pens” for the final time, you’ll know that you’ve done the most you could in the time you had remaining.

Remember to take every opportunity to revise – best of luck from us all!

LearnersCloud is an online GCSE revision provider of HD tutor-led videos and apps. Covering the UK’s leading examination boards; teachers can access easy-to-integrate classroom resources or recommend students an ideal resource for independent revision. To find out more follow @LearnersCloud or visit the blog: Insights from the Cloud.

Categories: College Life   Tags: GCSE revision, GCSE exams

How to Write an Essay in MLA Format

MLA or Modern Language Association style is the major documentation and writing format, especially for humanities and literature. And if you are tasked to do an essay in the said fields or in English, it is then referred to as an MLA essay. You will usually encounter this term in your writing classes, so you have to be familiar with the said writing formant in order to meet the requirements. So here are the tips on how to write an essay in MLA format.

Writing an Essay in MLA Format

• Font style should be Times New Roman.

• Font size should be 12 points.

• All around margins should be 1 inch.

• Double space all through the body, with no space in between paragraphs.

• Tab for each new paragraph is ½ inch.

• For header and pagination, the last name and page number must be set in the right hand corner.

• Student identification and other information required by the professor must be at the left margin.

• Title must be correctly punctuated and capitalized, and should be situated at the center.

• With an in-text citation of sources and separated Works Cited page for the bibliography in alphabetical order.

• The authors you have mentioned in the body of your essay should also be listed on the Works Cited page. In the same manner as all sources on the Works cited page should also appear in your essay. In other words, no sources or authors must be in the Works Cited page if they were not mentioned in your in-text citation, and vice versa.

• Only use quotation that will make a mark in the readers’ memories. Avoid using dry phrases that will only make your essay dull. Instead, paraphrase the lines and just enclose the author’s name or article title in parenthesis. And if you quote something, make it as short as possible.

• Avoid relying on the same source or author. If you have five quotations, get it from different authors. In this manner, you will not compromise your own views.

• Expand the quotations that you used. Don’t just insert a quote and let the readers understand your purpose of using the said quotations without even trying to explain the relevance of the said quotes to your essay.

• Introduce each quotation using a signal phrase. It is a clause used before the quotation as a way of identifying the author. In this way, you will easily collaborate your own ideas and those of the said author. And avoid using the article title as a signal phrase.

When copying ideas and words from other writers, the sources must be properly cited in the essay to avoid being accused of plagiarism. It is then called an in-text citation. While the page that contains the list of sources at the end of your essay is referred to as the Works Cited page. The basic style given will guide you on how to write an essay in MLA format.

Categories: Writing Tips   Tags: how to write an essay in MLA format