Too many students are intimidated by the thought of asking an instructor for help in writing an essay. Don't be. Chances are your teacher will be thrilled that you are interested in improving your writing. Your instructor knows exactly what he or she is looking for in the assignment and is a great resource when writing the essay. Ask your teacher if he or she is willing to look at a first draft of the paper and give some feedback. This will let you know if you are headed in the right direction and give you specifics regarding how to make your essay better.
Many essays require some degree of research, and most students head to the Internet and do a general search to find information. However, much of what comes up through conventional search engines are not the best sources for a school paper. Both academic and local libraries often have resources that cannot be accessed through regular Internet channels. For example, libraries in Georgia subscribe to the GALILEO database, which gives access to many scholarly articles not found online. Check with your community or school library to see what is available in your area.
Numerous colleges and universities have online writing labs (OWLs) accessible to the general public. These OWLs offer many essay-writing resources, including how to write an effective introduction, creating a proper thesis, correcting grammar problems, and formatting your essay. Besides how-to information, many OWLs offer forums for submitting writing-related questions.
An important part of an essay that includes any type of research is the bibliography. This component lists all the sources used in the paper, and often it is required that the bibliography be formatted in a specific style, such as MLA, APA or Chicago Style. There are guidebooks available in text and online versions that explain each style.
Check a library or bookstore for writing guides. Having one of these handy helps to answer any questions that arise as you are writing. There are many classic writing guides, but there are also books available on how to create essays in specific subjects, such as education, the social sciences or business.