Writing an essay will be easier if you do it well in advance of the deadline. However, many people sometimes only start working on an essay when the deadline is approaching. If you find yourself in a situation like this, stay positive and don't panic. You can still write a good essay even if you have little time.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Creating a Cozy Atmosphere
Step 1. Eliminate or minimize distractions in the workplace
Things that can annoy you include other people, noise, television, music, cell phones, and the internet.
- Temporarily block distracting websites and phone apps, such as social media websites and apps.
- Some people prefer to use earplugs to block or reduce noise around them.
- Let others around you know that you have to do your homework and don't want to be disturbed.
- Cancel the plan you want to do. Explain that you have to work on an essay and don't have much time to complete it. Be persistent if people try to persuade you to quit your job: "I'd like to go too if I can, but I have to finish this essay. Shall we go tomorrow?"
Step 2. Prepare the workplace
Wherever you are working on your essay, make sure your workplace is comfortable and free of clutter. However, don't over-clean the workplace. You are trying to make the workplace conducive to writing. However, if you're trying to thoroughly clean your entire house before writing your essay, you're probably just procrastinating.
Step 3. Gather the materials needed to write an essay
The materials needed include textbooks, notes, articles, research results, and others. Apart from that, you will also need a computer or writing utensil.
If you have something else that can help you write, such as a snack or coffee, provide that food and drink as well. You need to stay energized and comfortable in the writing process
Step 4. Take a deep breath
Once you've got all the material you need to write, take a little time to focus before getting to work. Take a breath, and try to focus your attention on the essay you are about to write. Motivate yourself by thinking that you are ready to do this work. Instead of stressing yourself out because you don't have enough time, it's a good idea to tell and calm yourself down by using this sentence: "I can do this because I've got all the materials I need. I just need to focus my attention for a few moments and this essay will do the trick. resolved soon."
Step 5. Try even harder to focus if you plan to write until midnight
Staying up late is a bad thing to do when trying to write an essay because it can tire you out and result in your work not having a clear research purpose. However, if you find yourself in a situation that requires you to stay up all night, the following guidelines can help you do a good job:
- Eat caffeinated foods and drinks when you really need them. Avoid eating foods and drinks that contain caffeine at the beginning of the process because caffeine will eventually make you mentally exhausted.
- Don't make yourself too comfortable. Write in a place that is used as a workplace, such as a desk, study room, or library. Don't wear pajamas or lie on the bed. You should focus on writing, not slowly drift off to sleep and then fall asleep.
- Try exercising once in a while. While working on an essay, occasionally get up from work to walk for a few minutes, or do push-ups and so on. Exercising for a few minutes can help energize you and keep you focused.
- Get enough sleep the next day. You must recover from sleep deprivation.
Part 2 of 5: Tips Before You Start Writing
Step 1. Start by reading the assignment
Look carefully at the essay writing guidelines given by the teacher. Sometimes understanding the task completely is part of the work. You should follow the instructions given regarding the length, format, and content of the essay. Usually guidelines contain the keys to good essay writing.
For example, if you're writing an essay for a literature class and the manual asks you to "explain an argument with specific evidence," you'll know that the essay should include quotes taken from the text being read
Step 2. Create a schema
Choose the type of scheme you want, such as bullet points, diagrams, short sentences, and others. Schematics do not have to describe the topic of writing in depth, but at least you should write the essence of the topic that will be explained in the essay.
- When sketching, you should refer to the text or research that will be used in the essay. Look for quotes and main ideas that can be incorporated into the essay. After that, make notes.
- While stopping work to create a schema may seem like a waste of time, a schematic can actually help you write more effectively and clearly. Having a main idea and a writing goal can help keep your essay less confusing.
Step 3. Don't procrastinate by over-preparing
This can happen if you are working on an essay that requires research or other reading. Postponing the essay writing process in order to do more research may be a temptation in itself. However, you should start working immediately after making preparations. You can resume your research while you're writing or improve your writing if you think there's more research material to include in your essay.
Part 3 of 5: Creating a Strong Thesis
Step 1. Consider the main idea of the essay
Many rushed essays don't have a solid thesis. Spending more time outlining the main purpose of the research can lead to a stronger essay. What question is the essay trying to answer?
Sometimes the essay guide provides specific questions that need to be answered, and sometimes you are asked to create your own questions. Therefore, read the task instructions carefully. Whatever clues the guidelines give, a thesis is a specific answer to a question
Step 2. Formulate a debatable thesis
In order to convince the reader that the written argument is acceptable, the essay must contain evidence that supports the argument. Write a thesis while you are sketching. If an argument feels too shallow, refine it until it's debatable. A thesis is not just a topic or statement of fact.
- "Government of Indonesia" is an example of a research topic or subject.
- The sentence "The Indonesian government consists of three institutions: legislative, judicial and executive" is a statement of fact.
- The sentence "The division of the Indonesian government structure into legislative, judicial and executive institutions aims to build a stable country for the long term" is an example of a thesis because the reader hopes you will explain it. For example, they may wonder why you think that government agencies are responsible for the stability of the country, not economic or cultural factors. Your essay has the opportunity to explain and answer their confusion.
Step 3. Choose a thesis that fits the type of assignment
There are several types of theses. For example, an expository thesis explains a topic to the reader, while an analytical thesis breaks down a topic into parts and evaluates them. Even essays that are described using narrative can benefit from a clear thesis. Read the guidelines or worksheets carefully to understand what kind of thesis is required for essay writing.
For example, consider the following instructions: "Evaluate the relationships between Indonesian government agencies." These instructions require an explanation in the form of an analytical thesis. As another example, consider the following instruction: "Describe the process by which the Indonesian government is divided into three institutions." Compared to the previous example, this instruction requires an explanation in the form of a narrative containing a series of events
Part 4 of 5: Writing the First Draft
Step 1. Start writing by working on the introduction
The introduction is perhaps the most important part of the essay because it guides the reader in understanding the main idea of the essay and explains the arguments to him. However, you don't have to worry too much about it in this first draft. You just need to start writing. In your first draft, you don't have to write a perfect introduction, because you can improve it later. Try to keep writing whatever comes to mind and slowly you can work on your essay with confidence.
- When time is running out, don't worry too much about how to write a creative introduction. Instead, try to make writing that is easy to understand and has a clear discussion. If you still have time, you can fix it again.
- A simple and effective plan is to ensure that the introductory section explains the thesis thesis, and provides an overview of the next paragraph or section to be covered. Schematics can help you at this stage. Here's a simple example of this plan: "In this essay I will explain X before discussing Y and Z. After that, I will describe the relationship between X, Y, and Z. The relationship explains that [insert thesis statement here]."
Step 2. Follow the schematic
Try to write the essay little by little by following the scheme that has been made. This step can help fit the text into the schematic. Also, imagining a writing plan can encourage you to keep writing.
Step 3. Don't worry about word choice, spelling, etc
For example, if you can't determine whether Shakespeare was a "great" or "greatest" writer, choose one of these options and continue writing. You can correct it when you review your essay for the last time. If you have little time, keep writing because it helps you to work more productively and stay motivated.
Step 4. List the sources used as references and citations
If you are citing someone else's work, cite the source using the source formatting (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) the teacher prefers. Even if it's just paraphrasing someone else's work, you should still cite the source. If you do not include the source correctly, you will be considered to have committed an act of plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, remember to include the source whenever you get an idea or outside information.
Instead of listing all sources after finishing writing, you should list sources while you are writing because this will make the listing process easier
Step 5. Set the work pattern
Even if you have to work quickly, take a break every now and then, especially if the writing process is stuttering. Most importantly, don't rest too long and let your mind get distracted.
- Some people prefer to schedule breaks by setting an alarm or watching the clock. Others prefer to take a break when they reach a certain point in writing, such as the end of a paragraph or the end of a page. Whatever method of rest you use, make a note to remind yourself of what to continue when you're done resting.
- Take a breath, stand up, and have a drink or snack. Taking a short break is not a time wasting activity. On the other hand, it can help you write more efficiently because taking a break can make your head feel fresher and less stressed.
Part 5 of 5: Reviewing Jobs
Step 1. Re-evaluate the thesis and essay arguments
Review the essay and make sure one last time that the content of the thesis makes sense and is debatable. Also, make sure your writing strengthens the thesis.
- Editing the essay after completing it is a very important step. While it's tempting to finish the job once you've finished your draft, remember that you can improve the quality of your essay (as well as your grades) by taking the time to review it and improve it.
- Review the structure, structure, and format of the essay. Make sure the structure and description of each paragraph is logical and interconnected with other paragraphs. If it doesn't make sense, move the paragraphs around until the overall structure of the essay is logical. While reviewing, you should reread the essay and edit the entire sentence to check word choice, sentence clarity, and grammar.
Step 2. Focus on editing when time runs out
If you're really running out of time, perhaps the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your essay is to improve the introduction and apply the reverse outline method (an editing process that checks whether the paragraph structure has successfully supported the main ideas contained in each paragraph)..
- Using the reverse outline method is a good and quick strategy to check whether the essay structure is logical or not. To create a reverse outline, create a ready-made draft schematic. After that, write down the main idea of each paragraph. The results you get will be similar to the schema you created before writing your essay, but you can use it to double-check your work.
- Editing the introduction can clarify the thesis and make the content of the essay stronger. When making a scheme and starting to write an essay using the thesis idea or main idea that was planned before writing the essay, the main idea or idea that has been poured into writing may change slightly from the previous plan. After completing the draft essay, review the introduction and change the wording of the thesis to suit the content of the essay (a reverse outline can help you at this stage).
Step 3. Proofread the work
At the final stage of writing, read the essay to check for any remaining grammatical and spelling errors.
- An electronic spelling and grammar checker can help you proofread your work, but don't rely too much on it to check the entire essay. Always re-read the work thoroughly before submitting it.
- The most effective way to find errors is to read the essay aloud.
- If you can, enlist the help of someone you know and trust to correct the work. People who are fresh and have never read your essay may spot mistakes they might have missed.
Step 4. Submit work on time
Print out the essay if necessary. If you are submitting essays via the internet or electronic devices, make sure the file type is correct and the file has been received by the teacher.
Tips
- If you're worried about not meeting the essay length requirements, you can write a longer sentence by adding more adjectives or using more quotes. However, do not apply this tip too often because it can reduce the quality of work.
- One way to meet the essay length requirement is to slightly increase the font size, page margins, or line spacing. However, please note that teachers may be aware of the changes.
