How to Write Great Essays

HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS

57
■
Does your conclusion make sense after the preceding paragraphs? Is it
strong, or just a wrap-up of what you have already said? (Chapter 6)
4. Make any necessary modifications, and be willing to add and/or remove writing
that isn’t working. By revising on the computer, it is simple to make changes, see
if they improve the essay, and then save the changes or try again. For example, if
a point is not made clearly and directly, or if it is too general, insert a phrase or a
sentence to clear it up.
■
Compare: I stay in shape for my sports teams all year.
■
With: I stay physically active during the year. I play football and basketball,
and in the off-season run and lift weights.
The first sentence is vague, and tells very little about the author. By adding the
types of teams, and the specific things the writer does to stay in shape, year-round,
the reader better understands the point, and the writer.
In other instances, your point may get lost if you go off on a tangent, or include
information that doesn’t support it. In this case, you should delete the unnecessary
words, phrases, or sentences. In the following example, a sentence about green tea
simply clutters the paragraph. Compare the revised sentences to see how the
author tightened up her essay.
The day after that, I walked over to my neighbor’s house and discussed
with her the history of her property. She made us some green tea, which
really hit the spot on such a chilly, fall day. During the course of our dis-
cussion I found out that in the early nineteen hundreds the land was part
of the sprawling Mitchell dairy farm.
The next day, I walked over to my neighbor’s house and discussed
with her the history of her property; it turned out that in the early nine-
teen hundreds the land was part of the sprawling Mitchell dairy farm.