Answer the question the teacher asks. Remember that your teacher knows a lot more about the topic than you do. In many cases, the professor may be one of the foremost experts on the topic. Your teacher did not assign the topic to learn about the subject. He or she asked you the question to determine if you have learned what he or she thinks is important. In most cases, your professor will have a score sheet in which he or she has assigned points for the material expected in the essay. You earn points for answering the question your professor posed. The amount of the points is dependent on how your professor weights the subject matter. Essays that do not pertain to the question asked, no matter how well written, do not earn the points needed to earn an "A."
Outline your argument before you begin writing. Be sure your essay reflects the outline. Your instructor should be able to look at your essay and see the outline in your written argument.
If you are writing a long paper, use captions at the beginning of different sections of the paper. Captions help the reader know where you are going. Remember that your professor will be reading a lot of papers that all say essentially the same thing. Help your professor know that you know what you are talking about by adding headlines to ease his or her reading of your paper.
Support your argument with citations. In a paper written at home, these citations should be formal and should follow the citation style your professor has stipulated that you should use. In an exam or in class essay, the citation can be informal and include only the title of a book or name of an author in parenthesis. Citation shows the teacher that you read and understood the material and know how to use it in an essay to prove your point.
Proofread your paper. Be sure to use proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. Check your paper to ensure there are no syntax errors.
For in class essays, write in your very best handwriting. It is hard to grade writing that can not be read. Most professors will not give points for arguments they can not understand because they can not read your handwriting.
Better still, type your papers whenever you can. If your professor gives you the option to type your in class essay, do so. Type written essays are easier to read.