Less is more, they say. Which, to be honest, kind of bothers me because it’s inherently incorrect. Less most certainly is not more—it is less. However, there are times when having less is better. So for the sake of accuracy, let’s say this—less is better…sometimes. So far I’ve said practically nothing, and I feel better …
Have you ever watched a great film trailer and thought, “I have to see that movie!”? A good trailer gives you the basic premise of the movie, shows you the highlights, and encourages you to want to see more. A good thesis statement will accomplish the same thing. It gives readers an idea of the …
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” You might recognize this quote as part of the poem on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. It has almost become synonymous with immigrants coming to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. But if this quote and the …
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the hardest part of any writing assignment is composing a rough draft. It has to have much more detail than an outline, but you don’t want to perfect it too much because it is, after all, just a draft. It’s all about striking the perfect balance. …
The end is the beginning is the end. Or so it constantly seems when writing an essay. As soon as you think you’re finished, it’s time to examine, revise, and rewrite. The end of your first draft marks the beginning of your second. The beginning of your third draft marks the end of your second. …
Here’s an all-too-common scenario faced by students everywhere: you’re assigned to write a paper, but you don’t know what to write about. Your prof tells you to write about something unique, something original, something that interests you. The problem is, right now, the only thing that interests you is finding a topic for your paper. …
Those of you who consider yourselves fashion mavens might hear the phrase “personal statement” and think about how you might make a statement with your outfit at your grand entrance at next weekend’s party. Though writing a personal statement generally has nothing to do with how you dress (unless, perhaps, you work in the fashion …
We’ve all been there. Your professor asks a question to the class about last week’s required reading. You look down at your book, out the window, and at your shoes. You pretend to contemplate the answer. The reality: you only “skimmed” the reading, and you don’t have a clue how to answer the question. You …
Literature doesn’t have to be long to pack a punch. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is only 6,000 words and takes you on quite the psychological journey. There are no changes of scenery and only a handful of characters, but you get to experience a thrilling narrative. But with so few words, how do you choose a …
Hello there! Welcome back to the Kibin blog. Our goal here at Kibin is to educate you on the art of writing. We do that in several ways, including awesome editing services, a deep database of essay examples, and this blog. Our focus on the Kibin blog is to explain ways to write specific essays …
When writing an essay, the first problem you might face is deciding on what topic to choose, which is pretty ironic if you’re writing a problem-solution essay. The way out of that dilemma is to choose an issue that you’re really passionate about. You should also select a problem that has a viable solution—something with …
As a student, your time is precious. You want to write a great essay, but you shouldn’t have to put all your other assignments, or your life, on hold just to do it. That’s why it’s important to have a system. While “system” sounds like it sucks the creativity out of writing, it actually gives you …
What comes to mind when you hear the words “marijuana user”? Some people may automatically think Reefer Madness and see the film as an extreme exaggeration of users. Others may see it as a film with some underlying bit of truth to the dangers of marijuana. Still others may think of a marijuana user as …
If you’ve ever watched Survivor, you know how important it is for contestants to plan, form alliances, and do anything they can to avoid getting voted off the island by the Tribal Council. Writing an essay is kind of like being a contestant on Survivor. You need to plan ahead, learn the tricks of good writing, …
As you know by now (for I tend to remind you ad nauseam), the thesis statement is the most important sentence in your essay. It’s the backbone of your paper. In other words, it’s the star around which your ideas orbit, the bread crumbs in your essay meatballs, or any other metaphor that articulates the …
Have you ever heard that different people learn in different ways? Well, it’s true. And while some people may be able to learn just by reading the theories on how to do something, you learn differently—you need actual examples. Just like a protester, politician, or superhero, I’m here to lead by example. I’ve put together …
If you’re thinking the SQ3R Method is a new iPhone QR code scanner app that allows you to scan your essay for grammar errors, you’d be wrong. (Though that would be pretty awesome, wouldn’t it?) The SQ3R Method is actually a reading method that will help you: Interact with a text Retain more of what …
Do you freak out or feel stressed at the mere thought of trying to organize your ideas for a paper? Have you tried prewriting and outlining, yet can’t seem to pull your ideas together? If all those Roman numerals and upper and lowercase letters of a traditional outline are enough to drive you mad, why …
You’re super confident when your teacher hands you an essay assignment. You’ve read the material and know exactly how to approach your arguments. But then you sit and stare at a blank page, unsure how to start. It happens to the best of us. Fortunately, because it’s a cause of concern for so many students, …
There have been exactly 18,312 words written here at the Kibin blog on the subject of the argumentative essay. Think I made that number up? Well, prove it. We’ve written so many blog posts on the subject because it’s by far the most common essay assignment that students face. About the only way to avoid …
There’s nothing like a deadline to spark your creativity! Or so some people claim. For others, it just sparks anxiety. Whether you’re writing a timed essay in class or you had some unforeseen circumstance and didn’t start working on your essay until the last minute, it’s important to put that anxiety to the side and …