Every future student has certain misconceptions about college. Many of the common false notions relate to homework and writing in general. We’ve gathered for you the most widespread myths about writing in college that you should learn about and debunk.
You will never pay for essays
The reality of college life is that you shouldn’t give yourself a promise that you will never look for a research paper for sale. Surveys show that at least 15% of all students resort to using professional writing services.
Citation style is not that important
In fact, you may lose points for not following the guidelines for citing sources. Each educational institution has its requirements for writing — APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. That’s why it’s important to cite correctly when you refer to other authors’ work and outside sources.
The more, the better
Never forget the saying that brevity is the soul of wit. Writing a clever and understandable thought in a single sentence, not a paragraph, is a real value. Your professor won’t feel like reading canvasses of text. They’d rather get right to the point. That’s why if you have a limit of 500 words per essay, don’t write more than that. Otherwise, you may get a lower grade.
Only bad writers receive feedback
Before going to college, we mistakenly think that those people who write well will never be interested in others’ opinions of their work. However, good writers, on the contrary, wait for comments and evaluations of their work to improve their writing skills.
One thesis = one sentence
Theses do not always have to consist of a single sentence. They may include several concepts and notions. And you may need several sentences to explain them to the reader.
There is no perfect template or format
Many students mistakenly believe that the standard five-paragraph essay format — introduction, main paragraph, conclusion — is the perfect template for any college writing. However, the purpose of your essay should always dictate the form. The number of paragraphs, the arrangement of theses in the paper, and other layout aspects depend solely on what purpose you are pursuing. The five-paragraph format may be universal, but it does not always lead to the desired result.
Your opinion doesn’t matter
All academic essay guidelines advise against using the first-person pronoun “I”. Many students think this means that they are not allowed to state their opinions. They believe that their material should be indifferent and state dry facts. However, the main purpose of an essay is to express your opinion, and you don’t have to use the first person to present persuasive arguments.
Writing is only about grammar and vocabulary
Of course, your essay should be grammatically correct, contain varied vocabulary, and be formatted appropriately. However, these aspects will be of no value if the reader does not understand what you meant to say and does not grasp the main idea of your work.
The key to writing a college essay remains understanding the purpose of your text and how to achieve it. Only in combination with grammar, vocabulary, and style can you achieve the desired result.
