Essay Writing Worksheets: Are They Really Helpful?

How do you pre-write your essays?

There are many ways to pre-write, brainstorm, and plan before writing an essay assignment. The first method is to simply generate random, knee-jerk ideas in response to the prompt, using a web network or a list on a piece of paper. Another common way is to compose a very rough outline of the essay’s structure, and then fill progressively more specific details until you have a perfectly formatted roadmap to how the paper should look and flow. Another common way is to simply write a rough draft off the top of one’s head, without editing, and then going back later to finish the work and perfect it.

There are many, many possible ways to prepare for a tricky writing task. However, many of the most popular ways are not necessarily the most effective. Studies show that most students prefer to procrastinate and then write an essay on the fly at the last minute. Thankfully, there are alternatives to this. One new way to pre-plan your writing is to use a writing worksheet.

What is a writing worksheet?

A writing worksheet functions like many of the outlining methods mentioned above, but it provides a more structured format that guides the writer and helps him or her out a little bit. Writing worksheets typically have a particular, illustrative structure, and a series of blanks the writer is supposed to fill in, and once the worksheet is completed, the writer is prepared to begin drafting the essay.

Writing worksheets can come in many forms. Some appear as webs, with a blank bubble in the center for the main essay topic to be placed, and a variety of other bubbles and lines jutting out from that center, which the writer is supposed to fill in with related ideas. A wagon wheel is another popular style, and it functions in the same way. Some writing worksheets resemble lists, with several specific prompts the writer is supposed to complete related to the topic. Another common format is the outline or list structure. All of these kinds of worksheets can work equally well for pre-writing.

Do writing worksheets really help?

If you do not usually engage in pre-writing activities or have never used a writing worksheet before, you will be amazed how useful they can be. Planning before writing will save you from a ton of stress, and it will give you a specific structure that you can always return to if you get lost or are uncertain of what to write next.

Tips to consider

Start writing with brainstorming.Any essay or research paper start with creating an interesting and unique topic. Most students find it hard to make up a topic that would interest the professor. The easiest solution is check the available college paper examples available online for free use. Read the topics, write down the ones you like, conduct a research and give birth to a great topic of your own. The alternative way is to read a newspapers, watch a television program and write about any current issue going on in the world.

Proofread and edit your draft.Make sure to check your final draft before submitting it to your school. Most students are so happy they've finally finished writing their essay or research paper, they forget to spell-check and search for grammar and punctuation mistakes. Most professional writers even use the help of editors (and actually pay them for their services) to ensure the paper is coherent, well-structured and flows well.

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