How to Create an Interesting Academic Paper: Using Essay Examples

Sometimes, the best way to understand how to write a paper is to read another paper as an example. When your teacher talks about a thesis, topic sentences, structure, flow, and sources, it can seem like they’re not really talking about anything at all unless you already understand what they mean! Using essay examples is a great way to get a better understanding of these critical writing components. But where can you find good essay examples, and how do you use them to improve your work? Here are some tips.

• Find good essay examples. The first step is, obviously, to find some good essay examples to work with. You can ask your teacher for guidance, or check out some of the books on writing at your local library. You can also find essay examples online; for a really professional, top-notch essay example, consider buying a custom essay from a paper writing service, which can be tailored to your unique class and assignments. Just don’t use the example you find as your paper! That could get you in big trouble, so use a custom essay example the same way you would use an essay example you found in a book or magazine.
• Study the way the argument is presented throughout the paper. One of the biggest tricks to a good essay is the structure. You want an essay that makes sense as you read it, with one point leading to another seamlessly. This can be hard to understand without seeing it in action. When reading through your essay example, identify and highlight the thesis and the main points of each paragraph. Study how each topic leads to the next in a logical way. It can help to create a flowchart or make an outline, where you write each point on a separate piece of paper to find out why they are introduced in the order they are introduced in.
• Pay attention to transitions. Sometimes, it’s the little things that really set a good paper apart from a so-so paper. Transitions, meaning the way one sentence or idea leads to another, can be one such thing that give you a better grade automatically. Transitions can usually be identified by looking for words like “furthermore”, “however”, “on the other hand”, “in addition” or “additionally”, or “moreover”. Look for these words and study how to use them appropriately in your paper for a smooth read.
• Learn how to integrate quotes. You want any quote or source that you use to flow with your paper. Study how a professional writer introduces quotes by using phrases like “According to Kant”, “in the words of Hemingway”, or “Einstein’s research showed that”. Note how the introduction to these quotes make them a part of the paper.
• Read the thesis a few times to understand how it works. A thesis is one of the most important aspects of your paper, so understanding how it works can really make a difference in your grade. Break down the thesis to understand what makes it a thesis instead of just another sentence in the paper.