Tips for Writing Great Essays

Writing

Check out these top 5 grammar tips for high school essay writing, that can will result in a
stronger paper and likely a better grade.

Use active voice:

Active voice is more direct and concise than passive voice. When you
use active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action, making it clear who is
doing what. For example, “The teacher graded the paper” is active voice, while “The
paper was graded by the teacher” is passive voice. Active voice helps to make your
writing more engaging and easier to understand.

Use proper punctuation:

Proper punctuation is essential for clear and effective writing.
Commas, periods, and other punctuation marks help to clarify meaning and separate
ideas. For example, commas can be used to separate items in a list or to separate
clauses in a complex sentence. Semicolons can be used to join related clauses or to
separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas. Correct
punctuation helps to make your writing more professional and easy to read.

Vary your sentence structure:

Varying your sentence structure can help to make your
writing more interesting and engaging. A sentence can be simple, compound, or
complex, depending on its structure. A simple sentence contains one independent
clause, a compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a
coordinating conjunction, and a complex sentence contains one independent clause and
one or more dependent clauses. Using a variety of sentence structures helps to keep
your writing fresh and engaging.

Avoid run-on sentences:

Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent
clauses are joined together incorrectly. They can be confusing and difficult to
understand. To avoid run-on sentences, use punctuation, such as periods or semicolons,
to separate ideas, or use coordinating conjunctions, such as “and,” “or,” or “but,” to join
clauses. By avoiding run-on sentences, you can ensure that your writing is clear and easy
to read.

Proofread your work:

Proofreading your work is essential for catching errors and
ensuring that your writing is professional and polished. When you proofread, check for
spelling and grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes. You can also read your
writing out loud to ensure that it flows smoothly and makes sense. By proofreading your
work, you can catch mistakes before your teacher does and ensure that your writing is
the best it can be.

Essays are an important part of high school. Building the skills and honing writing skills with
supportive teachers and tutors will be beneficial for college and beyond.

How Can Sophomores and Juniors Begin to Prep for College Admissions?

College Prep, Test Prep

Many students think that the college process does not really begin until the junior year,
but there are many things to think about as sophomore and a junior in order to be well
prepared for the college process. As the end of the school year approaches, here are
some items to be sure you consider:

Course Selection:

If you haven’t already, it will be time soon to speak with your
counselor regarding your courses for next year. Seek guidance about continuing
one more course in an area of interest, pursuing an AP course, and being sure
that you are selecting courses that set you up to have a strong academic profile
for applying to college. Set up a meeting with your counselor early to avoid the
rush and have time to weigh your options.

College List:

This is more important for juniors, but sophomores should begin
thinking along these lines. Juniors should start to assemble a preliminary list of
schools to consider so you can research and possibly visit some schools of
interest. As the year continues and into the summer and fall, you will narrow
down your list.

College Visits:

If possible, it’s preferable to visit schools when they are in
session, but we all know that summer is a time when there is generally more
flexibility. Visiting a campus is a great part of your research about a school –
sophomores and juniors can be visiting campuses at any point. Consider
building college visits around summer vacation plans. Stopping by for even an
hour or two can help get a feel for the campus and surrounding area.

Testing:

If you are taking an AP course, be sure you have registered to take the
AP test in May. Also, it’s a good idea to consider taking the corresponding SAT
Subject Test in May or June – you will have already done extensive review with
the AP test, so this is a great time to take a Subject Test as well. While many
schools won’t require Subject Test scores, it’s a good idea to take them just in
case. You can schedule time to review and prepare for the AP exams with a
College Tutor any time.

Should I Take A College Admission Test Like the ACT or SAT?

Test Prep

The importance of a strong score is not a thing of the past. While test-blind schools do not
require scores, they will take your test scores into account if submitted. Put your best foot
forward with a strong score.

A Standardized Test helps colleges review applications.

Admissions officers are, first and foremost, people. If they see two students with similar
applications, but one has submitted high SAT or ACT scores, that strong score will get your
application noticed and moved to further consideration.

Test-optional colleges do look at your scores.

Test-optional doesn’t mean that they will not look at test scores if submitted.
It simply means you are not required to submit scores. But, submitting a strong score
corroborates your academic record and shows you can perform well under pressure and handle
rigor on all fronts.

GPA not that strong?

A strong score provides a good opportunity for students with less competitive GPAs to provide
a separate metric of academic performance.

Show me the money!

Higher test results may qualify you for merit scholarships.

Turn a good college application into a great college application. Enlist College Tutors’ expert
test prep tutors and proven prep program to make it happen.

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