College writing skills aren’t just a nice-to-have; they’re foundational for success in every major and discipline. Whether you’re hoping to start college strong this year or finish with flying colors, sharpening your writing skills is never a bad idea. Here’s what we’ve learned, and what we recommend.
Why Writing Skills Matter
It’s tempting to wonder, “I’m not entering a research-heavy job, when will I ever use this again?” But the truth is, writing skills are among the most important to cultivate because they incorporate not just spelling and grammar, but communication, critical thinking, and more. And they’re a strong indicator of success once you leave college and enter the workforce. According to the Business Career Center at Penn State College of Business:
“National surveys of business indicate that 82 percent of employers list the ability to communicate effectively as very important. When hiring recent college graduates, employers place the greatest priority on a “demonstrated proficiency in skills that cut across majors.” Writing skills near the top of the list. Writing skills are also among the most requested baseline (or soft) skills regardless of job and occupation.”
7 Tips for Writing Essays and Research Papers
Here are some writing tips for college essays and research papers:
- Allow plenty of time. Don’t rush through research, writing, or making revisions. Allow plenty of time for each stage of the writing process so you can retain important information and do your best work. Writing skills and study skills go hand in hand.
- Start with an outline. Starting with an outline can help reduce overwhelm by giving you a clear plan for your assignment. To create an outline, use your assignment prompt or brief as a guide for what elements to include, and how many things to cover. No matter the topic, your outline will likely include
● Title/Topic Name
● Main Idea or Thesis
● Supporting points
● Conclusion/Summary
● Bibliography/Sources Cited - Build a bibliography. This may surprise you, but building your bibliography early in the process can reduce a lot of stress. Once you’ve created your outline, find your sources. List your sources in the bibliography according to the assigned format.
- Add citations/quotes to your outline. Now that you have your sources listed and are familiar with them, pull quotes from them and include those quotes in your outline under the relevant point/section.
- Draft your paper based on your completed outline. Make a copy of your detailed outline and use it as the starting point for your first draft. That way your citations are already quoted, and you have all the necessary sections accounted for.
- Revise and rewrite as needed. Once you’ve completed your first draft, run a spelling and grammar check to fix any errors. Check to be sure you’ve included all relevant information. If time allows, have a peer or a writing tutor review your draft for clarity, flow, and coherence.
- Do original work. It’s tempting to rely on tools that claim to help you get it done fast. But generative AI cannot replace your ideas, your intelligence, and your critical thinking. Doing original work helps you improve fundamental skills that will last a lifetime, and will give you a greater appreciation for the craft of writing.
Don’t Get Stuck, Get Support
Writing a college essay or research paper is no small task. But you don’t have to tackle it alone. Coach Kelly Live has trained college writing tutors that can serve as trusted guides through each college writing assignment. We’ll provide supportive, helpful feedback you can use, and help your writing and editing skills get better with every paper. Need help on your next essay? Contact us today and move forward with confidence.