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  • Persuasive Essay Topics

    Persuasive essays are a type of writing that attempts to convince the reader that the ideas being presented are right. They are very similar to argumentative essays except that instead of creating a discussion on the topic, a writer presents a one-sided opinion giving valid reasons and solid facts on why that opinion or idea is correct. The writer employs logic to reason with and sway the reader into adopting a certain view or action. Such essay assignments are commonly given to students in high school and junior college. They help students to master persuasive skills.

    Tips on finding persuasive essay topics

    Sometimes, essay topics are not given by the professor. In such a case, students are required to select an appropriate topic to write about. To help you do that, here are a few tips.

    • Think of subjects that interest you. Feel free to select a topic that you will enjoy writing about and not just one that you think will please your professor. Obviously, you should not purposely pick a topic that will bore your audience. Nonetheless, focusing excessively on what you think the professor would like to read is a mistake. Most professors want to see you write in your own style and argue your own ideas, supported by facts.
    • Select a topic you are passionate about, not one on which you are conflicted. You will likely be unable to present your views and convince your audience if you are conflicted about the side on which you stand. Being passionate about the topic will also make the research and writing tasks enjoyable. Your emotion will also be reflected in your writing, and this will help you persuade the reader.
    • Don’t over-obsess with political correctness. You should avoid playing it too safe and shying away from controversial issues. You also don’t want to offend your audience with a topic that is too inappropriate for a school setting. You need to strike a balance between boldly expressing your views on the issues you are passionate about and not offending your audience with overly inappropriate topics.
    • Think about your experiences or those of people you know to help you formulate an interesting topic.
    • Think about what you know. It will be easier for you to write a good persuasive essay if it is on a subject that you are familiar with. This is especially important if you have limited time to write your essay, as you will be able to do the legwork faster.
    • Read. Topics abound in books, newspapers, journals, and the web. The importance of research in persuasive writing cannot be overstated. Research is important, not just for formulating your title but also for finding evidence to back up your ideas so that you can present a convincing persuasive essay. This involves reading widely and sometimes talking to experts in your subject of interest.
    • Brainstorming can help you come up with an idea or refine the one you already have. You can discuss ideas with your friends or other people around you. However, this is not a license to copy someone else’s work. The purpose of brainstorming is to help you get ideas. Weave in your own perspective to make your essay unique.
    • Persuasive essay topics are also often inspired by contemporary societal issues, so pay attention to current trends and events around you.
    • Finally, it helps to come up with several ideas and then evaluate them further to pick the best one.

    Selecting a good topic for your essay is one of the most important and often tricky parts for many students. Here are a few characteristics against which you should evaluate your topic before you start writing the essay.

    Qualities of a good persuasive essay topic

    • The topic should be specific. The essay topic should be broad enough for you to comfortably meet the required length of the essay but not too narrow that you are unable to write more than a few sentences on it.
    • A great topic should have some complexity and depth.
    • A good topic for a persuasive essay is debatable. Pick a topic that society is talking or arguing about.
    • The topic must not be overdone. Most times, a topic that has been tackled over and over is not the best choice because it is likely that society has already formed and set an opinion on the matter, and it is no longer being debated.
    • Is there adequate literature to support your opinions/ideas? Your ideas must be backed by credible facts that can help you persuade your audience. There should be enough literature to back your ideas in order for you to write a good persuasive essay.

    Here are a few appropriate topic ideas for your persuasive essay assignment.

    Some persuasive essay topic ideas for high school

      1. Should students perpetrating cyberbullying be expelled?                                                                                                                                (a). Cyberbullying can undoubtedly have grave consequences for the victims. In some quarters, there has been agitation to have cyberbullies in schools face consequences, such as expulsion.
      2. Is college education the key to a successful life?                                                                                                                                                 (a). There are varying views on whether a college education is required in order to have a successful life.
      3. Should the death penalty be abolished?                                                                                                                                                                (a). The death penalty has been abolished in some states, many more still practice it, and others have the death penalty allowing gubernatorial moratoria. Some say the death sentence is a fitting deterrent to serious crimes but is it a cruel, dehumanizing practice that should be abolished?
      4. Should civilians be allowed to carry guns?                                                                                                                                                            (a). Do civilians with guns help stop crime such as mass shootings, or do civilians’ freedom to carry guns pose more danger?
      5. Should the minimum voting age be lowered?                                                                                                                                                       (a). 21, 18, 17, or 16; just how old is old enough to vote? Are teenagers old enough for the responsibility of voting?
      6. National security prevails over individual privacy rights.                                                                                                                              (a). Should violations of individual privacy rights be allowed for the sake of national security?
      7. Parental consent should not be required for teenage girls to access contraceptives.                                                                                  (a). Teenagers have free access to contraceptives, but lawmakers have come up with proposals that will require teenage girls to engage their parents before they can get access. Should the right of teenagers to freely access contraceptives be upheld?
      8. Smartphones are killing communication.                                                                                                                                                             (a). Smartphones have changed the way conversations are carried out, but are they killing the art of communication? Are we missing out on the crucial benefits of voice calls and face-to-face conversations?
      9. Should Medical Marijuana be legalized? Marijuana helps relieve symptoms of various illnesses.                                                          (a). There have been debates on whether Marijuana prescribed by a doctor should be legal. Do you think it should be legalized?
      10. Is commercial testing on animals right?                                                                                                                                                               (a). Safety tests for products such as drugs and cosmetics are often tested on animals to ascertain their safety. Animal rights activists and other parties disagree with this practice.
      11. Should mercy killing be allowed?                                                                                                                                                                           (a). Euthanasia, the killing of patients with painful, incurable diseases and irreversible coma, is done to relieve suffering. The practice is allowed in some states, but it is frowned upon and illegal in many more. Is it an ethical practice that should be legalized or not?
      12. Should mandatory sexuality and parenting classes be taught in school?                                                                                                      (a). Parents have the responsibility of teaching their children about sexuality, contraceptive use, and parenting. However, are parents sufficiently teaching the kids on these subjects?

    College-level persuasive essay topics

    1. Should guns be allowed on campuses?                                                                                                                                                                            (a). Research shows that guns on campuses only pose a greater danger of violence and do very little to stop shooting rampages. Do you think guns should be allowed on college campuses or not?
    2. Should public breastfeeding be allowed?                                                                                                                                                                        (a). Mums are given a hard time now and then for breastfeeding their babies in public. However, others are of the opinion that breastfeeding, just like bottle feeding a baby in public, should not be controversial.
    3. Should the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries be implemented?                                                                                                                  (a). There have been mixed reactions on whether the executive order to ban visa issuance to travelers from six Muslim-majority countries should be implemented.
    4. Should recycling be required by law?                                                                                                                                                                               (a). Recycling helps preserve the environment, but not everyone practices it. Some think that by making it a law requirement, more people will begin to practice recycling. What’s your position on this?
    5. Should workplaces have a more relaxed dress code?                                                                                                                                                   (a). Some employers feel that relaxed dress codes negatively impact productivity and should not be allowed in the workplace. Others think that it improves creativity and productivity in the workplace.
    6. Should the jury system be replaced by bench trials?                                                                                                                                                    (a). There have been arguments that juries are not made up of people with the necessary legal expertise and should therefore be abolished and replaced with bench trials where judges are solely responsible for making judgments.

    These are just a few tips and topics to give you an idea of what you can write your persuasive essay on. There are many more persuasive essay topic ideas you can write about. Just follow the guidelines stated above, and you’ll be well on your way to writing a good persuasive essay.

    The hard work doesn’t stop with selecting a good persuasive essay topic. You still have to write the essay well so that you are able to keep your readers interested and persuade them. This can be difficult for some students, but it is not an impossible task. Once you settle on the topic and choose the position on which you will base your essay, the rest of the work can then begin. You will need to research your topic further to provide evidence to your ideas and then structure your essay.

    If you need assistance with persuasive essay writing, we are available to help you. Our highly skilled and professional writers will provide the persuasive essay writing help you need at affordable prices. We also make sure that we deliver high-quality custom essays within the time you specify.

  • How to Ace Your Essay Exam With Ease

    Exams are one of the reasons some students quit school. They are scary! I have yet to meet a person who is not anxious or worried about exams. They may put on a brave face but deep inside, everyone is afraid to fail. Exams require you to remember and write so much, and sometimes it’s hard to know where exactly to start or what to do. Essays are specifically difficult and require one to have the necessary skills required when writing an essay. They are common in subjects like literature, history, sociology, political science, philosophy, and many others.

    Exam Essay writing help
    image source: The Perfect Score movie

    However, you can survive by following these guidelines:

    1. Do not memorize

    It might be a great thing to do if you have a fantastic memory, but retaining lots of information word for word might be difficult for most of us. It would be bad, too, if the essay you memorized is not part of the essay questions. Panic! What I’d advise you to do is learn what you need for the essays. Read and revise thoroughly. Gather all the information you need for the subject, and you will be good to go.

    1. Plan

    After you get your question paper (and the panic phase is gone), read carefully through the entire paper. Read all the questions provided on the paper while noting down (if possible) what order you will follow when answering them. Start answering from the one you find simplest (the one you have enough information on). You don’t have to start from the first question on your paper unless it’s the simplest. Planning how you will answer the questions gives you a feeling of control, and you can remain calm throughout the exam. Plan your time too so that you don’t spend more time on one question. You don’t have to write everything you know on a topic; just pick out what is necessary and relates to the question. Your aim should be to get the best mark you can on the whole paper and not only on one question.

    1. Brainstorm questions before answering

    Before you start answering a question, create an outline of the points you will provide. Outlining will save you time and will make the answer easier to write down. When you have an outline, the hassles of having to rewrite an answer are ruled out. As you jot down the points, you are able to think about the question critically and provide the best answers. Crossing out an answer or a whole paragraph shows you are not well prepared, and that’s not what you want the instructor to conclude. The outline or marginal notes will, in fact, impress him. However, do not write them so as to impress him; write them as a guide.

    1. Avoid getting stuck

    If a question presents problems in the middle of answering it, leave it and move on to the next. Time is important here, and it’s not going to work out any better for you if you spend half the time on one question. After you have finished all the other questions, get back to it, and you will be surprised at how clearer it becomes then.

    1. Answer the question correctly

    Knowing what the instructor expects of you from a question is very crucial. You may be asked to analyze, explain, define, compare, contrast, or illustrate the subject or topic of a question. Focus on answering the question with the right mindset. To understand what these words and more mean and what is expected of you, read this article: Understanding What Is Expected on an Assignment.

    1. Include all key elements of an essay

    When answering an essay question, make sure to include all key elements required in an essay.

    • Have a thesis. A main idea that is clear and precise. What does your answer say?
    • A developing idea. How well have you explained the ideas provided for that particular question?
    • Strong support. Do you have good information on the topic? Do you have facts? How are your ideas supported?
    • Flow. Have you organized your points logically? Does the essay have ideas presented and supported to create flow?
    • Proofreading. Have you edited your essay after completion? Are all the essential sections required in an essay included?
    1. Proofread your essay

    Go through the answer after completion and get rid of all grammatical mistakes, spelling mistakes, stylistic errors, and punctuation mistakes. Make sure your work is neat and legible too.

    Your essay should be developed sufficiently and include an effective introduction paragraph, a body, and a conclusion. Make the essay brief and concise. Write it for the right audience and provide sufficient and relevant support. Try to manage your time properly. In case you run out of time, provide bullet points, and you can get points for knowing what answers were required. In case you still have two questions unanswered, provide the first half of both. That way, you won’t leave any questions unanswered, and you will get marks for the first half of each question.

    All the best in your exams!

  • Guide to Resume Writing for College Students

    Resume Writing for College Students
    A resume is your introduction note to your potential employer

    It’s a challenge to write a resume when just out of college or while in college. However, most employers know you may not have a lot of experience. A resume is your introduction note to your potential employer. Write it with consideration, great care, and with your career goals in mind. It’s like marketing yourself-you showcase your achievements, skills, and qualifications that relate to the type of job you are looking for. The resume should have descriptions of your capabilities and achievements. Many students will be applying for the same position you are and, therefore, you have to make yours stand out from the rest. There are several things an employer is looking for on a resume:

    Resume appearance

    The first thing the employer will look at is the appearance of your resume. The poor appearance of your resume will have it thrown into the ‘NO’ pile in a minute. Make it a maximum of one page with clear font. Contact information should be easily readable. Include an official email address (one that contains your name and not fancy names like cutechick890), your permanent address, and your school address. If possible, put a permanent address that’s close to the job location.

    Education

    List education from your most recent, giving the exact degree attained. You can list relevant coursework completed if you have not had work experiences. This, however, should only be included if they are relevant to the job you are applying to.

    Experience

    Begin with the most recent job you had or are working at. Include the date you were employed, the company or employer, the title you held, and the location of the job. Write a list of accomplishments and responsibilities you had at these jobs. Include, if available, internships and volunteer positions if they relate to the job you are applying for. Include leadership roles you held, team projects, interests, and skills, if and only if they are relevant. If your GPA is greater than 3.0, you can include it too, but not necessarily.

    Proofread your resume.

    Get rid of mistakes in spelling, grammar style, and punctuation. Errors will also get you into the ‘NO’ pile, so make sure you rid your resume of them. Have someone go through it and help you edit. Make use of active verbs like ‘designed,’ ‘created.’ Avoid words like ‘helped,’ ‘audited,’ or ‘assisted.’ Be brief and concise.

    Be honest when writing about your achievements and skills. Only include those you have mastered. To improve your skills, read sample resumes templates and sample resumes for college students to get an idea of what is expected. You can also contact us at Bestpaperwriters.com and have your resume written for you by professional writers.

  • The Effects of Global Warming (Sample Essay)

    Abstract

    Global warming is a dangerous phenomenon that has been aggravated by human activity. The environment, as a result, has changed for the worse. The effects of this phenomenon are global and affect everyone regardless of geographical location. Below are some highlights about the devastating effects of global warming and, in some instances, their root causes are discussed in brief detail.

    The Effects of Global Warming

    Global warming is an international disaster. Its effects and control have dominated virtually all facets of modern human life. It is not uncommon to find even groceries listing themselves as being “eco-friendly” in a bid to attract environmentally conscious customers. The effects of global warming are not just about blowing hot air in the pursuit of delivering chilling information. This phenomenon has devastating consequences for all, regardless of geographical location. One of the most commonly known effects is the heating up of the atmosphere. Scientists have shown that there is a direct correlation between the increase in carbon dioxide levels and an increase in the earth’s temperature. As a result, the warmest years since 1992 have been experienced in recent years (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2007).

    This heating up has caused the melting of the ice caps at the poles (Gore, 2006). This has several effects on the earth. First, it causes the rise of the ocean level. Glacial melting would contribute to about 230 feet rise in the ocean level if it were to happen at once (National Climatic Data Center [NCDC], 2008). Sea levels have risen by an average of 1.88mm per year since 1961 but have increased to 3.1mm per year from 1993. These figures seem small, but if the ocean rises by just 3 feet, lower Manhattan could be submerged, and sections of Miami would be lost. In Bangladesh and India, close to 23 million people live within this elevation of three feet (IPCC, 2007). That level of population displacement and loss of property would have serious economic and social effects.

    It is not just the loss of land; effects on biodiversity should also be considered. Data shows that melting glaciers change water’s chemical composition and temperature in the areas served by the Gulf current (IPCC, 2007). This means that sea life that cannot adapt to the new water conditions will have to either migrate or die. Coral life, for example, will be wiped out if the temperature and height of water change. In addition, mammals such as the polar bear and penguins will die out because their icy habitat is shrinking, and already their numbers are on the decline (National Geographic, 2012).

    The third effect of melting ice caps is the increase in greenhouse levels (Gore, 2008, p. 8). Science proves that there is a considerable amount of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases trapped in ice bodies around the world (Phys.org, 2012). As these bodies melt, they release these gases into the atmosphere, which, in turn, increases the rate of global warming. Additionally, these ice bodies contribute to what is referred to as the albedo effect (Ashton, Tyrell, Spalding, & Gentry, 2012, p. 130). They use this to refer to the reflectivity of a geographical feature directly. Ice bodies reflect back more sunlight, thus contributing to the cooling effect of the earth. As they melt, instead of reflective ice, there occurs dark, heat-absorbing water masses. This also increases the temperature of the earth. Both of these effects compound the global warming problem.

    Apart from increasing temperature, there is the oxymoron of global warming causing temperature plunges. It may sound off to blame global warming for this effect, but it does. Cold waves are “an unusually large and rapid drop in temperature over a short period of time” (Merriam-Webster, 2012). These cold encounters cause temperature drops of as low as -62 degrees Centigrade and are very destructive (Mani, 2010, p. 118). They freeze power lines, destroy pipes and cause transportation problems. Many people have died of hypothermia, and large areas of crops have been destroyed by cold waves around the world (Maslin, 2007, p. 59). Cold waves are created by changing climatic conditions related to melting ice caps and ocean currents. The seas absorb more heat, and polar winds are redirected due to melting ice causing this phenomenon (IPCC, 2007).

    Global warming has caused changing weather patterns, ensuring that weather phenomena have become extreme (IPCC, 2007). Of recent concern is the increase in the number and intensity of storm weather reports. Where there is usually wet weather, the storms have increased in intensity and rainfall amount, causing floods and violent thunderstorms. Also, in areas where there is drought, these drought conditions have become prolonged. In some parts of the world, the violence of thunderstorms has increased by a staggering 100% (Environmental Graffiti, 2012). In addition, the heating up of oceans has seen the rise of violent hurricanes and cyclones (National Geographic, 2012).

    Another interesting effect relates to geology. Global warming has been linked to increased volcanic and tsunami activity. The glacial masses put considerable pressure on the earth’s crust. As they melt and become lighter, they cause unexpected movement within the earth’s crust, which in turn causes volcanic and tsunami activity (IPCC, 2007). As the earth warms up, some pests and diseases thrive more in new warming up areas. Mosquitoes that spread malaria, yellow fever, and dengue have migrated north to new countries (National Geographic, 2012; Mani, 2010, p. 49). Pests such as the spruce bark beetle have wreaked havoc on spruce trees in Alaska on an area of about four million acres (Ashton, 2012, p. 88).

    These deadly effects will only keep on getting worse the more global warming continues to exert its toll. This calls for fast measures to be undertaken by all stakeholders to come up with a quick remedy to global warming. Failure to do so will see more adverse effects arising due to global warming. With all that is taking place as a result of global warming, it is sad to see how major policymakers are not taking these warnings as seriously as they need to be.

    References

    Ashton, M., Tyrell, M., Spalding, D., & Gentry, B. (2012). Managing forest carbon in a 

    changing climate. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Springer.

    Gore, A. (2006). An inconvenient truth: The planetary emergency of global warming 

    and what we can do about it. New York, NY: Rodale.

    IPCC. (2007). Climate change 2007: Synthesis report. Retrieved from:

    http://www.theglobalwarmingstatistics.org/global-warming-statistics-ipcc-report

    Mani, C. (2010). Effects of global warming. London, England: Oxford Book Company.

    Maslin, M. (2007). Global warming: Causes, effects and the future. Minneapolis, MN:

    MBI Publishing Company.

    Merriam-Webster. (2012). Cold wave. Retrieved from

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20wave

    National Geographic. (2012). Effects of global warming. Retrieved from

    http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/

    NCDC. (2008, August 20). Global warming. Retrieved from

    http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html#q7

    PhysOrg. (2012, July 23). Rise in temperatures and CO2 follow each other closely in

    climate change. Retrieved from http://phys.org/news/2012-07-temperatures- CO2-climate.html

    This is a sample essay written by one of our professional writers. Use this sample only as reference material, and do not pass it as your own. This will be considered plagiarism. You can, however, make an inquiry and  order a paper from our site. It will be written according to your specifications and requirements.

  • Why Good Grammar Is Important

    Importance of Good Grammar
    Most students don’t take good grammar seriously.

    Most students don’t take proper grammar seriously. They just want to write the essay/ assignment, finish it, and hand it over. They forget that proper grammar might be the only explanation as to why they keep getting Fs. Writing your essay on time is not enough; you have to make sure you proofread your work before you hand it in. Proofreading means you have to correct spelling mistakes, stylistic mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and make sure your grammar is good. I hope the following reasons make you take grammar seriously in your next essay.

    1. Good grammar makes you look smart
    You do not need to use big words when talking or writing to appear smart. Understanding words, their usage, and pronunciation is more important. Good grammar will protect you from looking or sounding foolish, and your professor will understand the points you are trying to put across in your essay. This will lead to good grades, a good college/ university, and probably a great job. Conversations you have with friends will also be understood better. No one wants to be the joke of the class for using poor grammar when constructing a sentence, so work on your grammar!

    2. Good grammar leads to good communication
    Imagine trying to explain a point for five minutes to a friend, and even after countless repeating, they still have no clue what you are saying (or even worse, they keep getting it wrong). It’s frustrating, right? Poor grammar does that- it breaks down communication. It makes the reader or listener not get the point. It weakens your idea, and in most cases, your point is interpreted wrong.

    The reader will get frustrated if they have to keep rereading and reorganizing the sentence so that it makes sense. If they have to do this in more than one sentence in your essay, you are doomed. If the professor understands what you are saying, then they can understand how you have organized your thoughts, leading to a good grade.

    3. Good grammar will help you get into a good university/ college
    Colleges/ universities usually look out for smart students. Your application essay and, in some cases, follow-up interviews are the determiners of that. An application essay full of mistakes and poor grammar will not get you into the college of your choice. Speaking poorly with grammatical errors will make you look stupid. Continuous use of poor grammar when talking will make the administrators think you do not have a proper education. This could be one of the reasons (or the only reason) you get disqualified. Good grammar will also reflect in your grades, especially your writing score.

    4. Good grammar will get you a job
    Some employers insist on proper grammar by employees. In the article I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar by Kyle Wiens, he says, “Good grammar is credibility, especially on the internet. In blog posts, on Facebook statuses, in e-mails, and on company websites, your words are all you have. They are a projection of you in your physical absence. And, for better or worse, people judge you if you can’t tell the difference between their, there, and they’re. Good grammar makes good business sense — and not just when it comes to hiring writers.”

    In the eyes of an employer, an applicant who uses proper grammar on their resume is intelligent and not lazy or stubborn. When looking for a job, you want your image to be projected right and not be defined by grammatical errors.

    Check your essay for errors before submitting it to your professor. When you perfect your grammar during writing, you are able to concentrate on the structure and content of your work. Your reader also understands your point of view and does not have to keep correcting your errors. Good grammar is mandatory for any student and makes you appear intelligent. Practice writing proper grammar, and your spoken grammar will also improve.

  • How to Write an Effective Paragraph

    Essay Writing TipsA paragraph is made up of a group of sentences that are related to a single main idea. When writing, paragraphs should be carefully developed and contain focus. There should be a relation between individual sentences. This can be achieved by focusing on the paragraph’s main idea and providing transitions to connect ideas. The main idea is represented by the topic sentence and occurs at the beginning of the paragraph. Sentences that follow (supporting sentences) should be related to this main idea and contribute to it. These pointers in creating an effective paragraph will make you a professional writer:

    1. Deciding on the main idea

    Choose a topic for your paragraph that gives it unity and focus. Decide on the genre of the topic ( is it a story, question, description, etc.?). Note down issues you will cover with the intended audience in mind. Does the reader have prior knowledge of the topic at hand, or do you have to give the whole account of a topic?

     2. Outline creation

    Create an outline of ideas to help you decide what ideas are relevant and which ones are not. Do thorough research on the topic to get supporting ideas and information for your topic. Rearrange the points from most important to ease the writing process.

     3. Choose a topic sentence

    This sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about. It’s a very important sentence as it has the ability to influence your reader to read the rest of the paragraph. Make it captivating and let it represent a summary of what the rest of the paragraph is about. Most experienced writers are able to place the topic sentence at different stages of the paragraph but as a beginner, make sure it’s the first sentence in the paragraph.

    4. Supporting sentences

    These should expand and discuss in detail the topic sentence. They should all relate to the topic sentence and should be simple, short, clear to the point, and not ambiguous. Make use of facts, statistics, figures, quotes, and examples to make these supporting sentences strong. A paragraph can be made of three, five, or more sentences, but this is dependent on the topic you are writing about or the type of paper.

    5. Conclusion

    Make the conclusion sentence a summary of points covered in the supporting sentences. It should reinforce and re-word your topic sentence. It should also emphasize information given in the supporting sentences. The concluding sentence is a signal to the reader that you are about to move to the next paragraph.

    6. Include coherence

    After collecting all the information, organize your ideas coherently. A coherent paragraph flows, and the content fits together in an understandable way for the reader. Transitions such as also, after a while, again, although, but, after all, above, granted that, as a result, for example, etc. can be used. Repeating keyword phrases and maintaining the same point of view throughout a paragraph also leads to coherence. With paragraph coherence, the reader moves easily from one sentence to the next and feels that the ideas are unified.

    7. Proofread your work

    This is the most important part in creating a paragraph that flows. Proofreading will help you get rid of mistakes in style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. It also rids your paragraph of information that is irrelevant and not related to the main topic. When editing a paragraph, make sure it’s written in one tense, that it has subject-verb agreement, and that the nouns are capitalized. Make sure that none of the main points you had outlined is left out. Your paragraph, after editing, should contain all the elements of a great paragraph: coherence, unity, order, and completeness.

  • Determining Which College/ University Is Your Right Fit in 6 Steps

    College application essay
    Saint Anselm College

    Selecting what college/ university will be best for you can be overwhelming. So many great schools are available that offer great career courses and you get to choose only one. How do you determine what college will start off your career?

    You have to consider what matters to you. Don’t let anyone coerce you into going to a college you don’t like or taking a course that doesn’t interest you. At this age, you are capable of making choices of your own depending on your interests and aspirations. Whatever your choices may be, they will play a huge role in your future success.

    1.  Identify all colleges/universities you would like to attend

    Start with the basics. What are your values or needs? What’s important to you? Would you rather attend a college close to home, so you get to live close to family or miles away? Would you prefer to attend a small size or large school? Identify your needs and focus on what you consider a perfect school. This will help you select a few from the many available.

    2.  Location

    What location would best suit you? What seasons are you comfortable learning in? Winter? Summer? Alternatively, are you an all-year-round learner? Do you want to go sightseeing during your free time, or have some me-time at home with your books?

    3.  Environment

    Does the idea of a college in the city excite you, or would you rather be in the suburbs? Is the nightlife necessary for you or do you prefer the open space and grassy fields? You could choose to change the setting if you have lived in the suburbs all your life and want the bust of the city and the noises. Make sure, however, that you can stick to your choice and won’t be missing the green fields and quiet after a week in the city. If you are used to the noise, large malls, and movie theaters, make sure a decision to move to the suburbs will not have you desperately seeking noise, even in the weirdest of places. Make a choice depending on the amount of change you can handle.

    4.  College/ University size

    Would you be comfortable in a small or large school? Make a choice depending on whether you would like a school where everyone knows everyone else or where you remain anonymous. The size of the school matters in that a small school will offer more individualized attention while a large school will offer diversity and a wide selection of student services.

    5.  School category

    Does the school specialize in one area of study? Is it affiliated with a certain religion? Is it a single-sex school? Is it private or public? Do they offer evening classes or part-time courses?

    Your comfort should be a key concern here. Consider too your preferences and the resources offered by the school.

    6.  School cost

    Can your parents/ guardians afford the cost of a certain college? Does the school offer financial aid, student loans, work-study programs, and scholarships?

    Some schools offer scholarships to students with exceptional talents outside the classroom. You should not limit your choices depending on the cost of tuition. Some private schools offer privately funded scholarships, and you could give them a try.

    When you finally pick a college/ university of your choice, read our article on what to avoid when writing a college application essay. The  application essay plays a big part in getting you into the college/ university of your choice.

  • Essential Sections Required on an Essay

    As a student, you have to write an essay or a research paper at one time in your school life. Essays play a big part in determining the grade you get. They have guidelines, though, and it’s important to know them before starting work on your essay. There are some universally accepted essential sections required on your essay, especially if it’s 6,000 words or more long. They include:

    1)      A title page

    This should be the first page attached to your work. It should be filled in correctly in case a departmental cover sheet is offered.  If not, provide the essay title in caps at the top of the page, your name and student number, the course, the examiner’s name, and the date you hand in the essay.

    2)      A front section.

    This one should contain the table of contents, a list of illustrations/tables, and an abstract.

    3)      An introduction

    The introduction should restate the essay question using a hypothesis and provide a clear outline of the essay. This is where you give the reader your point of view on the essay question and how you will support your view. You inform the reader what your discussion will be about, what you will not discuss, and why. The introduction topic should convince the reader to read the rest of your essay.

    4)      A body

    Follow the outline you provided in the front section. Provide evidence that substantiates your thesis on the body. Provide a different idea related to the topic for each paragraph. Paragraphs must be well constructed and start with a topic sentence. A topic sentence gives the main idea of a paragraph and summarizes it. The paragraphs should relate and provide a smooth flow to your essay. They should be clear, concise, and contribute to the main argument.

    5)      A conclusion

    Your conclusion should be a summary of the main points in your essay. It should clearly show how these points relate to the topic question. Do not introduce any new material in the conclusion section.

    6)      Appendix

    The appendix contains any information that may be of help to the reader and is optional. This information, however, is not part of the overall word count.

    7)      A bibliography/ reference list

    This appears at the end of the essay. It contains a list of sources you used when writing your paper. State the title of the source, the author, year of publication, publisher, place of publication, and pages depending on the citation format your examiner asks you to use. Different citation formats include APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, Harvard, etc.

  • Legalization of Marijuana (Sample Essay)

    Marijuana usage receives a portmanteau of skeptical reproach and approval from users, medical professionals, state institutions, and religious-affiliated centers. Striking evidence indicates the legalization of marijuana does not necessarily lead to an escalation in the usage of the drug. Perhaps, it is time government institutions and law enforcement bodies appreciate that marijuana usage is in existence. This is despite the approval or legalization of the drug. According to Gwynne (2013), approximately 36% of high school students smoke marijuana. This is an indication that the failure to legalize marijuana does not necessarily stop its widespread usage. Another fact is that the legalization of marijuana does not have a direct influence on the frequency of usage.

    The support for legalization drives its propagation from the lack of extreme physical problems associated with intoxication and withdrawal tendencies. Contrary to other toxicants, including alcohol, cannabis is a benign frivolous drug with modest effects on the user. Five hundred seventy-three thousand cannabis plants underwent destruction in 2008 following a crackdown (Olivero, 2013). The high plant growth in one state indicates an increase in the demand for the drug. While there are possible medicinal effects associated with excessive consumption of marijuana, the physical problems are not dissimilar to other legalized drugs like alcohol. For instance, excessive usage of marijuana can lead to addiction and cognitive dulling. The same applies to overconsumption of alcohol, which has additional demerits of deteriorated health like liver cirrhosis. Therefore, cannabis ought to be legalized like a recreational drug.

    The contemporary perception of cannabis usage tends to associate the practice of smoking with criminals and gangs. However, this is because of the initial position assumed by the government and law enforcers. Medical professionals have an alternative view. Rosenthal and Kubby (2003) argued that cancer patients under cannabis prescription show laudable results. The propagation of information by mainstream culture on cannabis remains distorted and biased. Critics seem to focus on the negative effects while assuming the possible positive effects of using marijuana. Bhang has positive effects that do not mirror the effects of other legal drugs. In fact, the legalization of marijuana would curb criminal activities involved with the peddling of the drug.

    It is obvious that the usage of cannabis is widespread in almost every urban center. This is irrespective of government efforts to try and stop the usage of the drug. Optimistic thinking would focus on tax collection increase based on the legalization of marijuana. Legalizing cannabis  would require that vendors acquire trade licenses. According to Fairchild (2008), legalizing cannabis could augment the tax returns by $8.7 billion annually. This is assuming that there would be minimal alteration in the frequency of usage. However, the tax returns could increase with augmentation in consumption. This would not be problematic as marijuana lacks carcinogens, and hence, it cannot cause lung cancer.

    In conclusion, irresponsible behavior does not necessarily culminate from cannabis usage (Gerber, 2004). The current tendencies on juvenile delinquency are not a result of consuming marijuana. This is because marijuana does not lead to the development of vile behavior that was not already inherent in a person. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the public and the government to legalize marijuana because of its widespread usage. In fact, the lack of carcinogens in marijuana makes it more health-sensitive than tobacco. Legalizing marijuana would eliminate associated criminal problems and improve police relationships with society. The legalization of marijuana is long overdue.

     

                                                          References

    Fairchild, C. (2013, April 20). Legalizing marijuana would generate billions in additional tax revenue annually. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/20/legalizing-marijuana-tax-revenue_n_3102003.html

    Gerber, R. J. (2004). Legalizing marijuana: Drug policy reform and prohibition politics. Connecticut, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.

    Gwynne, K. (2013, June 27). Five reasons cops want to legalize marijuana. Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/five-reasons-cops-want-to-legalize-marijuana-20130627

    Olivero, J. M. (2013). The Legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in the United States’ state of Washington and the impact on Mexican cartels. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(4), 8-17.

    Rosenthal, E., & Kubby, S. (2003). Why marijuana should be legal. New York, NY: Running Press.

    Use this essay only as a resource. Do not copy it and pass it as your own, as that is considered plagiarism. You can contact us, however, and make your order for any type of paper. Our professional writers work 24/7 to ensure you get quality plagiarism-free work done. We can write your paper from scratch or help you edit/ proofread a written one.

  • Understanding What Is Expected on an Assignment

    Understanding assignments
    understanding assignments.
    image source:serc.carleton.edu

    It’s very important for a student to understand what the lecturer expects to see on an assignment, research paper, or essay. Understanding the terms used when phrasing an assignment helps you choose and narrow down the material you need.  It also helps you know how to best answer the question. Luckily for you as a student, the same terms are used to set essay questions over and over. Here are some terms you will come across when tackling essays and what is expected of you:

    Analyze: Break down an issue into parts and examine, discuss, and interpret each issue. Explain how issues interrelate and contribute to the whole.

    Apply: Use the information you already have on one topic to expound on another topic.

    Argue: Make a case for or against your point of view on a topic using appropriate material.

    Classify: Place an item into a certain category with other similar items. Explain how you arrived at the category and why that category differs from another.

    Compare: Identify characteristics or qualities of two or more items and explain their similarities.

    Contrast: Identify characteristics or qualities of two or more items and explain their differences.

    Define: Provide the interpretation or meaning of a concept or term by providing sufficient details. These details should be enough to distinguish the term or concept from others similar to it.

    Describe: Provide a detailed account or description of an idea or topic or provide a sequence on how a series of things happened.

    Discuss: Present key points and possible interpretations of an idea or topic.  Investigate and examine them while giving reasons in favor of the idea or against then draw a conclusion.

    Enumerate: Create a list of parts, aspects, or ideas that describe a topic.

    Evaluate: Provide a reasoned opinion of an idea, person, or topic in terms of merit. Give a personal opinion on the effectiveness of an idea you read about and determine whether it meets certain criteria while providing supporting evidence.

    Examine: Discuss the essential elements of a topic critically.

    Explain: Simplify something by explaining or describing how it works, how one can do it, or its causes and effects.

    Identify: Point out or describe something, its components/features, or where and when it occurs.

    Illustrate: Use examples, statistics, or visual representations to make a point.

    Interpret: Clarify or explain the meaning and significance of a certain subject or object.

    Justify: Provide valid reasons for why you accept a particular conclusion or interpretation.

    Outline: Describe the main ideas of a topic or provide an overview of its structure and parts.

    Prove: Demonstrate the true state of an idea by providing irrefutable evidence.

    Relate: Explain or compare and contrast how events or things happened or their connection using a cause-effect sense.

    State: Describe the main points of a topic or idea.

    Summarize: Provide the main points or highlights of a long topic. Provide a condensed account of an event, story, or article.

    Trace: Provide a chronological order of an event or a historical overview of change. Describe the connection between one idea and another.