5 Myths About Essay Writing that Rob You of Confidence


Myth #1: Other Students are So Much Better at Essay Writing

Don’t worry – they’re not. It is very human to assume that other people have things better and easier than we do. This is a secret myth. Remember a simple rule in life: The More Personal Something Seems, the More Universal it Probably Is (courtesy of Eben Pagan).

To say it in plain English, when it feels like the problem you have is only yours and nobody else experiences it, you should realize that a lot of other people probably do experience it as well. So – don’t feel bad and write, write, write.

Myth #2: It Takes a Long Time and a Lot of Research to Write an A+ Paper

I have a confession to make: many of the essays I’ve written in my college career were finished within an hour or two before they were due. Did I get good grades on them? Mostly A’s. And so can you.

You can write an essay on a subject you don’t know much about very quickly, if you know how. Keep visiting this blog, and you’ll learn a lot of tips and tricks – I promise.

Myth #3: All Professors are Experts at Essay Writing

Yes – this is a myth. During my teaching years at the City University of New York I’ve read my share of not only the essays that my students wrote, but also some of my colleagues’ work.

And although I never (to the best of my recollection) encountered a run-on sentence or a sentence fragment, I sometimes had hard time finding the thesis. The evidence to support it was often less than well-organized. And there were conflicting bits of evidence as well.

I don’t say this to belittle my colleagues’ reputation. I’m writing this for you the student in order for you to realize that if you think you’re not a perfect writer – don’t feel bad – it’s possible that neither is your instructor.

Myth #4: You Can’t Learn How to Become Good at Essay Writing – It’s an Inborn Talent

We have another myth here. The aforementioned statement might be true about writing fiction – poetry, short stories, plays, and novels. I guess it should be kinda tough to learn how to write like Shakespeare or Tolstoy.

However, when it comes to writing expository prose (otherwise known as essays, argumentative essays, or position essays), you most certainly can not only learn how to do it, but become an absolute master of this craft.

Again, keep stopping by this blog and implementing one small idea at a time. You’ll be way ahead of your peers very quickly.

Myth #5: You Have to Know a Lot of Fancy Words to Impress your Professor

The truth is, your professor most likely doesn’t care about all the fancy words in your writing. All she cares about is being able to understand what you’re saying. And, trust me, this is the most challenging task for every professor.

I guess we’ve come to a simple rule here: Clarity Is Key. If your professor can’t figure out what you’re trying to say, then no amount of fancy wording will save your grade. Keep it simple. Use only the words you fully understand. And read this blog. Have I said this enough times?  🙂

Questions, Comments? Post them here.

Tutor Phil

Tutor Phil

Tutor Phil is an e-learning professional who helps adult learners finish their degrees by teaching them academic writing skills.

Recent Posts