How to improve on in-class essay?

[UncleWai]

I am a streaky writer. I need to sit in front of the computer a whole day and wait for ideas to come up.
However, I can't do that with in-class essay.
What can I do to improve this?
For the ethics class I am taking,
I got a 3.8 on my paper that I wrote in one night.
But I only got a 2.9 for my inclass essay.
Like while I am writing, I always get new ideas for the previous paragraphs, but I cannot go back and revise them.
Can any writers out there give me some hints?
I tried to write an outline first, but it really takes time.

 

[DaWhim]

you can't learn writing, the same way that you can't teach how to write good essay.
the more you write, the better you are.

 

[nageov3t]

write an outline. give your self a set period of time to write up the outline, and stick with the plan once it's set, even if you think of a better idea mid-way.

 

[Kadarin]

Stop and think for a bit before you write. Then follow the structure of:

Tell them what you're going to tell them.
Tell them.
Then tell them what you've just told them.

With practice (and experienced review and constructive criticism), you get very good at both improving your vocabulary and sentence structure, and making ideas flow. You develop your own voice, your own way of presenting your ideas.

 

[Scouzer]

Asking to write on a computer helps me a lot. They don't restrict useage of a spell checker or grammar checker 🙂

Unfair advantage, might as well take advantage of it.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
you can't learn writing, the same way that you can't teach how to write good essay.
the more you write, the better you are.

So true.

 

[MournSanity]

Here is what I do:

I make a basic outline of my main points in my head. I try to keep the essay in a uniform structure, ie. intro-content-conclusion, with the conclusion basically restating the intro but with the new facts I alluded to in the actual content. DO NOT USE PASSIVE SENTENCES. They make your essay structurally weaker and do not have the same flow as active sentences. Avoid narration-type writing. Try to write from a third person perspective. Open your bag of techniques and use them. Vary your sentence structure pool. Don't try to pull out your SAT list of vocab words and use them in every line--it doesn't make you sound smarter just by using the words, but knowing when they are appropriate. Plus, it irritates most readers when a word is used incorrectly and it is blatantly obvious they are trying to show off. Avoid run on sentences and using the word "thing" or "stuff," etc.

READ LOTS OF BOOKS. Then, if you have free time, analize the writers style and try to add it to your own bag of tricks.

 

[Whisper]

You can't teach the art of writing, but you can teach basic strategies that will help you improve the coherency and flow of your essays.

The most critical advice I'll give is, as has already been said, start with an outline. Think about what you want to say and how you want to say it, and then diagram it all somewhere. Break your ideas down so that they can be easily divided into different paragraphs. Decide how much support each idea needs, and how many paragraphs that will require. Be sure to use the essay "basics" such as a clear and concise thesis statement, and transitions between paragraphs. Also include your "main idea" sentences near the beginning of each new paragraph.

Beyond that, the only thing you can do is practice. Just like with anything else, you can only get better at writing by doing it.

 

[Mo0o]

Back in higihschool they gave us a structure to use. its really handy to churn out organized essays, although they're really formulaic.

intro sentence,
concrete detail
commentary
commentary
concrete detail
com.. blala
x1 more
conclusion.

just do that for your body paragraphs and slap on an main intro and a main conluciosn. instant essay.

 

[UncleWai]

Thanks for the advices.

One more question though.
I always get carried away with time and end my essay abruptly.
Should I spend more time with the conclusion or continue to beef up my main paragraphs?

 

[notfred]

My strategy: Try to take science classes instead.

In math/science classes, you're commended for coming up with an answer quickly in a small space. In all these subjective classes (like ethics), you're penalized for getting right to the point and have to fill in pages of BS to get a decent grade. God damn I hate classes like that.

I know that wasn't very helpful.

 

[gtsukada]

if you aleady know what your topic is on then just write it ahead of time and memorize it.

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
Thanks for the advices.

One more question though.
I always get carried away with time and end my essay abruptly.
Should I spend more time with the conclusion or continue to beef up my main paragraphs?

Why not frame the idea and thik logically about what needs to be said in order to answer the question. Don't try and be overly wordy because that will most likely have more of a negative effect opposed to a positive one. I always look at what needs to be said before I start writing, and then I form my paper around my "skeleton" outline. It takes away the guess work about whether you are saying everything or not, and allows for you to focus on the actual content of the paper. I have always found that taking five minutes to do this will allow me to get done in plenty enough time, while also feeling confident on the quality of my paper.