And this is good news because it means that you’re practicing your communication skills every day.

But now you’ve entered college or the workforce and need to send a different kind of communication—an email—to someone important, be it a professor, a job recruiter, your boss, etc.

So what’s so different about emails? Purpose, tone, and style.

While your tweeting can come in handy as practice, it’s time to fine-tune your writing to a format that’s more formal than what you may be used to.

When we’re done here, you’ll know how to write a professional email. But you’ll also take away some great tips that can help your emails go the extra mile to impress your recipients with your newly sharpened communication skills.

(Need to write an actual professional letter in printed form? Head over to this post instead.)

There’s a Time and Place for Professional Communication

People might send professional emails for many reasons. Here are some common situations.

• Inquiring about college application materials
• Asking a professor for help with a particular assignment
• Signing up for a study group or writing lab appointment
• Requesting a reference letter from a colleague, former employer, or professor
• Following up a reference letter with a thank-you email
• Sending a cover letter to a potential employer
• Resigning from a work or volunteer position
• Reaching out to clients or vendors
• Communicating with coworkers about work-related items

No matter which of the above you might be writing (or if you have another communication goal to accomplish), there are rules to follow in order to write a successful professional email.

How to Write a Professional Email: Looking the Part

First impressions are everything, and the same holds true for professional emails.

When others meet you for the first time in a professional setting, they first see the way you dress and act before you exchange any words. When you send an email, the first two things that your recipient sees are typically your name and email address.

For this reason, it’s extremely important that your email address doesn’t come anywhere close to resembling cheesyspaceshipcat5000@*****.com. Even if you’ve had a fun email address since middle school that you still really love, ditch it when writing as a professional.

Using key identifiers, such as elements of your first and last name, is typically the best way to go. This kind of email address will make the recipient equate it with your name, and you can use it for a long time for multiple purposes.

Here are some examples:

• bobbelcher@*****.com
• belcherbob@*****.com
• bbelcher99@*****.com
• robert_belcher_jr@*****.com

Note that while your name is probably already used in an email address in some fashion, there are some simple tricks you can do to keep your name in the mix. Try changing the order of first and last name or using initials or significant numbers. Special characters such as periods or underscores can also work.

If you’re already attending college or working at a business where you were assigned an email address, use this address for your professional communication.

One caveat about college email addresses

Keep in mind that your college email address will probably be disabled when you leave school. While it’s great for communicating with your professors and classmates, it isn’t the best choice for reaching out to future employers who may contact you after graduation.

When it comes to your name, this one should be pretty obvious, but double-check your email settings or preferences to make sure that your first and last names have been saved correctly in the program.

You don’t want your recipients to see your name misspelled when you reach out to them, and you want them to be able to identify you right away in future correspondence.

How to Write a Professional Email: Acting the Part

Your average tweet is made up of language that looks like it’s on vacation. There may be misspellings, emojis, hashtags, slang, incomplete sentences, improper capitalization of letters, and so on.

None of these should be included in a professional email if you want to be taken seriously.

Essentially, social media communication doesn’t care much about grammar and style, but the language in your professional emails should be much more sophisticated.

This doesn’t mean that your emails must be completely void of personality, but when you think about how to write a professional email, you should always ask yourself the following questions:

• Will my language make the recipient take me seriously?
• What is the purpose of this email, and have I made this clear?
• Did I check my writing for grammar and logic mistakes?

In a nutshell, you want to write clear and concise sentences that get to the point. Be polite, not demanding, and be sure to say “please” and “thank you” if you’re asking something of the recipient. Make sure you keep it brief (nobody wants to read an email novel), and stay on topic.

If you think that what you’re writing about warrants deeper discussion than an email can accomplish, don’t be afraid to—politely—ask the recipient for a meeting or phone call.

Email Formatting: Get the Details Right

Now it’s time to talk about the structure of your email. Follow the steps for each of the items detailed below, and you’ll be well on your way to wowing your recipients with your professionalism.

What to put on the recipient line (and when)

What’s so difficult about this one, right? You just send your email to the desired address! While this is true, it’s a good practice to save this step for last. You never want to accidentally hit “Send” on an email that’s only half-finished.

You also want to double-check that you’re absolutely sending it to the right person every time. Email misdelivery is problematic not only because your recipient doesn’t receive your message in time, but also because it creates security risks if you’re sending sensitive information.

Always check the email address before sending—don’t always trust the saved names in your contacts, as similar names can get mixed up easily.

What to put in the subject line

Short and sweet is the name of the game here. Your subject line should typically be just a few words long and be capitalized like a title. Here’s where you tell your recipient your specific purpose for writing:

• Letter of Recommendation Request

• Front Desk Position Application

• Thank You

How to write a professional greeting/salutation

The greeting is an expected courtesy of professional writing. Just as in a letter, you should start this out with “Dear” and then the person’s title and last name. If you’re familiar with the recipient, using a first name is fine, but don’t use this otherwise.

Other greetings, such as “Good afternoon” and “Hello,” can work, but are best saved for those with whom you’ve previously corresponded. Avoid “Hi” and any other colloquial greetings.

“Whatup” is not an option.

If you don’t know the recipient personally, doing your research goes a long way and shows initiative. Make sure that you spell the person’s name correctly. You also don’t want to assume one’s gender or marital status, so sticking with a title, such as “Professor,” is best.

If you’ve done your research and are still not sure about the person’s title, using both a first and last name is fine.

• Dear Professor Trelawney,

• Good afternoon, Natalia Romanova,

How to add a “human touch” (optional but nice)

If it’s the first time you’re emailing someone or if you haven’t communicated for an extended period, adding a quick pleasantry is often a nice touch before diving into the body of your email.

• I hope this email finds you well.

• Thank you for meeting with me last week.

• I hope you had a pleasant weekend.

What to include in the body of a professional email

While this should be a brief message (no more than a paragraph or two), there are some things you will need to include to have a rock-solid email that uses formal language.

Include the details below in the following order:

Who you are/your connection to the recipient

This gives the recipient some immediate context as to why you’re writing. Your professor, for example, teaches multiple classes and students. This is when you tell the professor what specific class you’re in.

If you’ve never met the recipient, then skip to the next step.

Your purpose for writing

This part of the email is the most important. You should be able to convey your purpose within one or two sentences. Anything longer than that, and the purpose will probably become unclear.

So why are you writing the recipient?

• I am interested in taking your Composition 201 class next semester.

• I am writing to inquire about web developer opportunities within your company.

• Please consider my application for the Staff Member position at Cloud City Ltd.

• I am having trouble with the rebuttal section of the argument essay.

Notice how all of these examples state a specific action or goal. This is what you want to do when thinking about how to write a professional email, every time.

The details and justification

Why do you want to take that class or get that job? What part of the essay are you having trouble with and why?

This is the part where you explain this, but be careful not to go into too much detail. Limit this to one or two sentences to keep your recipient’s attention.

• I have graduated from Hoth University with a BS in Web Development and have experience designing commercial websites.

• The arguments I can find against my thesis don’t seem very valid, so I’m worried that the rebuttal section will be too weak.

Call to action

Follow the details/justification with a call to action. What results are you hoping to achieve, or what action would you like the person to take? Let your recipient know in a single sentence.

• If you have any openings, please let me know.

• Can you please help me understand what I should do to make my rebuttal section stronger?

Gratitude line

Express thanks for the recipient’s time before writing your closure. This shows that you respect and appreciate the recipient’s time and efforts in helping you with your call to action.

• Thank you for your time and consideration.

• I appreciate your help with this assignment.

Closing

Here is where you write a “sign-off” phrase and your name.

Best,

Brock Samson

 

Sincerely,

Patty Mayo

Avoid “cute” or informal sign-offs such as “Cheers,” especially if you don’t know the person.

The finished product

This is what it looks like when we put it all together:

Dear Professor Trelawney,

I hope you had a pleasant weekend.

I am in your English 201 Class, Section C. I am having trouble with the rebuttal section of the argument essay. The arguments I can find against my thesis don’t seem very valid, so I’m worried that the rebuttal section will be too weak. Can you please help me understand what I should do to make my rebuttal section stronger?

I appreciate your help with this assignment.

Sincerely,

Brock Samson

How to Write a Professional Email: Other Important Elements

Now that you have the gist of how to write a professional email, there are some other important items to know about before moving forward.

When to use CC and BCC

You see these in your email app any time you want to compose a message, but maybe you’ve never had to use them. So what are they?

Cc means “carbon copy” and is used when you want to “copy” or add others to the message publicly. This is used a lot in the business world when you’re sending an email to someone, but other people need to be involved, such as when working on a collaborative project. It’s also useful when doing a group project for a class.

If you’re addressing just one person but need to keep others in the loop, use Cc. It’s also a good idea to let the recipient know the reason you’re copying the others.

Hello T’Challa,

I’m copying Tony, Steve, and Bruce as they will be involved on this project as well.

Bcc means “blind carbon copy” and is used when you want to add others to the message privately. This isn’t used very often unless you’re sending the same information, such as directions to an event, to many recipients who don’t necessarily know each other.

Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using Bcc at work because it’s rude to let recipients think they are the only recipient of a message that has been sent to multiple people.

How to send a follow-up email

Because most of us have smartphones that are constantly connected to the internet, we’re used to getting message replies very quickly. However, don’t expect this to always be the case with emails. It’s not uncommon for an email to go unanswered for hours or even a day or two.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t reach out again, especially if your email was about something important like a job interview or a question on an assignment.

Wait a couple of days to send your follow-up. Any quicker, and you risk pestering the recipient. Any longer, and your window of opportunity to achieve your desired result shrinks.

Here’s a great guide on how to follow up after a job interview with etiquette tips that can work in most any follow-up situation.

What to keep in mind while replying to professional emails

To appear professional, you also need to be timely. Even if other people take too long to answer emails, you don’t want to adopt this bad habit. But you definitely have other important things to accomplish during your day, so don’t feel obligated to immediately respond to all emails.

The best approach is to check your emails regularly and set aside a specific time each day to answer them as needed. This will help you stay on task while allowing you the time to craft thoughtful and carefully worded messages.

When responding, note the tone of the person who sent you the email. Is it as formal as the one you sent? If so, then maintain that tone. Either way, you’ll want to keep being straightforward and concise in your writing.

That said, email replies are just a continuation of the conversation, so you won’t need to include the greeting or “human touch” because this part of the conversation has already happened.

However, you should always include a closing with a sign-off and your name, just as a professional courtesy. That is, unless it’s just a quick exchange between colleagues that has already gone on for several messages—this doesn’t require so much formality.

How to add a signature and contact info

You can make your email look even more professional by adding a signature. Here’s how.

When you start looking for job opportunities and enter the workforce, including your contact information is common and often expected. When job-hunting, use your personal contact information. When you’re already a part of an organization, use your business contact information.

Add this information after your closing and signature in the following format:

Printed First and Last Name

Job Title (If applicable)

Name of Company (If applicable)

Address

Phone number

Email address

Website (If applicable)

Forging Ahead with Professional Emails

Now you know all about how to write a professional email, so get out there and get some practice! Here are some extra do’s and don’ts when it comes to email etiquette that can help you further.

Either way, those professional emails will help you when it comes to building positive relationships with professors, colleagues, bosses, and other professional contacts.

And this type of writing is also meant to help you achieve your goals—to get into a good school, land a job interview, and communicate effectively with others in your field.

Because these emails can make all the difference in how others view your ability to be professional, make sure your writing is top-notch by having one of our talented Kibin editors review your professional communications.

That’s awesome! But I’m going to ask you for a favor: pump your brakes for a second, so you can ask yourself this question:

Have I ever written a synthesis essay before?

If the answer is no, then you’ll want to check out How to Write a Surprisingly Good Synthesis Essay so that you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Toe in the Water

Okay—now that you know what’s what, let’s get down to business.

By now, your teacher should have given you a synthesis essay topic and the sources. Sometimes you’re given a specific prompt or stance on a topic; sometimes your teacher will expect you to come up with your own stance to argue in the essay.

Whatever the case, the outline process will be the same. There are just a couple of steps you should take before you start on the outline that will ensure your success on this paper.

Read the material

Make sure you read through all of the sources and take notes on common themes or arguments being made. This will help you draw connections between the sources and give you material to quote when it’s time to defend your stance.

Brainstorm a bit

Going into an essay blind is like getting lost in the wilderness. Going into an outline without brainstorming is like having a poorly drawn map and forgetting your compass.

Brainstorming is a solid exercise that helps you figure out which direction your writing needs to take to reach a successful outcome. It also lowers the risk that you’ll get stuck mid-paper and want to start over.

Here are some other great prewriting strategies that can be super helpful to you before you dive into your essay.

The Layout of a Synthesis Essay Outline

The above is the basic layout of your synthesis essay outline. It should look pretty familiar if you’ve written an argument essay. If not, don’t worry—we’re going to break it down, piece by piece.

The best thing we can do is practice with a low-stakes assignment that will help you get started on your own outline.

The Topic at Hand

If you can’t tell where this is going, know that I’m a huge nerd (as if the above image wasn’t a dead giveaway), and we’re about to tackle a very controversial topic:

Are the Star Wars prequels good movies?

For the sake of this exercise (and because I like a challenge), we’ll be arguing the position that, yes, the Star Wars prequels are indeed cinematic achievements. We will also pretend we have been given several sources that help us make this argument:

“Pew Pew: The Not-So-Quiet Triumph of the Star Wars Prequels,” a 2016 article by J.J. Binks published in ARTOO Magazine.

“Studies in Sci-Fi Cinema,” a 2015 essay by Bob A. Fett published in Lando: A Journal of Swagger.

“Good Enough for Roger Ebert,” a 2018 blog post by Mo N. Mothma published on Some Like It Hoth.

Synthesis essays require that you argue a stance using your sources as evidence, so there’s a good chance you’ll also be required to find sound counterarguments within your sources. And then your goal will be to refute them … but we’ll get to that in a moment.

Also keep in mind that not all topics will be so cut-and-dry like this. Often, teachers will give you sources that are more complicated, and it’s up to you to find the arguments within, both those that agree and disagree with your position.

The Outline

Let’s take a look at how we can craft a synthesis essay outline using the above sources, step by step.

Intro

The essay introduction is where you first draw your reader in with a strong hook sentence.

Next, you provide context (background information) on the history and importance of the issue.

You should finish this paragraph with your thesis.

Hook

The intro starts with your hook—a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. Here’s what you might write as a hook for our Star Wars stance:

If fans fail to love the Star Wars prequels, then they are simply not true Star Wars fans.

Learn more about writing effective hooks.

Context

You’ll be discussing the issue at length in your body paragraphs, but your reader needs an introduction to the key elements of the issue. This is a good spot to briefly answer the following questions:

• What is the history of the issue?
• Why is it important now?
• Who does the issue affect and why?

Thesis

The thesis is the main claim/argument that you’re making in the essay. It’s the official stance that you will support throughout the rest of the paper. It should be one to two sentences and should make a specific claim that introduces the topics of the other supporting claims you’ll write in the body paragraphs.

Ours might look something like this:

Despite the ongoing arguments over this trilogy, on the merits of cinematography, artistry, imagination, technological feats, and canonization, the Star Wars prequels are nevertheless great films.

Body: Defense of your thesis

Depending on the required length of your paper, this section should be about three to six paragraphs long.

That’s one to two paragraphs per claim.

Claims

A claim is a statement you make that supports your thesis. This is a great place to apply logos and pathos to your synthesis. Here’s an example of a claim for our paper:

Between practical set design and digital effects, The Phantom Menace is visually groundbreaking for a film made in 1999 when CGI was still in its infancy.

You should have at least three supporting claims in your synthesis essay outline. Devote one to two paragraphs to each claim in your essay.

Support

A claim is nothing without support, and there are two things you need to do here in order to successfully support your claims.

1. Use evidence from your sources

This is how you’ll support your claim while also showing your teacher how well you can draw connections between the sources and your stance on the issue.

Make use of direct quotes, paraphrasing, and summary, but make sure most of the paper is in your own words!

You should use your sources only to support what you’ve already said—your teacher wants to see what you have to say about the subject, not others.

Here’s an example of paraphrased evidence-based support for the above claim.

The special effects were extremely complex for the time—as much a marvel then as when the effects of the original trilogy were a cinematic marvel to behold (Binks, 2016).

2. Back up the significance of your evidence with logic

It’s not enough to just show your evidence. You also need to explain how the evidence from your sources supports your claim and supports your thesis. Here’s what this might look like to reinforce the evidence above:

This approach to special effects requires a significant amount of hard work and artistic vision that cannot be duplicated to the same degree that George Lucas applies to this film. Each Star Wars film takes place in a galaxy far, far away, and with new technology and a larger budget available, Lucas is able to deliver this completely alien universe’s aesthetic the way it was always meant to be seen. This alone is a special achievement for any filmmakers who try to revisit their work and finish a story they longed to tell.

Body: Counterargument and rebuttal

A good argument is never one-sided, so as you’re working to synthesize your sources, showing your teacher that you’ve considered one or two other stances is especially important.

That said, you still need to demonstrate why the opposing viewpoint, while valid, is not as strong as yours. This is called the rebuttal or refutation.

Here’s how it’s done:

The question remains, are the Star Wars prequels perfect? The answer is no. “As films, they have many flaws, some forgivable, some less so” (Fett, 2015). No film is perfect, but each film should set out to accomplish certain goals. In this regard, the prequels excel at providing an entertaining science-fiction adventure experience that appeals to a wide audience.

Conclusion

The conclusion is where you wrap up your synthesis essay by doing two things.

First, restate the importance of your issue, guiding your reader back to your thesis.

Then, tell the reader what would happen if your argument is (or is not) accepted.

This section is a perfect opportunity to make your last stand and emphasize the importance of your issue and viewpoint.

What happens if the reader chooses to ignore your sound evidence? How do you put up a final defense against this? Check it out:

While film critics and audience members are entitled to their opinions about the films they watch and enjoy, the success of the Star Wars prequels cannot be ignored. These films succeeded at the box office and paved the way for new Star Wars stories to be told. They allowed audiences to revisit their favorite sci-fi universe and see it for the first time in the grand spectacle that Lucas had always wanted to portray. Without these films, Star Wars may have only existed as a classic trilogy, cherished and admired but ultimately lost to time. The success of the prequels ensures Star Wars’ continued and everlasting presence in cinema.

The Final Product

Below is how the outline for this topic would look when put together. Keep in mind that this is a guide—you’ll have to input your notes for each of these sections and build your paper from this framework.

1. Intro
a. Hook
b. Context
c. Thesis
2. Body: Defense of your thesis
a. Claim 1
i. Evidence from source(s)
ii. Support (show how evidence supports claim)
b. Claim 2
i. Evidence from source(s)
ii. Support (show how evidence supports claim)
c. Claim 3
i. Evidence from source(s)
ii. Support (show how evidence supports claim)
3. Body: Counterargument and Rebuttal
a. Counterargument 1
i. Evidence from source
ii. Refutation of argument and evidence
b. Counterargument 2
i. Evidence from source
ii. Refutation of argument and evidence
4. Conclusion
a. Restate the importance of your issue and thesis
b. Tell the reader what would happen if your argument is (or isn’t) accepted.

And that’s it in a nutshell!

I’ve even created a skeleton Synthesis Outline Template you can download to get started.

Kibin editors can also help you edit your outline or your finished essay, so don’t hesitate to send us your work!

Answer: Everyone, including you!

Traditional, handwritten “snail-mail” letters might seem like they’re on the endangered species list, but that doesn’t mean that letter writing isn’t alive and well.

Writing a professional letter is a necessary skill for anyone who wants to get ahead.
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Knowing the ins and outs of writing a professional letter is a necessary skill for anyone entering college or the workforce and wanting to get ahead.

You need to know how to format and write a letter if you are…

• Filling out a job application
• Sending emails to professors or potential/current bosses
• Contacting colleagues at work
• Crafting a recommendation letter for someone else
• Writing to elected officials

What your recipient reads is a reflection of you and your ability to communicate.

If you write well, your recipient will take you seriously, and you’re more likely to get what you want: an interview, a job, an internship, a raise, etc. But if you don’t, that letter will probably end up in the trash.

Let’s avoid the trash. Follow these top-five tips on what you can do to make sure you’re writing a professional letter that knocks the recipient’s socks off!

1. Know Your Style

Are you writing to your professor about an upcoming exam? Or perhaps you’re applying for a job and writing a cover letter. Whatever the case, make sure you take the right approach.

There are many types of professional letters out there, and while each will follow a similar structure, they all have different specific goals.

Here are some common types of letters you’ll probably end up writing throughout your career:

• Inquiry/Query letter
• Cover letter
• Thank-you letter
• Follow-up email
• Acknowledgement letter
• Withdrawal letter
• Acceptance letter
• Decline letter
• Resignation letter

2. Pay Attention to Formatting

If you dress professionally for an interview, you’re more likely to get hired. Professional letters also have a strict “dress code” when it comes to formatting correctly.

Because this is formal writing, you don’t want it to look like a text message you’d send to just anyone. There are rules to follow.

A professional letter should be well-written, but you’re not creating an abstract work of art or the next Great American Novel. These letters should be straightforward, polite, diplomatic, and easy to read.

Here are some tips:

• Keep it short—about three paragraphs on a single page will do. Use simple, professional-looking fonts, such as Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, Cambria, or Verdana. Avoid Comic Sans and other goofy fonts like the plague.

• Your font size should be 10 pt or 12 pt. Any smaller and the recipient will be squinting to read it. If you find you cannot fit everything in one page with 10 pt font, then something has to go.

• Make sure the entire letter text is left-aligned. Use single-spacing for each body paragraph and double-spacing between each paragraph.

• And don’t forget your margins! About one inch on all sides is best.

Helpful tip if you’re using MS Word:

Since 2010, all versions of Word, by default, use 8 pt line spacing (the space between each line in a paragraph), which can cause some formatting headaches. You’ll want to change this back to 0 pt. Don’t know how to do this? Need to change some other spacing issues too? Here’s how.

3. Get the Foundation and Frame Right

A house without a proper foundation and frame will fall apart, and your professional letter is no different. So let’s give it some strong legs to stand on by setting it up right.

All professional letters, regardless of type, should contain the following, in order:

1. Your name and address in the upper left corner
2. The current date
3. The recipient’s name and address
4. Salutation (also known as the greeting)
5. Body (about two to three short paragraphs)
6. Closing
7. Signature
8. Your typed name

Of course, it’s pretty tough to build a house with just the required supplies. You need a blueprint, so let’s take a look at how all of these pieces fit together in the following example.

Hank Venture

123 Compound Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80829

 

July 28, 2018

 

Bruce Wayne

1007 Mountain Drive

Gotham, NJ 10007

 

Dear Mr. Wayne,

The first paragraph of a professional letter should begin with a friendly opening. Immediately transition into the main purpose of your letter. Try to find a subtle way to hook your recipient’s attention.

The second paragraph can go into a little more detail now that you’ve set the stage and introduced your purpose.

Essentially, you’ll be supporting your main point with relevant information (your experiences, background, or accomplishments, for example). This information can vary widely depending on the type of letter.

In the closing paragraph, restate your main point and why it is important. If you’re writing regarding a job opportunity, this can be a good place to request a meeting with the company. Otherwise, thanking the recipient for his/her time and consideration is appropriate.

 

Sincerely,

Hank Venture

 

4. Don’t Forget the Nitty-Gritty Details

The above is the typical way to frame most of your letters, but there are some parts that may need some tweaking here or there, and a lot of that can depend on circumstance.

There are plenty of examples of professional letters out there to help you see how it’s done.

On signatures

In this digital age, it’s becoming increasingly rare to see a signature on many forms of communication, even in the professional world.

That said, if you’re mailing a letter as part of an application packet to a school or potential employer, you should include your signature as part of your closing.

This method is pretty easy. Make sure you add four spaces between your closing phrase (Sincerely, Best, etc.) and your printed name at the end of the letter. Once you print the letter, sign your name in this space, preferably in black ink.

If you’re sending a letter digitally, the signature is less important but can still earn you some style points. If you’re able, write your signature (again, in black ink) on a piece of plain white paper, and scan it.

Crop the scanned image to just beyond the edges of your signature, and save it as a JPEG or PNG file. You can copy/paste or insert this image into your letter with whichever word-processor program you’re using.

Here are some details on adding signatures to Gmail, Google Docs, and MS Office docs.

On enclosures

You may need to use an enclosure line if you’re applying to a school or job and are attaching relevant materials, such as a resume or CV. This is considered a professional courtesy and basically tells the recipient that the other items are included.

Include the enclosure after your signature and printed name. And then list the enclosed items.

Example:

Sincerely,

Philip J. Fry

 

Enclosures:

Curriculum Vitae

Letters of Reference

What about email?

A lot of your professional communication during college and in the workforce will take place over email. But for the most part, you won’t have to be quite so formal as when writing a letter.

That said, some potential employers may have you email your application materials. And if you ever want to write a letter of inquiry about a position, there is a good chance you’ll do so over email.

In these situations, stick to all of the rules above, except for the important formatting changes detailed below.

Subject line

You know that emails should have a subject line, but maybe you’re unsure of what to put on this line when sending a professional email. Unless a job posting or similar situation instructs you otherwise, use the subject line to concisely state your specific purpose.

For example, if you’re writing to a company regarding a potential opening, you might try something like this:

Team Coordinator Position Inquiry

In just a few words, this line tells the recipient exactly what you’re writing about.

Body text and closing

In an email, you may forgo the address and date at the top of your message. Just start with the salutation, write your body paragraphs, and end with your closing.

You may include your digital signature following the closing phrase. Then type your name as you would in a traditional letter, and include your contact information below this.

That’s really all there is to it! But if you want more info on writing professional emails, head over to How to Write a Professional Email … Like a Professional.

5. Walk the Walk

So you’re ready to start writing that letter, right? Not so fast!

You’re almost there, but let’s talk about what really sets a good first impression when you’re writing a professional letter: showing off just how professional you are. Here’s how it’s done.

Research!

I can’t stress this one enough—don’t start writing a professional letter without first looking up the specific person you should be writing. If you’re applying for a job, doing this shows that you’re willing to go beyond the bare minimum when reaching out to the company.

You can usually find information about an HR/talent manager by looking on a company’s website or LinkedIn. When in doubt, don’t be afraid to call the company to ask for the name and contact info of this person.

And always make sure you’re spelling the person’s name correctly. This small step can really make all the difference.

Doing your homework on a company can also help you figure out what kind of language you should include in your writing. Many companies will post their mission statements or values on their websites, and this can give you an idea of what a company’s culture is like—cater your writing to this.

Use the right tone

The way we write affects how others perceive us. If you want to appear professional, you have to write using the appropriate tone. Here are some pointers to help you out:

• Write complete sentences.

• Write simply and concisely. Don’t use a lot of flowery, descriptive language.

• Be confident and enthusiastic, not hubristic or self-deprecating.

• Avoid slang, jargon, and curse words.

• Be politically correct. Sexist and other biased language, for example, will not be tolerated.

• Avoid using exclamation points.

• Humor is subjective, so don’t try to be funny or sarcastic.

• Be accurate. If you make any claims, be sure to fact-check yourself.

• Avoid contractions (they’re, don’t, etc.).

• Avoid cliches.

• Don’t repeat yourself. The letter is a small space, so the recipient shouldn’t be reading the same thing over and over again.

• Always proofread your work for spelling and grammatical errors.

Most of All, When Writing a Professional Letter…

Slow down and take your time with the writing.

These letters are meant to represent who you are as a person and professional scholar or employee. It took a long time and a lot of work to get you to this point, and your writing should be carefully crafted to show this fact to your recipient.

When you sit down to write that first draft of your letter, don’t forget to one of Kibin’s professional editors take a look. They can help your letters (and resume!) stand out and show off just how awesome—and professional—you really are.

Well, guess what?

You…you still can’t do that. Sorry.

But you do have another power over the minutes and hours that fill up your day, and it’s a little something called time management. And while it takes practice and a few lifestyle changes, anybody can learn to effectively manage time—even you!

What makes time management easier is that you already know your goals. These are some common reasons students want to manage their time better:

• Write a college paper
• Study for an exam (and ace it)
• Reduce stress
• Have more free time for fun
• Feel less tired throughout the day

Sound familiar? As a student or working professional, you’re probably busy all the time.

Maybe you find yourself pulling all-nighters to write papers or to study for exams, and you want to break this habit. Or maybe you’re always buried under a bunch of tasks and aren’t sure about the best way to tackle them.

So what are some things you can do to start practicing good time management skills that will help you achieve your goals and relieve some of your day-to-day stress?

Keep scrolling—in this post, I’ll tell you all about how to manage time better.

Diagnosis: Poor Time Management

If you’re reading this, then chances are you want to improve your time management skills. That said, it’s always a good idea to assess yourself first and figure out which habits you need to change in order to manage time better.

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you’re probably suffering from poor time management:

• Arriving (often) late to class, appointments, or events with friends
• Turning in papers late or at the very last second
• Cramming for exams the night before
• Procrastinating on assignments that you don’t like
• Performing poorly on your assignments
• Getting only a few hours of sleep a night
• Experiencing tiredness and low energy throughout the day
• Having declining physical health and increased stress
• Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work you must do

If any of this sounds like you, then you know it’s time to start making some changes. Poor time management can be draining and negatively affect your goals and progress.

So acknowledge these problems. Write them down. Then get ready to put a plan together that will help you resolve these symptoms by learning how to better manage time to perform better in school or at work and feel better, both physically and mentally.

Here is a useful time-management test to help you gauge how much you need to focus on managing your time.

Once you’ve identified your main time-management problem areas, it’s time to work on the cure. These next tips are designed to do just that!

How to Manage Time Better: The Long and Short of It

The best way to manage your time is to start creating a schedule for yourself. It may not seem very glamorous, but it’s always the right tool for the job.

If you can see what’s coming down the road, you won’t find yourself surprised when those due dates start speeding your way.

Know what’s coming down the road to avoid being surprised when due dates start speeding your way.
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I use “schedule” as a catch-all term because it doesn’t mean you need to plan every single moment. It’s not meant to be rigorous.

Instead, it’s just a tool meant to keep all of your deadlines and major events in mind so that you can carve out appropriate amounts of time to get things done while still living your life.

Planning ahead (the long part)

Open up your phone, and navigate to your calendar app. Or use Google Calendar, and sync all of your devices to it. Or just go out and buy a regular ol’ pen-and-paper daily planner. Whatever works best for you is the way to go.

The advantages to writing down your due dates is that you’re more likely to remember them. But because you likely carry your phone around with you everywhere you go, you can really make good use of things like alerts that will keep you on track for major assignments and the like.

When you start any class, you’re usually given a syllabus that has major due dates. Otherwise, your professors will tell you when major assignments are due. Immediately record these dates in whatever system you’re using.

Putting this off is what usually causes students to miss deadlines because they forget all about them. Better safe than sorry!

In a nutshell, you should schedule everything that you know about. This includes class and work times, weekly assignments (you can set recurring instances in your calendar app, which is a handy shortcut), school and social events, and breaks/holidays.

Daily goals (the short part)

At the end of each day, you should make it part of your routine to plan the next day, starting with the morning.

Know how long it takes you to get ready and commute to and from class or work, how long the day’s events will take, and what hours you have left for homework and studying.

Plan some time for breaks to avoid burnout, and try not to let yourself work too late into the evening. It’s much harder to wind down at the end of the day and get quality sleep if you haven’t given your mind a rest.

When you commit time to writing, doing other homework, or studying, stick to it. Time management is only effective when you follow through with the daily goals you set for yourself.

Big to small

Always start with your biggest task first. If it seems too overwhelming at first, don’t be afraid to break it up into more manageable pieces that you can finish as the day (or week/month, depending on the task) carries on.

Accomplishing the most time-consuming and challenging task first will make all of the others seem like a cake walk, which is why this works so well for most students.

You’re also more likely to take breaks between completing smaller tasks. This works okay when you only have small tasks to finish but not so great when you have a larger, more challenging task ahead of you.

Failure is an option

Don’t fret if you don’t always get it right. Time management is a skill and takes practice. There may be some days when you just can’t meet all of your goals, and that’s okay.

The more you practice, the better you’ll get at understanding what steps you need to take—on a daily basis—to make sure you’re reaching those goals.

How to Manage Time Better When It’s Time to Write

Even great writers need to set aside quality time to put words to paper.

When you write an essay, as a student, you’re practicing two different skills: college-level writing (of course) and critical thinking. Many papers will also require research and well-crafted arguments, and all of this takes time.

The good news is that you usually are given an adequate amount of time to write those papers. And there’s a tried-and-true process to getting them done on time and producing quality work.

And you guessed right—it involves scheduling. But let’s break it down into the step-by-step process it takes to get you from start to finish.

The four-week breakdown

This method allows you to split up an essay assignment into manageable pieces and gives you plenty of time to review and edit your work before turning it in for a grade.

The “four-week” part of it works best when you actually have four full weeks to turn in an assignment, but this may not always be the case.

Say you only have 20 days to complete an essay assignment. No prob—just divide 20 by four, minimizing each “week” into five days to complete each task, and so on.

Week 1: Brainstorm, research, and outline

Immediately record your essay due date in your calendar, and set aside at least a couple of hours during the week to brainstorm ideas on what you’ll write about.

Bonus tip: If you still find yourself struggling to pick a topic or narrow a broad topic after brainstorming, try mining social media or drawing inspiration from example essays.

 

If your essay requires research, then this is also the time to start finding out more about your topic. Quality research can take some time, so be prepared to add a few more hours to this step if need be.

As you brainstorm or research, jot down your ideas and take notes. Then start making an outline so that you have a plan to follow and goals to reach when you set out to write the essay.

Week 2: Write the rough draft

Write, write, write! Get from point A to point B. Then look at what you’ve written. It’ll be far from perfect. You should not intend to turn in this draft as-is. In fact, you may have to rewrite it several times.

Writing is a process. Maybe you have to add details or trim the fat, so to speak. Sometimes you’re not entirely satisfied with what you’ve written, and you scrap half your paper in order to change direction. This is totally normal.

Want to know more about rough drafts? Check out this post from the Kibin blog!

Week 3: Edit

Now that you’ve written a rough draft, it’s time to review it. Look over your work to make sure that your message is clear and that you’re saying exactly what you want to say to the reader.

Does the essay accomplish its goals? Why or why not? Are there any grammar or spelling errors? Request an appointment with your professor ahead of time to help you with your essay if you’re struggling.

Have a classmate or friend look over your work to help you spot any inconsistencies, and be open to criticism—any advice you get is meant to help, even if you don’t necessarily agree with it.

You can also take your work to your campus writing lab or have Kibin review it for you.

Week 4: Add finishing touches

By this week, you should be finished writing your paper, and it should be as perfect as you can make it. Having your paper finished at this point still gives you a small window of time to add any final changes/edits and get it proofread one last time.

This time also helps you gain some distance from your work, which is helpful because you can return to it after a day or two with fresh eyes. Sometimes that’s all it takes to spot where you might need to tweak your writing to make it even stronger.

Just don’t wait until the night before your paper is due to have another look!

Good Habits

You might be wondering if there’s anything else you can do to manage time better, and there is! Developing good habits that are good for your overall health will help you manage your time better and feel less stressed.

Get a good night’s sleep

This one may seem obvious, but sleep loss is one of the most prevalent problems that college students face. Not sleeping enough can make it difficult to focus and complete tasks, which negatively affects your ability to manage time.

Sometimes it’s tough, but try to give yourself enough time to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Avoid screens at least an hour before bed, and try to limit your caffeine intake to the mornings.

Exercise

Exercise is another simple habit that is really easy to forgo when you’re busy. But even if it’s just 20 minutes a day, light exercise can keep you healthy, allow for better sleep, improve your mood, and energize you.

The next time you take a break from homework or studying, think about going for a brisk walk or doing another activity that gets you moving instead of going straight for your phone. It’ll give you an extra boost of energy to finish your work when you return.

Eat and drink wisely

A healthy diet can also contribute to your energy levels, which directly affect your ability to manage time better. So keep the fast food to a minimum and go for more fruits and vegetables to ensure you’re getting plenty of nutrients.

Skip the energy drinks, and consume plenty of water instead. It’ll make you feel better. I love coffee, but everything in moderation!

If you’re in college, you’ll probably party to blow off steam and connect with friends, and that’s totally fine. But try to limit your alcohol consumption because—apart from the known dangers of overdoing it—hangovers are time management’s worst enemy.

Alcohol also negatively impacts the quality of your sleep.

Set aside time

If you know you’re going to be busy, you should still set aside some time for fun. Not taking any breaks can be just as bad as procrastination. Getting some rest or hanging out with friends can recharge your system, making the work easier to finish.

Learn to say “no”

You can’t please everyone, and you shouldn’t try.

If you have committed to finish a paper or study for a big test at a certain time, stick to your schedule, even when your friends try to get you to go out, etc. Tell them you’ll catch them next time—there is always a next time!

Find a mentor

Okay—so you can’t just go out and “find” a mentor, but sometimes your own ideas and self-motivation aren’t enough to get the job done. So develop positive relationships with your professors, advisors, and anyone you trust who is in a position to help you succeed.

Many educators will go the extra mile for students who are willing to do the same, and this usually means scheduling office hours, taking an interest in your work, and seeking help.

These individuals can and will guide you, and that’s definitely something to take advantage of during your college career.

Winding Down

There are plenty of ways to manage your time, and it all starts with taking that first step.

If you’re looking for extra help, you can even put your phone to good use. Here’s a blog post with a lot of great time-management-related apps that can be just what you’re looking for.

Managing your time takes effort, but keep practicing those good habits. Soon enough, you’ll know how to manage time better than ever before!

But as those admissions deadlines approach, you still have one thing left–the dreaded personal statement.

Sure, you’re just one hopeful student in a big sea of college applicants, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stand out. And this post will show you how it’s done.

So without further ado, let’s tackle how to write a personal statement the right way.

In this post, I’ll walk you through just what a personal statement is, how to write one from A to Z, and some examples that can inspire you to get started.

What Exactly Is a Personal Statement?

Think of a personal statement, sometimes referred to as a statement of purpose or personal essay, as your chance to show college admissions officers why you’re a great fit for the school and perhaps even the program to which you’re applying.

It’s not unlike a cover letter you’d submit with a job application.

A personal statement also allows you to show admissions officers that you’re more than just grades and test scores.

A personal statement allows you show that you’re more than just grades and test scores.
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It’s an opportunity for admissions officers to see who you are as a person, what you can bring to the campus community, and how your experiences have led you to choose their school.

Often, when you sit down to write a personal statement, you’ll spend about one to three pages answering a question or prompt. Check out this blog post to see some some examples of what you can expect when this is the case.

Pre-work

Your personal statement will turn out much better if you follow these important steps before typing away at the keyboard. If you need to brush up on the essay writing process in general, this post can also help you out.

Careful review

Get out a notebook or open up your laptop, and get ready to take some notes or create some outlines. This will ensure that your materials stay organized. You’re probably not going to be writing just one personal statement to send to all of your prospective schools.

You read that correctly–there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to writing personal statements. Admissions offices tend to have different guidelines or items they’re looking for in their instructions or prompts.

While you can probably reuse some of the main points in each of your personal statements, you’ll want to make sure that whatever you’re writing adequately answers the prompts given.

The most effective way to go about this is to carefully read the instructions on the statement of purpose submission form and make sure you clearly understand what’s being asked of you.

• What specific questions does the form ask?
• What situations or times in your life do the admissions officers want to know about?

Once you understand these guidelines, write them down in your notes or outline. Also take notes about what situations will apply to the questions/prompts and what you could leave out.

Web sleuthing

You’ve no doubt looked up information about certain topics and people online or in your favorite social media apps. It’s time to put those internet search skills to good use!

Each school you’re applying to has a website, which you’ve probably already used to start your application. A quick Google search can help you find each school’s mission statement.

One of your goals in a personal statement is to show admissions officers that your values and objectives make you a good fit for their community.

Check out this example of a mission statement page from The Ohio State University. Note some of the key buzzwords on this page:

• Knowledge
• Excellence
• Leaders
• Diversity
• Inclusion
• Access
• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Multidisciplinary

These values are what this university is looking for in its students. If you were applying here, you would cater your personal statement to show how you–as an individual and as a student–have and will uphold these values.

Because the mission statement of each school on your list will vary in values and goals, you’ll want to make sure that your personal statements shift focus to show that you represent the relevant items for each respective school.

What should you write about?

Questions/prompts on personal statement forms will give you a good idea of what to specifically focus on in your writing. But it’s also a good idea to brainstorm about what you have in your personal statement toolbox.

Alternately, some personal statement forms may not have any specific prompts or questions, which gives you the freedom to tell your story however you want. But that may leave you wondering where to start.

In either case, start making a list of the following, and you’ll have plenty of material to work with when you sit down to write the personal statement.

• Awards or honors from your current or past schools
• Job promotions or special responsibilities
• Organizations you may belong to (clubs, church groups, etc.)
• Any volunteer experience you may have
• Any events or workshops where you attended or presented material
• Your specific goals
• Your top values
• Any challenges you may have faced and overcame

Can I get a demo?

Before we dive into the structure of your personal statement, it’s a good idea to see what one looks like. This site has quite a few helpful examples of personal statements and even explains why they are successful. You can also check out a few annotated examples here.

With that out of the way, now we’re ready to dive into the how of how to write a personal statement.

How to Write a Personal Statement: The A to Z of Structure

When you think about how to write a personal statement, consider it as being a small structured essay that tells a little story about you. It won’t be unlike the five-paragraph essay format that you may already be used to writing.

Admissions officers also want to determine how strong your writing skills are, including how well you can start with a main idea and see it through to a meaningful end.

So like any essay, your personal statement should have an introduction that hooks the reader, a thesis, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion that ties everything together. Let’s break these down in order.

Introduction

The introduction is probably the most important part of the personal statement. This is where you will try to hook your readers’ attention so that they’re ready to go along for the ride and read the rest of your statement.

To do this, focus on writing an honest and concrete sentence that shows off your personality. Start with the story that is unique to you.

Sometimes this can be difficult because not everyone’s life is very dramatic. But don’t let that discourage you. Even your night shifts at a fast food restaurant can be good fodder for why you want to get into a school or specific program.

Avoid vague language and clichés. Being specific to your experience is important here.

Bad opening sentence:

This summer was when everything changed, and I knew what I wanted to do.

Better opening sentence:

As a Cleveland Aquarium volunteer, I was responsible for an injured octopus’s feeding schedule, an experience that triggered my interest in marine biology.

The second sentence is better because it focuses on a specific scenario that gives a clear reason that the writer wants to pursue a specific goal. The first sentence is vague and could have been written by anyone. Being specific is key!

In the next couple of sentences, go into further detail and provide some context around the situation you’re describing.

Now is the time to craft your thesis. It will be the main point of your personal statement, and everything else you write will work to support it.

Body paragraphs

Because personal statements only allow for one to three pages of writing, you’ll want to focus only on one or two topics in your body paragraphs. And they should be absolutely relevant to the ideas in your intro.

Whether you’re writing a general personal statement or answering a prompt, make sure you don’t lose focus. You don’t need to tell your life story, and you don’t want to appear as though you’re rambling without purpose.

Start with the ideas in your intro and move forward.

• What effect did that formative experience have on you?
• What about your background, personality, and ambitions make you want to attend an institution of higher learning?
• What goals do you have for yourself?

As you write, these are the items you’ll want to focus on. And you’ll want to make sure they all tie into the thesis or main idea. You want admissions officers to see how your experience has led you to their particular school.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve made it this far, don’t let your writing come to an abrupt stop! It’s time to finish the personal statement with a conclusion paragraph.

A straightforward way to bring all of the ideas from your intro and body paragraphs together is to have them work toward why you want to attend the particular school.

In this section of your personal statement, summarize your overall experience and traits while saying how and why they have led you to the school to which you’re applying.

• What does the school (or program) have in common with your goals and values?
• What will you aspire to be as a student there?

Now that you know how to write a personal statement, it’s also important to know what you can (and should) leave out.

What You Can Leave Out

Now that you know all the great things you should put into a personal statement, you may be wondering what you should avoid. These items tend to hurt personal statements in the eyes of admissions officers.

Repeating information from your application materials

Now is not the time to talk at length about your grades and course history. This is your opportunity to show admissions who you really are.

Opinions about religion or politics

These items are not totally off-limits if they relate to your story in a productive way. But strong opinions about either may offend the reader–you don’t know who will be reviewing your writing.

A grab for sympathy

Writing about a difficult experience, how you personally dealt with it, and the lesson it taught you is perfectly fine! However, don’t write in a way that asks for readers to feel sorry for you. Chances are, they will not.

Humor

As much as we all like a good joke, leave out the funny stuff. If the admissions officers suspect you’re not taking your personal statement seriously, then neither will they.

Praise

Don’t tell the admissions officers how great the school is–they probably already believe this about the school. You’ll just be wasting precious space in which you could be telling them more about you and what makes you great for the school.

Fancy fonts and funky formats

Admissions officers may be instructed to just throw out applications that don’t follow the rules, so don’t chance it! Be sure to read the formatting instructions on each application form, and set your font style and size to match.

Before You Submit…

Still think you need to see some examples of personal statements before getting started? Check out Kibin’s essay database!

Make sure you get an early start on this process so that you’ll have plenty of time to turn in a well-thought-out, well-written, and polished personal statement. This definitely includes proofreading and revision because strong writing always stands out.

And when it comes to editing, you have a few options:

• Review what you’ve written (always!) to make sure that the information is accurate, clear, and void of errors.
• Have a friend read over your work and listen to you read it aloud.
• Take advantage of a service or guidance counselor (if your school has one) who can give you extra advice.

And as always, the pros at Kibin are here for you 24/7 to help that personal statement go above and beyond. They can help you make sure that, when your application is next in line, it will truly stand out above the rest!

That’s okay! Let’s start by taking some of the mystery out of the equation.

A peer review, also referred to as peer editing or a peer workshop, is when you read another student’s essay draft and make comments on what’s both working well in the paper and what may need improvement. There are different methods by which each college professor might conduct a peer review, but they all adhere to similar guidelines.

This type of assignment may be new to you, and it may seem challenging. But try to see it as an opportunity to…

• Better understand the essay assignment (which you’ll be writing yourself and turning in to your professor)
• See how one of your peers has approached the essay
• Approach editing from a whole new angle

What’s great about peer reviews is that they allow you to be more objective—sometimes it’s easier for us to find things to fix in others’ work.

Practicing with your peers’ papers will help you develop skills that can be used to revise your own writing, which will in turn help you write stronger papers throughout your college career.

So without further ado, let’s break down the top six items you’ll want to focus on in order to write a stellar peer review.

1. Understanding the Essay Assignment

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s super important not to read your peer’s essay draft without fully understanding the assignment yourself.

In fact, by the time you’re ready to write a peer review, you should have already started on the same essay project and have a pretty solid understanding of what your teacher is looking for in a successful paper.

This includes understanding the goals of your essay assignment. What kind of essay is it, and what is the purpose? What should the writer try to accomplish in this essay, or what is the writer trying to make the reader understand?

Below are some examples of common college essay formats, and you can find examples of them all in the Kibin essay example database:

• Narrative
• Compare and Contrast
• Analytical
• Argumentative

The second part of understanding the assignment includes any guidelines your teacher has specifically defined for the essay. Note whether your classmate is meeting all of these requirements as you read the paper you’re reviewing.

2. Following Instructions

Peer reviews can occur in different formats, and your teacher may have different expectations than someone else’s. So make sure you know what your teacher expects from you before diving into this assignment.

Sometimes you’ll be given a checklist or assignment sheet that you’re expected to follow, or you may find this information in your course textbook or workbook. If not, it’s a good idea to ask for clarification if any part of the expectations are confusing.

You may also be expected to take a copy of your classmate’s essay home for in-depth review, in which case you should plan to spend a quality amount of time on it on your own.

Or you may have a peer workshop in which you’ll be expected to read the essay, take notes, and come to class prepared to give your input aloud to your classmate while the teacher oversees the review session.

In many cases, peer review will require both of the above, so be prepared to spend time reviewing that essay either way!

If you don’t have a strict set of guidelines but want to follow a proven method for peer reviewing, try this handy worksheet that uses the CARES method.

3. Getting Started: Read It All

You might be tempted to get out your red pen and start making comments and suggestions right away, but let’s slow down a bit.

First things first: you need to read your classmate’s essay in its entirety.

It’s important to fully read the essay draft because providing feedback right away can make you less objective and thus a less effective reviewer.

But when you read the entire essay, you familiarize yourself with your classmate’s writing style and get an idea of the points your classmate’s trying to make in the paper.

During this full reading, focus on what your classmate is trying to say, whether the writing is clear and easy to understand, and whether it follows the overall guidelines of the assignment.

For instance, here are the questions you should think about for three types of essays:

• Narrative essay: Does it tell a story?
• Compare and contrast essay: Does it effectively compare one item to another?
• Argument essay: Does it have a clear thesis and support that thesis throughout the essay?

You’ll also want to think about whether the essay follows a coherent structure from beginning to end.

• Are the introduction, body, and closing paragraph(s) clearly defined and separate?
• Do the ideas flow naturally from one point to the next?
• Is anything left underdeveloped or unexplained that would improve your understanding of what the writer is trying to say?

4. Doing a Rough Review

Just like you would write a rough draft of any college-level essay, you should also do a “rough” version of your peer review that focuses on clarity and whether the writer is meeting the assignment goals.

This step includes rereading the essay and—as you go along—highlighting or underlining sections that are unclear or underdeveloped. Add notes in the margins for each mark you make so that you’ll have a handy guide for when you type up your feedback.

This is also a good time to practice your grammar skills. If you see any grammatical mistakes or spelling errors as you read through the paper, be sure to circle these.

Are there any awkward phrases, sentence fragments, punctuation errors, run-ons, or incomplete ideas? Circle these as well, and jot down the reason you’re marking these sections.

But there’s more to it than grammar. Make sure you also focus on these areas:

• Start with the first paragraph. Is there a solid hook? When you finish reading it, do you want to read more? Why or why not? Write down your reason.

• Can you easily identify the thesis—the point that the writer is trying to make/argue? Is there anything that makes the thesis unclear? Why?

• How well is the thesis/main point supported in each body paragraph? If it’s an argument essay, what kind of support is provided? Does the writer use quotes from scholarly sources? Do the quotes adequately back up what the writer is saying?

• Are there any points where the author seems to lose focus and goes off on a tangent? Is there anything that doesn’t seem to fit with the essay or support the main point? Where does this happen, specifically, and what do you find difficult about it?

5. Crafting a Formal Response

As part of the peer editing and review process, your professor may expect you to fill out a worksheet or type up a formal response to turn in for a grade or to give to your classmate.

Either way, you’ll want to make sure that your feedback is clear and easy to understand so that your classmate gets the most out of your peer review.

Below are some tips for providing great feedback.

Be detailed

The least helpful thing you can say is “Good job!” or “This paper was good but needs work.” Instead, what you want to do is tell the writer specifically what is unclear or not working for you.

Here are some key phrases you can use to be more specific in your review:

• “I’m not sure that this example supports your thesis because…”
• “It is a little unclear what you’re trying to say here because…”
• “This paragraph seems to go off-topic from your main point because…”

The examples use the word “because,” but this doesn’t mean you have to write your own comments like this. “Because” is there just to remind you that, for each comment you make, you need to tell the writer why you feel the way you do about a specific part of the essay.

As a rule, any time you make a comment on a classmate’s paper—even positive ones—be sure to reinforce that comment with supporting reasoning.

A side benefit to doing this is that it also gives you practice for when you have to write your own college papers that require support and evidence to back up your idea.

See things differently

Personal bias can get in the way of a good review process, so do your best to set aside your own opinions about the writer’s topic before making your comments.

Try to see things from the writer’s point of view, and consider whether the writer makes a strong case for the ideas, even if you ultimately disagree with them.

Especially in the case of an argument paper, you can disagree with someone’s viewpoint while still acknowledging that the essay makes good points and provides solid evidence that supports the main ideas.

If you’re reviewing this type of essay, focus on whether the support is strong. Then raise questions you might have about the argument that the writer may not have considered. By provoking further thought, you can help the writer revise for a stronger argument.

Edit your work (always)

Part of making sure that the writer understands your comments includes writing clearly yourself. Your responses to the writer’s work should be well-organized and follow the normal paragraph structure of 3-5 sentences.

Start with a topic sentence, and follow it with supporting sentences in the paragraph body that stay on-topic.

Avoid rambling, and correct any run-ons, fragments, and other grammar/style errors. It’s okay for your rough draft to have mistakes, but what you turn in to the writer/professor needs to be proofread thoroughly—their understanding (and your grade) depend on it.

You can edit by yourself, but two heads are better than one. Ask a friend for help, visit your campus writing lab, or have the experts at Kibin edit your work.

6. Staying Positive and Giving Constructive Criticism

A lot of peer editing and review involves looking for ways the writer can improve the essay you’re reviewing. But you don’t want to overload the writer with just critical feedback. A little encouragement goes a long way, so it’s a good idea to balance the negative with the positive.

Peer reviewing is usually pretty new to everyone taking a college-level writing course for the first time. So most students are pretty nervous—on both sides—about how to both give and receive criticism.

The writer is probably worried about negative feedback, and the reviewers are probably worried about giving criticism for fear that the writer will roast them when it comes time for their own peer review.

But not to worry!

If you approach this assignment with the idea that it is meant to help the writer, then you’re already well on your way to writing a fair and positive review. So how do you provide the balance and stay constructive?

Start positive

Find one good thing to say about the beginning paragraph so that you begin by encouraging the writer. Maybe the thesis is strong and clear. Perhaps the sentences are detail-oriented and easy to follow.

Either way, finding one thing that works in the beginning will help the writer feel encouraged when you have to give more critical feedback.

Make suggestions, not demands

Remember that this is the writer’s work, not your own. You don’t want to tell the writer how to rewrite the paper—that’s not your job as a peer reviewer.

If there are any areas that could be improved, suggest changes that you think would work well, but don’t tell the writer, “You have to make these changes.”

It’s much easier for writers to accept (and benefit from) criticism if it isn’t being forced on them.

It’s much easier for writers to accept (and benefit from) criticism when it’s not forced on them.
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Try the sandwich method

This review style is based on encouragement and gets results. The sandwich method has three stages:

• Tell the writer one of the strengths in a specific part of the essay.
• Then identify an area that needs improvement.
• Next, reiterate the positive point, and tell the writer what positive results can be achieved if the section you mention is improved.

For more on the sandwich method and other useful criticism tips, check out this LinkedIn post.

Peer Editing: The Takeaway

Let’s do a quick recap of what you need to do to write a successful peer review:

• Understand the essay assignment.
• Be aware of the peer review instructions and your teacher’s expectations.
• Read the essay from start to finish.
• Mark areas on the essay that need improvement and those that are strong.
• Type up your formal response to the writer.
• Be detailed in your response.
• Try to see things from the writer’s point of view.
• Be positive and apply constructive criticism.

You have the CARES example from above, and there’s a good chance your teacher or course workbook has provided a checklist. But if you need another peer review checklist that covers all the bases, try this one—it’s super-helpful and has everything covered in this post.

The checklist is best reserved for the end of your peer editing and review process. It will help you cover anything you may have missed, but it’s best not to rely on it when you’re first diving in.

Instead, take in the whole essay first, and think about it before looking at ways to pick it apart. You’ll have a much stronger review if you put in that initial legwork.

Now you have the necessary tools to get started on your first peer review. Just like any college assignment, this one can be challenging. But if you put in the time and effort and ask questions when you’re confused or get stuck, you should do just fine.

Kibin’s awesome team of editors always has your back too! We’ll be there for you whenever you need help with your writing.

But you’ll need something more effective than that double-shot of espresso to get you through those rough drafts and revisions. Let this blog post be your writing survival guide to help you kick off a good school year.

I’ll walk you through what to expect from writing in college vs. high school, tools for success, and resources you can use to help you build confidence and ace those essays.

The Big Leagues

While writing experience and skill can widely differ from one student to the next, you can usually count on one major truth for everyone when it comes to writing in college—it’s more difficult and complex than high school writing.

High school essays…

• Are typically written using the more simplistic five-paragraph structure.
• Are usually expository, meaning they explain a topic to show that you’ve read the material.
• Seldom require research outside of what you can find on Google.

College essays…

• Require writing beyond the five-paragraph structure. You’ll often be expected to write enough to fill three to seven pages, depending on the course requirements.
• Test your ability to analyze. If you write a narrative essay, you’ll need to reflect on a personal experience, not just describe it. A research paper will require you to argue a specific point of view on a topic.
• Need evidence—particularly for argumentative writing—to reinforce your point of view. You will learn and be expected to use scholarly sources from academic databases.

In a nutshell, you should expect to spend more time on your college-level essays than you would on your high school ones. It will take some time to adjust to these new expectations, but your professor should guide you through this process.

Expect to spend more time on your college-level essays than you would on your high school ones.
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Great Expectations

Because writing in college will be tougher than it was in high school, you can safely bet that your teacher will have higher expectations of you as a student.

It’s common for each prospective college student to take an essay-based placement exam, which places you in a writing course that matches your skill level.

So whether you have trouble with grammar or speak English as a second language, you should end up in a class with a teacher who understands your unique needs as a writer.

That said, the quality of work you turn in will ultimately rely on how well you follow instructions and apply yourself. So it’s good to know what you’re getting into in advance. Work on essay-writing skills ahead of time, and you’ll be better prepared.

Here’s what your teacher will expect from you as a college-level writing student.

Knowing the syllabus

Your class will almost certainly have a syllabus. Read it. Understand it. Ask your teacher about anything that confuses you.

A course syllabus not only outlines the expectations of you as a student, but also should give you an idea of what you need to do in order to write successful essays.

Following the rubric

The syllabus or course workbook should have a grading rubric that breaks down the items that make the difference between a paper that fails, meets expectations, or passes with flying colors.

Editing and revising

Should you write more than one draft of each college-level essay? YES!

Your teacher will grade your essays under the assumption that you’ve taken the time to brainstorm, outline, and write a rough draft of your essay before editing your work into a polished final revision that aims for the “big A.”

At the very least, your teacher expects you to proofread to eliminate misspellings, punctuation errors, and problems in sentence structure.

Even strong writers need to go back and review their work. Simple mistakes can cost you points and even be the difference between a “B” and “C” grade, so don’t skip these vital steps!

Supporting the “why”

Because college essays come with the added expectation of claims, analysis, and support, your teacher will be grading your work with this in mind.

This can be tricky territory because there are different types of essays. Depending on which one you’re writing, you may have to shift your approach to meet these expectations.

Remember: college essays are not book reports. You won’t just be recounting what you read or watched to show that you’ve done these tasks.

Instead, your essays will dig further into your ideas, opinions, arguments, and the way you justify your thoughts.

In essence, your writing in college shows that you can think critically about issues or the way you see the world and that you can back up your thoughts with solid evidence or reasoning.

Effective college writing requires you to think critically and use solid evidence and reasoning.
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Here are some common types of college essays and what your teacher will expect from them.

Narrative

In this type of essay, you describe a significant event in your life, but there is a little more to telling a story than just listing the events from A to B. You’ll also need to reflect on the event and tell the reader why the event matters to you.

Compare and contrast

A compare and contrast essay will have you describe two different topics and break them down by their similarities and differences. It sounds pretty straightforward, but there are proven ways to get the job done when it comes to these types of essays.

Analysis

This essay type is usually the toughest for most students. When you analyze a topic, you’re doing so much more than just describing it. Instead, you explain to the reader the prevalent themes within a topic, the relationships thereof, and why they matter.

Argumentative

An argumentative paper does just what it suggests—you argue for one side of an issue by providing your main claim, the thesis. Then you explain to the reader why your claim is valid while supporting it with citations from established scholarly sources.

Want to see examples of these different types of essays? Check out the Kibin Essay Examples Database!

Supporting your claims with evidence (citing)

When you’re writing argumentative or research papers in college, your teacher will expect you to reinforce your claims with supporting evidence.

This evidence comes in the way of citations—quotes, paraphrasing, and summarizing the words of scholarly articles—that provide proof that your claims are valid.

You will probably be taught how to cite sources in whatever method is most appropriate for the type of course you’re in. But if not, your textbook should have a comprehensive guide on how to do this. Use it!

English classes usually require MLA format, whereas a number of courses may require APA.

Your teacher will also expect you to correctly cite your sources. Your textbook’s guide should break this down in two items:

Parenthetical in-text citation: This is when you use parentheses at the end of your cited material in the essay itself.

Works Cited/References page: For each source you use in a college essay, you will have to provide a complete citation on a separate page at the end of the essay that tells the reader where the information came from.

In lieu of your textbook, the Purdue OWL has pretty great up-to-date guides on how to cite sources—both in-text and on a Works Cited or References page—on its website, complete with examples to help you out.

Writing in your own words

On day one of classes, your teachers will probably emphasize that plagiarism is akin to a high crime in the academic world, that it comes with dire consequences—including failure of a paper, maybe even the course—and possible expulsion from the university.

It’s best to take them at their word and don’t ever plagiarize, which is when you try to pass off someone else’s work as your own.

Most teachers are pretty good at spotting this, and many universities require you to submit your papers to plagiarism-checking databases.

This is why citation is important. But even in those essays in which you’re citing others’ work, you need to balance this so that most of the writing is in your own words. The teacher expects to see your ideas and reasoning, not someone else’s.

A tip on citations: Usually 1-3 citations per page is fine, provided that they don’t make up most of the writing on those pages. You also don’t want to overly rely on just one source. One or two sources per essay page is typical.

Resource Roundup

If all of the above sounds overwhelming, don’t fret! A lot of this will come to you in bits and pieces over the duration of your course. Improving your skills will be a learning process. It will take time and work, but it can be done!

And you’re not alone in this process. You have human and written resources at your disposal to help you with your writing. Make good use of them, and you’ll likely do much better than if you hadn’t.

Your workbook and textbook

This may seem pretty obvious, but if you don’t keep up with your readings, you’ll soon find yourself lost. These books were designed specifically for your class and are meant to prepare you for success.

These texts usually come with exercises that are especially helpful if you struggle in certain areas of writing, whether it’s grammar and structure, or logic and analysis, etc.

If you find yourself struggling with a particular concept or technique, it’s a good chance these books have practice work to help you improve.

Your teacher

Your college teachers aren’t only available during class time. Most hold office hours each week in which you can visit them to discuss your work and ask for help in areas where you’re having trouble.

Even if their hours don’t match up with your schedule, you can request a meeting at a time that works for you both. Just be polite when asking, and definitely don’t be afraid to ask!

Building a good rapport with your teacher can be super-helpful for when times get tough.

Classmates, friends, and study groups

College should feel like a community. Early in the semester, reach out to your fellow classmates or friends, or sign up for study groups that focus on essay writing.

Your peers can look over your work and help point out issues you may have. Doing this for them will give you practice too!

Writing labs

Most universities have some kind of writing lab or center where you can walk in or schedule an appointment to get help with your essays.

You should keep in mind that, while the people who work there can help you with grammar, sentence structure, ideas, and argument, they will not edit or write your papers for you.

The library

Sure, you’ll probably do almost all of your work on a computer, but the library can come in handy when you need help finding sources for your papers.

Librarians are super-helpful sources of knowledge and can guide you to resources you may not have found on your own. They can also help you navigate your university’s scholarly databases when you’re having trouble.

Kibin

Of course, Kibin will always be here to help you when it comes to editing your papers and showing you how to improve your writing in all areas. Don’t forget to give us a try!

Writing in College: The Takeaway

Writing in college can and should be challenging, but that doesn’t mean it has to be frustrating or impossible. Like anything that may not come easy to you, if you practice, try new methods, and seek help when needed, you will get better.

Many students don’t do well on their first couple of college essays because high school writing hasn’t prepared them for this new challenge.

If this happens to you, it’s not time to worry—it’s time to take action.

Even if you fail your first college essay, try not to be discouraged. Instead, think of this failure as an opportunity to learn which areas you’re already strong in and which you need to work on to do better next time.

If you need some extra help understanding what you need to do to improve your writing, meet with your teacher. Teachers can guide you and help you reach their expectations when it comes to your work.

And as always, Kibin’s editing service has your back to help you succeed in this process!

But practice only takes you so far. You’ll also need the right tools.

Batman wouldn’t be nearly as prepared to fight Joker without all of his fancy gadgets, and you won’t become a great essayist without rocking some serious writing skills in your utility belt.

In this post, I’ll walk you through 10 important writing skills you’ll need to know to write an awesome paper.

1. Essay Writing Skills: The Fundamentals

This is the most important part of the writing process. LeBron James can dunk like crazy, but without having some of the basics down, he would never have become such a great player. So let’s start small.

Read, read, read

Reading is one of the best ways to start working out those writing muscles. It becomes a skill when you’ve read a lot of different things that give you new perspectives or challenge your thoughts.

The more you read, the more you know, and knowing more will help you craft better essays.

You should also read plenty of sample essays in the category of your essay assignment. Seeing how a successful essay is put together can be super useful.

Know your interests

And dive into them. A lot of college English handbooks offer essay prompts to help students see what types of topics can work well for the assignment.

But don’t just take the easy way out: you’’ll have a much easier time if you focus on topics that interest you—things you care about.

2. Organizing Your Thoughts

Starting an essay without getting your ideas in order is like putting together a puzzle without the picture…and half the pieces are missing. It’s just not going to work, so brush up on these techniques before getting started.

Brainstorm

In a nutshell, brainstorming is when you think about different ideas and make notes to just get the creative juices flowing. A simple way to do this is to answer these questions:

• “What might I write about?”
• “Why am I writing about this? Why is it important?”
• “Who’s going to care about this other than me? Why?”

There are plenty of useful brainstorming methods out there. If possible, try to conduct a group brainstorming session before writing an essay, so you can openly discuss your topic(s) with others and get feedback and ideas.

Outline

While brainstorming helps you generate ideas, outlining gives them a structure. Outlining your essay ahead of time will save you from writing yourself into a corner, not knowing what to talk about next.

When you structure the points of your essay from beginning to end, you set tangible goals for yourself, which is much easier than just winging it.

3. Research

You might be a digital native, but how good are you at combing academic databases for resources? Have you ever performed a Boolean search before?

If this is uncharted territory, then it’s time to get acquainted with proper research techniques that will support your ideas, particularly if you’re writing an argumentative paper.

Using databases

If you’re a college student, then it’s very likely that you have access to a number of great academic databases through your school library’s online portal.

This is important.

Popular sources, such as news and magazine articles and blogs, are usually not going to cut it when it comes to supporting an argument.  Your professor probably wants to see something more official, such as a peer-reviewed source published by a credible academic institution.

This is where databases come in. To use these, make sure you can access them through your school or university library website. Get help from your professor or librarian if need be.

Boolean search

Some students have a hard time finding things in databases because they’re not searching with specific parameters.

If you were writing a paper on graphic novels and all you type in is “graphic novels,” you would get so many results that it would be impossible to find what you were looking for. Instead, try using built-in Boolean parameters, such as AND, OR, and NOT.

4. Tone and Voice

When writing your essay, always think about the tone. Whether you’re trying to explain something, make an argument, etc., focus on the language you’re using. Are you trying to be forceful or accommodating? Pragmatic or creative?

Whatever the case, knowing how to reach out to those in your audience and win them over is a great skill to have.

Also focus on academic writing. When you write an essay, you’re creating something that’s a far cry from how most of our daily communications occur.

An essay is not a Tweet nor a text, and your word choices matter.
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An essay is not a Tweet nor a text, and your word choices matter.

Here’s a useful guide on writing in academic voice.

5. Starting an Essay

When you write an essay introduction, you have a few tasks to manage. You’re introducing the topic and summarizing the essay and its goals. You’re also usually writing a thesis, and you should always have a hook.

Summary

You write a summary to tell the reader what you’ll tell them. In a nutshell, your intro paragraph introduces the topic or issue you’re writing about and tells the reader how and why you’re writing about it.

While you can’t cover everything in a single intro paragraph (because you have to actually write the paper too), your summary should discuss the main points or major supporting ideas in your essay from beginning to end.

Thesis

A thesis is your main argument wrapped up into one or two sentences, usually near the end of your intro paragraph. It should be specific in telling the reader exactly what your stance is and what main pieces of evidence or logic reinforce it.

There are different ways of writing a thesis for the various types of essays out there, so make sure yours fits!

Hook

Having a good hook prevents readers from seeing nothing but “boring blah, blah, blah” when they start reading your essay. A hook isn’t a cheesy clickbait headline. Its job is to intrigue readers so that they’ll want more.

Read How to Write Good Hook Sentences to get started with hooks.

6. Making an Argument

You can argue about almost any topic out there, but some are easier than others.

That said, your professor has probably read a million “Legalize Weed” papers, so being a little more creative or finding a more specific part of a big issue to argue will likely win you big points in the long run.

To start, do some initial research on a topic that interests you, and then look for an argument or “conversation” that’s happening within that topic.

Now, think of writing that argument essay like it’s a family conversation at Thanksgiving dinner. Every person at that table has an opinion about your topic, and you do too.

Writing your argument happens when you join the conversation and give your own ideas and opinions about the topic. You draw on others’ comments that support your ideas and debate those whose opinions are different from yours.

When you argue a topic, make sure you’re being smart and focused. Being overly simplistic won’t get you very far.

When you argue a topic, make sure you’re being smart and focused.
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For example, let’s say you want to write an argument against GMOs. You wouldn’t just say that “GMOs are bad.”

Instead, you would want to refine your argument to say what—specifically—about GMOs are bad and why this is a problem. A smart and focused argument would look more like this:

GMOs pose a major threat to non-GMO crops due to their modified resistances. These modified crops can weaken and destroy neighboring non-GMO crops, thus financially burdening many farmers and decreasing biodiversity within the food chain.

7. Supporting an Argument

Just like Grandma’s roast, a good argument needs all the right ingredients to keep people coming back for more.

Ethos, logos, and pathos

Ethos is your credibility in your argument. If the reader doesn’t see you as an expert on your topic, then you need to show that your ideas are reinforced by credible voices—experts in the field of your topic.

Logos is your logical support. Make sure that any arguments you make to support your thesis don’t contain any logical fallacies. It’s a lot harder for readers to poke holes in your argument if the logic is rock-solid.

Pathos is your emotional support. Know your intended audience, and appeal to their interests and emotions. A good example of pathos is in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter From Birmingham Jail.

In the letter, King appeals to his audience by citing their common connection and goals as clergymen. Pathos brings humanity to the words you write, so make sure you have it in your paper.

Your argument needs a healthy balance of both logos and pathos. Have only facts, and your paper will seem boring and robotic. Have only an emotional appeal, and you won’t appear credible to the reader.

Compromise

A good argument is never one-sided.

While you’ll be backing up your ideas with reputable sources from scholarly articles and the like, you also want to acknowledge the validity of another viewpoint.

Discuss another side of the argument, and show some examples from research that make sound points that go against your ideas. Just be sure to offer a strong rebuttal to continue supporting your side of the argument.

8. Concluding an Essay

This is where you tell them what you told them. Think about how you use summary in your introduction. You’ll do something similar when you end your essay in the conclusion.

The approach can be a bit different depending on the essay type, but for many of your essays, you’ll follow this formula for the conclusion:

• Topic sentence that evokes a “falling action” (e.g., “With the evidence against GMO use in sustainable modern farming, it is clear that another direction is required”).

• Review your strongest points of evidence or supporting logic, and briefly summarize them in several sentences.

• Restate your thesis. Not word for word—the language here should naturally flow from one sentence to the next. Don’t just copy and paste your thesis.

For essays that aren’t argumentative or persuasive, focus on leaving readers with a strong final impression—whatever message you want them to take away from your words.

9. Self-Edit

Never EVER blow through a single draft of an essay and turn it in to your professor. One of the best essay writing skills you can develop is the ability to review and edit your essay for mistakes in grammar, typos, and logic.

Here are some ways to go about the editing process.

Error check

You’ve already spent a lot of time with the words you’ve written, so it can seem like a daunting task to have to read them all over again.

So if you need to take a break, even a day or two, before you’re able to sit down and review your work, that’s okay. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to do so.

Read through each sentence carefully to catch any spelling errors that Word may have missed. Check for punctuation issues, especially commas and end punctuation. Do you have any incomplete thoughts, awkward phrases, or run-on sentences? Correct them as you go.

Sometimes it helps to read your paper aloud—it’s way easier to catch awkward sentences this way. If you find yourself stumbling midway through a sentence, then you probably need to rewrite it to make it clearer and more coherent.

Peer review

Have a good friend—one who likes to help—review your paper too. After all, two heads are better than one, and your friend may catch things that you missed.

Also ask your friend to be an objective voice and offer advice. If any parts of your essay seem weak or confusing, your friend can probably point this out to you so that you can fix these items before turning in your paper.

Ask a pro

Develop a good relationship with your professors. You’ll have an easier time asking them questions about your work, and they’ll be more willing and able to help you if they have a better understanding of your needs up front.

Your campus probably also has a writing center or some sort of tutoring program that can help get you on the right track.

Check to see if there are any free services for students. Usually, these tutors won’t edit your paper for you, but they can help point out mistakes and guide you toward success.

Kibin can do all of the above, of course! If you need your paper edited or if you need some advice on how to make it stronger overall, Kibin editors have got your back.

10. Learn to Accept (and Improve From) Failure

Some of the most heart-sinking moments in a college student’s life come from seeing that giant “D” or “F” scribbled in red pen at the top of an essay that took a lot of time and hard work to finish.

And while it’s important to try your best, don’t let a failed essay get you down. Instead, carefully review your professor’s comments and marks. They’re meant to help you improve.

No student is perfect—we all start somewhere.

And while improving your writing may seem like an uphill climb, every small step toward improvement is a step in the right direction. If anything is unclear, keep your cool, and ask to meet with your professor during office hours to go over your work.

You’ll be really glad you did.

Few students are “bad at English.” Instead, you may have some trouble with commas or tone or research, but these are all fixable things. Keep practicing your essay writing skills, and you will get better.

Get help from friends or professionals when you’re stuck, and enjoy small accomplishments along the way. Failure is, after all, just the first step toward your success.

Want some more inspiration for overcoming failure? Check out this blog post.

The Takeaway

Writing at the college level can be a tricky process even for the smartest, most confident of us. But now you know all about these 10 really important essay writing skills, so you’ll be in much better shape the next time you sit down at the keyboard.

Be sure to check out other blogs and resources linked in this post—they’ll help you prepare for the various types of writing you’ll be doing throughout your college career.

And don’t forget that Kibin is here to help make those essays shine.

Professor: Where is your thesis statement?

Student: …

If so, don’t worry. You’re not the first person to struggle with writing a thesis statement, and you won’t be the last. This part of essay writing has vexed many college students, but luckily, I’m here to show you the ropes.

Almost every college essay you write will require a thesis in one form or another. A compare and contrast essay is no exception.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the finer points of how to write a compare and contrast thesis statement and offer some pro tips and resources for tackling that essay like a boss.

Everything’s an Argument

Every time you sit down to write an essay, try to think of it like an argument. Yes. An argument. Always.

This is important because your thesis is the main argument—the main point—you’re trying to make in your essay.

Your thesis is the main argument—the main point—you’re trying to make in your essay.
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It’s a claim you make about your topic. Then you spend the rest of the essay backing up that claim with examples, reasoning, and sometimes professional sources that reinforce this claim.

A compare and contrast essay doesn’t always require you to cite sources, though. So let’s just focus on what you can do to write a great thesis and, thus, a great essay.

Think about it this way—if someone handed you this list…

…you would probably wonder why the heck the person just did that. Similarly, your professor wants to see how well you can identify the relationship between two things.

If you write a strong thesis, then you’ll show your professor that your compare and contrast essay has a purpose.

The Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement: Prework

If you’re going to write a strong thesis, you’ll want to make sure you know your approach before going in. Here are some pro tips to help you get started.

Pro tip #1: 

Pick topics that interest you. It’s way easier to write about something you like or care about. Need some help with picking a topic? Check out this list of compare and contrast essay topics.

Pro tip #2: 

Once you have your topics, try saying the following aloud (and maybe when you’re by yourself so that people don’t look at you funny in the campus library):

“(Topic 1) and (Topic 2) have a lot in common. They also have some differences.”

Then pretend someone just replied with, “So what?”

Repeat this exercise as you write the essay. It will help you reinforce your thesis and make sure that the point you’re making is meaningful.

Every time you start a new paragraph and write a topic sentence that reinforces your thesis, pretend that you’re being asked “so what?” again. Work on answering that question as you continue writing the paragraph.

Example

You write:

Though eccentric, both Gandalf and Dumbledore resemble kind-hearted grandfatherly figures when they first appear in the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter series, respectively.

Your friend says:

So what?

You could reply:

Both characters are powerful wizards capable of terrible destruction, but showing them as kind old men humanizes and establishes them as protagonists that the reader can root for rather than fear.

Writing like this makes your essay more meaningful. Keep asking and answering “so what?” and you’ll write a strong essay that keeps reinforcing the thesis.

The Right Tool for the Job

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” thesis that works for any essay. Just like you wouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer a nail, you’re not going to use an argumentative essay thesis for your compare and contrast essay.

If you’re going to write a solid compare and contrast thesis statement, then you’ll need to make sure you understand the anatomy of this essay. Let’s break down the compare and contrast format, bit by bit, and see how the thesis applies to each part.

Keep in mind that it’s a good idea to settle on your topics before moving forward. It’ll help you visualize how the following can be applied specifically to your topics.

1. Your approach

There are a few common approaches you could take when writing a compare and contrast essay.

Comparing/contrasting two things in the same category that are different somehow.

• Your house vs. a friend’s house
• Your favorite coffee shop vs. Starbucks
• Two types of cars

Comparing/contrasting two things that seem very different but actually have a lot in common.

• Bats and bears (both are mammals and hibernate during the winter)
• Pablo Picasso and Winston Churchill (both were painters)

Comparing/contrasting two things that appear the same but are actually very different.

• Tim Burton’s Batman vs. Christopher Nolan’s Batman
• Any movie and the book it’s based on

Applying the thesis:

Your thesis will be different depending on which approach you use. For example, if you were to compare/contrast two things that seem different, your thesis might look something like this:

While bats and bears appear to have little in common at first glance, they are remarkably similar.

And if you compared/contrasted two things that seem similar, your thesis might look like this:

While Batman is always depicted as the famous “Caped Crusader” in each Batman film, this character is wildly different depending on the film’s director.

Another pro tip: 

To create a stronger thesis, be specific! For a compare and contrast essay, use several of your main points in your thesis to show the reader where your argument is going.

While bats and bears appear to have little in common at first glance, they are remarkably similar in their species classification and hibernation habits.

2. Your method

A compare and contrast essay is usually written using one of two methods.

Method #1: Subject by subject

This method is almost like writing two smaller essays in one. One half of the body paragraphs would cover the first subject, and the other half would cover the second subject.

Thesis:

While Batman is depicted as the “Caped Crusader” in either film series, Tim Burton’s Batman of the 1990s is far more comical, wittier, and less intimidating than Christopher Nolan’s early-2000s version.

To support this thesis, you would break down the things that are different between these two “subjects,” one at a time.

Tim Burton’s Batman (first half of body):

• Comical
• Witty and less intimidating
• The style reflects 1990s-era American culture.

Christopher Nolan’s Batman (second half of body):

• Serious
• Intimidating/fierce depiction
• The style reflects early 2000s-era American culture.

Stuck on Your Essay?

Check Out These Example Compare and Contrast Essays

Yes! Show me examples.

Method #2: Point by point

This method allows you to break down your topics by each point of similarity or difference. For each body paragraph, you support the thesis by writing about each topic at the same time.

Let’s use the same thesis from above and see how this method is organized in defending that compare and contrast thesis statement:

• The tone (comical vs. serious)
  • Tim Burton’s Batman
  • Christopher Nolan’s Batman

• The character (witty vs. intimidating)
  • Tim Burton’s Batman
  • Christopher Nolan’s Batman

• Time period effect on style
  • Tim Burton’s Batman
  • Christopher Nolan’s Batman

Either one of these methods can work for your compare and contrast essay. They’re both good structures to follow when trying to support your thesis.

And remember—the thesis is only as strong as the evidence that supports it, so choosing your method before you start writing is a good idea.

3. Know the process

By now, you’re probably starting to get a good idea of how you might put together this essay, but keep in mind that strong organization is key. It’s always smart to do the following steps before you even think of sitting down to type your first draft.

Brainstorm

I know, I know—this is just something your professor tells you to do. But it really works! Many students get frustrated when writing and switch topics halfway through because they didn’t work out what they really wanted during a good old-fashioned brainstorming sesh.

My advice: Grab a snack and a cup of coffee. Stare out the window. Let the ideas start flowing in, and think about what you might have to say about them. Jot down some notes. You’re off to a good start.

Need some help with brainstorming? Read 6 Prewriting Strategies to Get Your Essay Rolling.

Outline

Really? Another step? You bet! I’ve seen a lot of students get stuck by the second paragraph because they didn’t plan ahead. Trust me—outline each paragraph of your essay. It’ll be so much easier to actually write the essay if you’re following a roadmap you’ve made for yourself.

Need some more help with outlining? Read This Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Will Help You Beat Writer’s Block.

Don’t write the compare and contrast thesis statement…yet

That’s right. Unless you’re 100% certain of what you’re going to say, your thesis could change often as you write.

Instead, jot down a few ideas of what your thesis might be. Use these as a guide, but don’t sweat it if your thesis ends up being way different than what you had originally planned.

Try writing your body paragraphs first. These are the most important parts of your essay, and when you’ve finished a draft, you can look back and see which of your main points are the strongest.

A thesis should only be one to two sentences long, so you’ll have to consolidate your ideas into this short space—this one argument.

Did you know that Kibin has a neat tool that can help you build that thesis if you get stuck? Give it a try: Kibin Thesis Builder.

The intro and conclusion can be written after you’ve hammered out the body paragraphs. Just make sure you’re following the correct organization for essay writing:

• Intro and thesis
• Body paragraphs 1, 2, 3, etc.
• Conclusion (restate thesis)

The Takeaway

Now that you know how to write a compare and contrast thesis statement, get ready to blow your professor out of the water with a rockin’ essay. Say it with me now: this essay is going to be awesome.

And it will be. Just make sure you focus on all we’ve covered in this post to get started, and you’ll do great!

• The thesis is your main argument.
• Choose a topic you’re interested in.
• Answer “So what?”
• Know your approach.
• Subject by subject or point by point?
• Brainstorm, outline, draft.

As a final bit of advice, if your professor gives you instructions for how to organize and write this essay, follow them as closely as possible. If these instructions are in a workbook, make sure you’ve read and understand them. Ask your professor for clarity if necessary.

Also make sure you read some good compare and contrast essay examples to familiarize yourself with this essay style.

And of course, when you’ve finished working on that first draft, Kibin editors are standing by to help you make it shine.

Even if you’ve never written an article review before, the skills you’ve gained writing other types of essays will come in handy. Expository, descriptive, analytical, and argumentative essays have all prepared you to write an article review.

Even if you haven’t had much practice in these other areas, you can still write a rock-solid article review with a little know-how.

What is an article review, then? In a nutshell, it’s your chance to finally criticize someone else’s work. In this post, I’ll help you figure out what this type of essay is all about, and you’ll get the best recipe for how to write an article review the right way.

What Is an Article Review, and What Isn’t It?

Many students are familiar with argumentative essays, and sometimes it’s difficult to shift focus from this style. An article review is like an argument because you’ll have to take a position on the article while not getting caught up in the issue at hand.

When reviewing an article, you’re not siding with or against the author’s point of view.

If you start writing about why you agree or disagree with the author’s stance, then you’re no longer writing an article review—avoid this pitfall at all costs!

Your main goal: figure out whether the article is any good. Tell your audience whether the article’s argument is valid. Then say why or why not.

Your main goal: figure out whether the article is any good. Then say why or why not.
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To start, you’ll need a list of items within an article that you can criticize.

Shopping List

These will be the ingredients for your Article Review recipe. Each focuses on the article’s quality and the author’s approach.

Author credentials, aka ethos 

Who is the author, exactly? What business does she have writing on the subject? Does she have an advanced degree? Has she conducted research or work in her field? Someone who builds Lego models for a living (which is awesome, by the way) probably isn’t an authority on astrophysics.

Need help finding an author’s credentials? When looking for information about an author, Google is your friend.

Appeal to logic, aka logos 

Appealing to logic makes for strong arguments. Does the author rely on sound research to back up her claims? Does she use statistics and figures as proof to support her ideas? Does she provide a list of references to validate work in her field? Are her sources trustworthy?

If you can answer “yes” to the above questions, then the article is logically strong.

An author should also avoid bias and logical fallacies. In argument essays, you’ve probably had to present counterarguments to consider someone else’s ideas on an issue.

A good article will do the same—an author should consider the different approaches to an issue and analyze them, seeing how they stack up against her own claims and data. She should avoid generalizations and be open and fair to other ideas and viewpoints.

Appeal to emotion, aka pathos 

Facts aren’t everything. An author cannot sway the audience’s opinion without some flavor. Including anecdotes, personal stories, and even a second-person perspective can help her argument.

Does she only seem interested in giving her opinion, or does she try to reach the audience on an emotional level? Is her approach subtle or dramatic? Pretend you’re the intended audience—how effective is the approach and why?

Audience awareness is vital to pathos. If you can identify the author’s target audience, you can figure out if the writing is effective.

Does the article address a specific group or a broad audience? Is it full of lingo that only a few will understand, or is it accessible to us “common folk”? Whatever language the author uses, you’ll want to say whether it’s effective for the audience.

Great examples include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter From Birmingham Jail and this video in which Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains black holes.

King writes to a specific audience—his fellow clergymen—and appeals to their religious affiliation and moral views. DeGrasse Tyson explains complex scientific ideas so that a broad audience can easily understand them.

Balance

If an author only relies on logic, her article will be boring and robotic. If she only uses anecdotes and personal stories, then she’s not backing up her claims with real evidence that can be tested and measured.

Every good argument needs a solid balance between both logical and emotional appeals.

Healthy skepticism

Being critical in your article review doesn’t mean writing a scathing review.

Being critical in your article review doesn’t mean writing a scathing review.
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If the article is well-written, well-argued, and valid, your essay will be positive, which is great. Always focus on the author’s strengths and weaknesses—and be fair when writing about either.

Let’s Get Cooking: How to Write an Article Review the Right Way

Now that you have the ingredients on how to write an article review, following the recipe is next. Just like cooking at home, if you follow a recipe, you should get good results in the end.

Let’s break down, step-by-step, this essay recipe on how to write an article review.

Intro (1-2 paragraphs)

Briefly describe the issue the author is dealing with, and give your reader some context and background on it. You can discuss whether this issue is being hotly debated in the media or whether it’s more obscure but still important.

Ultimately, you want construct your thesis statement here, providing a short but specific assessment of the article’s overall quality. Then write a sentence or two giving a brief summary of the reasons that the article is strong or weak.

Body (3-7 paragraphs)

The author

Use the author’s credentials to note whether he or she is an authority on the subject. Focus on the author’s background, relevant work history, and governmental, university, and corporate affiliations.

Is there any controversy surrounding the author’s work or personal life that compromises his or her reputation? If there are, how do these items affect the article’s validity?

The content

Summarize the article’s content. Briefly cover the position the author takes on the subject, and answer these questions:

• What are the author’s main claims?
• What types of evidence does the author use to support these claims, and is the evidence strong?
• Who is the intended or target audience?

This section is only a summary—it should be 1-2 paragraphs long—and it sets up your analysis of the article’s content. You’ll go into detail about each of these items in the next paragraphs, so don’t spend too much time here.

Your analysis and evaluation

Focus on logos and pathos in your analysis, and also answer these questions:

• How effective is the author’s argument?
• What strengths and weaknesses can you find in the author’s claims and evidence?
• Is there any important information that the author doesn’t consider?
• What questions does the article fail to address?
• Is the article current, or does it contain outdated or incorrect information?
• Does the author consider any opposing arguments, or does he or she only rely on resources that agree with his or her views?

Be sure to discuss the article’s structure and style too. Is the article well-organized? Is the language more accessible to a broad audience or just specialists in the author’s field? Is the language easy to comprehend or too complex?

Conclusion (1 paragraph)

To write a good conclusion, review your main ideas and reinforce your thesis. Summarize your main claims and the reasons that the article is strong or weak in its approach. Say whether the author offers standard arguments on the topic or has new insights and interpretations.

Then, finally, close with why this approach is ultimately effective or ineffective, and what impact (if any) the author’s ideas will have on the target audience.

Soup’s On!

Now that you have the ingredients and recipe for how to write an article review, you can get started. Just like any essay in which you argue your ideas, be sure to back up your claims with evidence.

Use argumentative strategies—such as direct quotes, summary, and paraphrasing—to provide examples of the article’s strengths and weaknesses.

And don’t be afraid to use your unique style and voice in your writing. The recipe is just a guide to help you shape the essay.

Let your writing style flourish, and definitely check with your professor about any specific rules you’ll need to follow when writing this type of essay for your class.

See? It’s not so bad.

Don’t forget that our awesome Kibin editors can proofread that article review when you’ve finished a draft.

Good luck, writers!