How to Write Great Essays

CHECKLIST—FINDING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF FORMALITY
Follow these guidelines to insure your tone is correct:
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Avoid slang words and phrases unless you are deliberately trying to imitate
speech.
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A few contractions (I’m, don’t, who’d, shouldn’t) can help your essay from
sounding too stiff.
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Aim to sound like a 17 or 18 year old (i.e., yourself).
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Don’t use five words when one will get the point across, or use words consid-
ered archaic or pretentious (according to, not as per; determine, not ascertain;
think about, not cogitate).

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HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS

CHAPTER 6 Untimed Essay Writing Strategies
84
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If you are worried your writing is too stiff, rewrite a few paragraphs as a mock
journal entry, then compare them to your essay. What words or phrases need
toning down?