Students all over the world, like the rest of society, are facing the impact of COVID-19, although in a more unique manner. Since most schools and academic institutions have switched to online teaching, it has affected their regular learning. Studying in a classroom is a very different experience from online classes. The personal inputs that students would generally receive from their teachers are something they miss the most.
Also, there are loads of assignments to be completed online. Completing school assignments on your own can be quite challenging, especially on new subjects. The good news is since we are living in the digital age and with the Internet to come to our aid, almost everyone has access to a plethora of free online resources, among paid options.
Those students looking for help to improve their grades and to assist them in writing better will find online platforms like essayservice.com to be of immense benefit. While there is no fixed template to make your writing exceptional every time, as every assignment will be different, there are certainly ways to hone your writing skills.
There are three common factors that, if followed, can prove to be invaluable in improving the quality of your writing. These are known as the 3 Cs of writing – conciseness, coherence, and clarity.
Conciseness
Conciseness or brevity is the ability to convey thoughts effectively with the least use of words. Every word used in a lecture, tutorial, report, or essay must convey its purpose. Make it a point to avoid repetitions or tautology as it will affect the quality of your writing. Some tips that you can use to be more concise and precise when writing are:
- Use action verbs instead of infinitive phrases.
- Avoid filler words wherever possible as they do not contribute to the meaning of any text. Examples of filler words are basically, just, really, highly, needless to say, etc.
- Use a limited number of adjectives in the text. Using excessive descriptions makes your writing less dynamic and enjoyable to read.
- Use active voice where possible for clarity and conciseness instead of passive when writing.
- Keep the sentences and paragraphs short (4-5 lines is ideal).
- Avoid wordiness and awkward sentences.
- Make use of forceful verbs to make your text more descriptive and animated.
- Avoid going into much detail or using non-essential words or phrases.
- Do not add fluff. It will distract from the message and make your text appear poor-quality.
- Do not use redundant words and phrases like “the reason why,” “each and every,” “end result,” “circle around,” etc.
- Replace modifying clauses or phrases with a word wherever you can.
The art of being a good writer is making your writing impactful and effective. The selection of a single strong word as a substitute for several weak ones is always recommended. An effective writer uses efficient language to get across his message.
Coherence
Coherent writing makes the flow of ideas seamless. The aim is to engage the reader without any effort to follow the text. One way is to ensure a smooth transition from familiar to new content by giving a good context that relates to the overall picture. Every paragraph created must form an integral part of the overall structure. There must exist a link among paragraphs that connects to the overall text content.
For those creating academic content, paragraph organization must have an introductory sentence, supporting evidence, and conclusion. Since the structure is familiar to readers, they will not find it challenging to comprehend the main parts. Another way is to make use of transitional words and phrases or parallel constructions that help to determine links among ideas.
To confirm if the ideas are coherent, go to the beginning and read what you have written. Where you feel that a paragraph or sentence does not have a natural flow, use any transitional like conjunctive adverbs or conjunctions with link phrases to make the ideas flow coherently. They can be used to compare or add information for emphasis on ideas etc. Writing coherently ensures the reader understands the content easily.
Clarity
For all writers, the main challenge is to make sure that their audience understands the text and its objective easily. Before writing any piece, you need to organize your ideas. That is when you finalize the important messages that you aim to convey to the reader by analyzing the content before writing it. For this, you should create an outline and plan out the principal and supporting ideas to create a link between them.
The best way to convey any idea effectively is to use accurate structure and logic. You should read every sentence aloud to see whether it is clear enough. It is the simplest way to determine structural and logical flaws while ensuring the flow is seamless.
The choice of words also impacts the clarity of a sentence. Often, most novice writers and beginners use fanciful language and words to impress their audience. The result is, however, counterproductive, making the text seem too pompous. If the choice of words is not suited to the writing style, it could confuse the reader and distract them from the main objective.
When using jargon or technical terms, you should take extra care. Never assume that a reader has a similar background or is as knowledgeable as you are on a topic at hand. The ideal option is to use familiar and common terms or, at least, provide explanations. Try to use the vocabulary that suits the objective and style of the text. The better clarity the content has, the more it will engage the audience.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a skilled writer comes with practice and experience. Before putting pen to paper or starting to type, it is best to create a mental picture of your future piece. Having an idea of what you are going to write about will help you to develop a better structure. And using the three Cs and referring to online tools will go a long way in making you a better writer.
