The Three Essay-Writing Practices That Will Change the Way Your Child Looks At Writing!

Every student has the potential to be an excellent essay-writer, and yet, the most common thing I hear from my students is, “I’m just not good at writing.”

Figuring out how to approach the academic essay is a daunting experience for many students, but writing doesn’t have to be so hard (or so scary)! When students change the way they think about the writing process, they take a huge step towards becoming more effective writers. 

Below, I’m sharing three of the practices that I think make the writing process easier and less intimidating:

1) START WITH EVIDENCE:
Many students like to start their essays by first coming up with a thesis and then finding quotations or examples to support it. Instead, my advice is to always start with evidence before forming a thesis. That way, your children will be able to avoid the painful process of trying to make the evidence fit their thesis (when it doesn’t).

2) JUST FIND THE PATTERN:
After your children find the appropriate evidence, a pattern should emerge, and this pattern will become their thesis. Finding a pattern seems less daunting to students than “coming up with an argument” or “being analytical” because they feel themselves (rightfully) more capable of the task! 

3) ADD UP PARTS OF THE EQUATION:
When learning how to build more intricate sentences, your children can simply add the pieces together, just like an equation! Referencing a word bank makes it easier to use a broader range of vocabulary, and students can also model their writing after someone they admire, creating a template on which to rely while still getting their own ideas on the page.

At TA, I always want to give my students the tools and support they need to make the writing process easier and more manageable! Email me at sasha@tutorassociates.com or call me at (646) 638-3504 now to set up a writing consultation in your home and I'll make sure your children have the support they need through this last stretch of the school year.

Sasha Dewind, Vice President