By now, the rules of using quotation marks have probably been pounded into your head–use them when quoting a source or using dialogue, and know where to put your punctuation. But don’t worry if they haven’t been pounded into your head. I’ll cover it later. You may understand when to use quotation marks and even …
True or false? Writing a research paper is time-consuming. True: Writing a research paper is very time consuming. You can’t just grab a few random sources and try to make them work. You certainly can’t start writing a research paper a few hours before it’s due and expect to write an “A” paper. True or false? Writing …
You’ve really hit the big leagues now. Gone are the days of teachers telling you exactly what to write and giving you research paper topics that drive you out of your mind with boredom. You have freedom to choose your own topic now! (No need to write one more boring, assigned paper about gun control …
When writing a speech, it’s second nature to think about the audience. The presenter keeps the audience foremost in mind when deciding how to formulate the speech from the subject to the structure to the tone. Some people get so wrapped up in thinking about the people listening to their speech that they break out …
Think back to the last time you tried to persuade someone to do something or to see an issue from your point of view. Did you succeed in convincing your teacher to give up grading or your parents to continue paying your cell phone bill for another year? No? Probably because you were using the …
Critical thinking: What would essay writing be without it? Well, you know what Mr. Spock would say. In fact, without critical thinking, essays would be highly illogical. Critical thinking allows you to dig under the surface to understand and articulate a subject or point of view. To put it another way: If you want to …
You’re sitting in class, and let’s face it, your mind is wandering a little bit. But then your instructor says that your next assignment is to write a Rogerian essay. Confusion strikes. You immediately sit up in your seat, hoping for some sort of elaboration on how to write a Rogerian essay, or at least …
Have you ever tried to wrap a present without tape? It’s no easy task, but it can be done with a bit of dexterity, patience, and lots of ribbon. Wrapping up your essay can sometimes feel like wrapping a present without tape—it can be difficult at times, and you may feel that it’s just too …
You stare down at your computer clock and panic as you see another minute slip by—it’s 11:31, and you now have 29 minutes to email your essay to your instructor. You’re not even close to being done. You didn’t mean to procrastinate, but other things just kept getting in the way. And now you …
Have you been studying Othello in class so long that you’re on a first name basis with the title character? Do you feel even though you’ve spent so much time studying the play in class you’re still unsure of the play’s major themes? Do you need to write a paper analyzing a theme, such as …
Do you remember that analytical essay you were assigned a week or two ago? Do you realize that it’s due in a few days, and you haven’t even started it yet? Yes, really; it’s due in a few days, so it’s time you stop procrastinating and begin writing that analytical essay! Keep reading this blog …
If you follow the news, you might think that the world has lost its mind. So many problems and so few solutions. Why bother? Yet people are offering solutions to these problems. You might have read some of them in op-eds, policy papers, office memos, or problem-solution essays. Writing a good problem-solution essay is a …
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” But, don’t let Ol’ Teddy or that compare and contrast essay get you down. Compare and contrast essays are a great way to expand your knowledge on two subjects. And, with a little guidance, they can be fun and easy to write. Besides, what does …
Erin H. has been one of Kibin’s favorite editors since August 2013. I had a chance to ask her for her best compare and contrast essay tips. Here’s what she had to say. In Simple Terms, What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay? A compare and contrast essay, at its heart, describes how two things are similar …
OMG! I have to write a persuasive essay! HELP!!!!! First of all, don’t panic. You may think you don’t know how to write a persuasive essay, but you really do. You’ve been persuading people all your life—with varying degrees of success, of course. From when you pleaded to stay up an extra fifteen minutes before …
What if you could be more persuasive than a presidential candidate? Too easy. What if you could inspire more followers than a religious leader? Hmm, maybe. What if you could convince Taylor Swift (or Taylor Lautner, if you prefer) to go out for a coffee? Now we’re talking! Well first things first. Before your coffee date, you need to …
What is a persuasive essay? In the simplest of terms, a persuasive essay is intended to persuade. It should incite action and pull readers toward a given point of view, or convince those whose minds are not yet made up. The targets of a persuasive essay are those who are “on the fence.” If someone is …
*Pop: to suddenly break open or come away from something often with a short, loud noise (Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary). Option 1: Write expository essay in gunpowder. Light. Run. Option 2: Use ink to string together words in a way that makes your reader say, “Whoa.” I recommend the second option for various reasons, not the …
Every student has to take English classes at some time or another. In all of these classes, you’ll have to write stuff (cue theme from “Jaws”). Given a choice between two classes, “Writing 101” and “Breaking Rocks with Your Head,” most students would pick the latter. Why is that? What is it about writing an …
If you’ve ever had your work edited by Crystal W., you already know that she’s a genius when it comes to the written word. I sat down with her to find out what makes a good expository essay. Here’s what she has to say. In simple terms, what is an expository essay? An expository essay …
Being able to write a well-supported argument is a life skill that will extend far beyond the walls of the classroom. Being able to argue well means that you will be able to fight for causes you believe in, stand up for yourself, and generally be better at finding your way in life. It’s such …