The Secret to Writing "A+" Essays

Why do some students excel at writing essays while others do not? Simple, they know the formula. I will take through this formula in detail as I explain the importance of knowing your audience, preparing for the assignment, engaging your material, organizing your material, writing, and revising. Once you understand the process of finding a suitable topic and carrying your idea through from inception to completion, you too can write "A+" essays.

First, know your audience. Just like politicians, some professors are conservative and some are liberal.

Conservative professors are very concerned with the traditional essay structure, the use of Standard English, and supporting citations published in scholarly journals.

Liberal professors are often swayed by the originality of the content; generally they won't mind a logical deviation from the traditional structure. If it's a personal essay, they may encourage the use of your own "voice." With research papers, they may encourage you to disagree with scholarly opinions as long as you present enough evidence to support your case.

And of course, there are the moderates who may tolerate a little deviation from traditional rules as long as you've previously established that you understand them.

How do you figure out which kind of professor you have? Read the syllabus. Most professors will clearly indicate their expectations. Conservative professors will often give you a lot of direction on the format of your essay. Liberal professors are often intentionally vague to allow for surprises.

Next, listen carefully to lectures. Does your professor prefer writers who have mastered form, or who rebelled against it? Pay attention to their response to student discussions. Does your professor tend to agree more with comments that support the traditional interpretation of material, or is she excited buy new and different opinions.

Finally, if anyone you know has already taken a course with that professor. Ask if you can see their graded essays. Along with the final grade, the professor's comments and corrections can give you a better idea of what he is looking for.