is it possible to write an essay in an hour

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How to Write an Essay in an Hour: Time Management Secrets for Busy Students

Learn the secrets of writing an essay in just an hour with our comprehensive guide. Uncover time management techniques tailored for busy students, helping you to maximize productivity and conquer tight deadlines. Discover the strategies that will empower you to succeed under pressure.

• By: Emily Smith

Introduction:

The need for time management in essay writing

You may often need more time to complete essays and other writing assignments as a student. Time management is an essential skill, especially in essay writing. When you manage your time effectively, you can focus on the task and produce higher-quality work. In today's fast-paced world, learning to write an essay in just an hour can be a valuable skill that helps you stay on top of your academic responsibilities and reduces stress (APA, 2013).

Benefits of completing an essay in an hour:

Completing an essay in an hour offers several benefits for busy students:

• It allows you to maximize your limited time and balance your academic workload with other responsibilities, such as part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, or family obligations.
• Writing efficiently can help you develop better writing habits and overall writing skills.
• Completing an essay quickly can boost your confidence and self-esteem, making you feel more capable and in control of your academic success. 

Understanding the Assignment:

What is the prompt asking you to do?

To write an essay in an hour, it is crucial to understand the prompt and what it asks you to do. Please take a few minutes to read the instructions carefully and break them down into smaller tasks. Identify the main goal of the essay, such as explaining a concept, arguing a point, or comparing two ideas. Knowing the purpose will help you stay focused and organized, which is essential for completing the essay quickly.

Key factors to consider before starting

Before starting your essay, consider key factors that can help you write more efficiently:

• Determine the essay's structure, which may be dictated by the prompt or your preference. A clear structure will make organizing your thoughts and writing easier.
• Consider any citation requirements or specific formatting, as these can affect the time it takes to complete the essay.
• Consider your essay's target audience and the appropriate tone, language, and style.
• These factors will help you write an effective essay in just an hour.

Efficient Brainstorming Techniques:

How can you brainstorm ideas quickly?

To brainstorm ideas quickly, try the following strategies: First, set a timer for 5-10 minutes to encourage fast thinking (Gardner, 2014). Then, jot down any ideas that come to mind without worrying about their quality or relevance. This process, called "free-writing," helps you access your creativity and bypass the tendency to overthink (Graham & Perin, 2007). Additionally, asking yourself open-ended questions about the essay topic can stimulate new ideas and perspectives.

Mind mapping: A visual approach to brainstorming

Mind mapping is a visual brainstorming technique that can help you generate and organize ideas quickly. To create a mind map:

• Write your essay topic in the center of a page.
• Draw lines radiating outward from the central topic, and write down related ideas, keywords, or questions along these lines.
• Connect these ideas using additional lines and subtopics.
• This process allows you to see the relationships between ideas and develop a clear structure for your essay.

Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement:

What is a thesis statement, and why is it important?

A thesis statement is a single sentence presenting your essay's main argument or point (University of North Carolina Writing Center, n.d.). It serves as a roadmap, guiding the reader through your argument and informing them of what to expect. A strong thesis statement is clear, concise, and specific, enabling you to effectively convey your ideas and keep your essay focused and well-organized (Purdue University Online Writing Lab, n.d.).

Creating a strong thesis statement in minutes

To create a strong thesis statement in minutes, start by identifying the main idea of your essay and the supporting points or arguments you will make. Then, combine these elements into a single, clear sentence. For example, suppose your essay is about the benefits of exercise. In that case, your thesis statement might be: "Regular exercise promotes mental and physical health by reducing stress, improving mood, and lowering the risk of chronic diseases." Remember to keep your thesis statement specific and focused, as this will help you maintain clarity and direction throughout your essay (Purdue University Online Writing Lab, n.d.).

Creating a Time-Saving Outline:

How can you create an outline in a short time?

Creating an outline quickly is possible if you follow a few simple steps:

• Write down your thesis statement.
• List the main points you want to discuss in your essay. For each point, jot down a few supporting details or examples. This will help you see the structure of your essay more clearly.
• Arrange your points in a logical order, such as from least to most important or chronologically.

Review your outline to ensure it makes sense and flows smoothly.

Following these steps, you can quickly create an effective outline to help you write your essay more efficiently.

Structuring your essay for success:

To structure your essay for success:

• Follow a standard format that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• In the introduction, grab the reader's attention with a hook, introduce your topic, and present your thesis statement.
• In the body, organize your main points into separate paragraphs, each discussing one point and providing supporting details or examples.
• Make sure your paragraphs are logically connected and transition smoothly from one to the next.
• In conclusion, restate your thesis, summarize your main points, and leave the reader with a lasting impression or a call to action.
• This basic structure can create a well-organized essay that effectively communicates your ideas.

Writing the Introduction:

How can you grab the reader's attention?

To grab the reader's attention, start your introduction with a hook. A hook can be a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, a relevant quote, or a brief anecdote related to your topic. It should be engaging and make the reader want to continue reading your essay. For example, suppose you are writing about the importance of recycling. In that case, you might start with a statistic about the yearly waste produced. Remember to keep your hook brief and relevant to your topic.

Incorporating your thesis statement

After capturing the reader's attention with a hook, incorporate your thesis statement into your introduction. The thesis statement should be clear, concise, and specific, outlining your essay's main argument or point. It should be placed at the end of your introduction paragraph. For example, suppose your essay is about the benefits of exercise. In that case, your thesis statement might be, "Regular exercise leads to improved physical health, mental well-being, and increased productivity." By including your thesis statement in the introduction, you provide the reader with a clear understanding of the purpose of your essay and what to expect from your argument.

Developing the Body Paragraphs:

How can you write effective body paragraphs efficiently?

To write effective body paragraphs efficiently:

• Focus on one main point per paragraph.
• Start with a clear topic sentence introducing the main point, then provide supporting details and evidence.
• Keep each paragraph focused and organized, and avoid including unrelated information.

Using the PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) method for speedy writing:

The PEEL method can help you write body paragraphs quickly (de Kleijn et al., 2018). Start with a Point (your main argument), followed by evidence (facts, statistics, examples), an Explanation (connecting the evidence to the point), and a Link (connecting the paragraph to the thesis statement). By following this structured approach, you can maintain focus and coherence in your writing (de Kleijn et al., 2018).

Tips for maintaining focus and coherence in your writing

Keep your paragraphs organized and connected to the thesis statement to maintain focus and coherence. Use clear topic sentences and transitions between paragraphs to guide the reader through your argument. Additionally, refrain from introducing unrelated ideas or going off tangents, which can confuse the reader and weaken your essay.

Crafting a Compelling Conclusion:

How can you write a conclusion that leaves an impact?

To write a conclusion that leaves an impact:

• Restate your thesis statement and concisely summarize your main points.
• Provide a final thought or call to action that encourages the reader to consider the implications of your argument.
• Make your conclusion memorable by using strong language and clear, powerful statements.

Summarizing your main points effectively

To summarize your main points effectively, briefly revisit each of the key arguments made in your essay. Focus on the most important aspects of your argument and avoid introducing new information in the conclusion. Use clear and concise language to remind the reader of your main points and reinforce your thesis statement.

Editing and Proofreading Tips:

Why is editing and proofreading crucial even in a time crunch?

Even in a time crunch, editing and proofreading are crucial because they help you catch errors and improve the clarity of your writing (Harvard College Writing Center, n.d.). By allocating a few minutes to review your essay, you ensure that your ideas are communicated effectively and that your essay is free from mistakes that may distract your reader or undermine your argument (Harvard College Writing Center, n.d.).

Common errors to watch out for

When editing and proofreading, watch out for common spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020). Additionally, check for consistency in your argument, clarity or awkward phrasing, and incorrect use of vocabulary. By addressing these issues, you can enhance the overall quality of your essay and make it more engaging for your reader (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020).

Time Management Strategies for Busy Students:

How can you improve your overall time management skills?

To improve your time management skills:

• Start by setting specific goals and breaking them into smaller tasks (Dartmouth College, n.d.).
• Create a schedule to allocate time for each task and avoid procrastination by setting deadlines.
• Prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines, and learn to say no to distractions (Dartmouth College, n.d.).

Resources and tools to help manage your time more effectively

There are various resources and tools to help you manage your time effectively. Online calendars, like Google Calendar, can help you organize your schedule and set reminders for important tasks (Google, n.d.). Time management apps like Todoist and Trello can help you create to-do lists and track progress (Todoist, n.d.). Additionally, resources like Pomodoro Technique and time blocking can assist you in breaking your work into focused intervals (Cirillo, 2021).

Conclusion:

In this guide, you learned the importance of time management in writing and how to complete an essay in an hour. You can write your essay quickly by understanding the assignment, brainstorming efficiently, crafting a strong thesis statement, creating a time-saving outline, and writing a compelling introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, remember the importance of editing, proofreading, and effective time management strategies.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you apply these time management secrets in your essay writing, the better you will become at completing essays quickly. Stay confident, keep learning, and always strive to improve your skills. With time and effort, you will master writing an essay in an hour.

SUGGESTED READINGS:

Bolker, J. (1998). Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis . Holt Paperbacks.

This book offers practical advice on managing time and overcoming writing obstacles, specifically for students working on long-term projects like dissertations. Still, the principles can be applied to essay writing as well.

Tracy, B. (2017). Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time . Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

This book provides actionable strategies for overcoming procrastination and improving time management skills, which can be applied to essay writing and other academic tasks.

Hutchison, H. (2013). Essays and Dissertations Made Easy : Flash. Hodder Education.

This guide offers tips and techniques for writing essays and dissertations, including structuring, researching, and managing time effectively.

Leith, S. (2018). Write to the Point: How to be Clear, Correct, and Persuasive on the Page . Profile Books.

This book teaches how to write clearly and persuasively, focusing on structure and language, which can help students write an effective essay within a short time frame.

Pychyl, T. A. (2013). Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change . TarcherPerigee.

This guide provides practical solutions to overcome procrastination and improve productivity, which can be particularly helpful for students aiming to write essays in a limited time.

WORK CITED:

APA. (2013). Stress in America: Are Teens Adopting Adults' Stress Habits? American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/stress-report.pdf 

Cirillo, F. (2021). The Pomodoro Technique. Retrieved from https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique 

Dartmouth College. (n.d.). Time Management. Retrieved from https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/time-management 

de Kleijn, R., Mainhard, T., Meijer, P. C., Pilot, A., & Brekelmans, M. (2018). The development of an instrument to analyze the use of the PEEL method for writing argumentative essays. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 43(7), 1072-1083. 

Gardner, J. (2014). The Importance of Writing. In J. Gardner (Ed.), Becoming a Successful Early Career Researcher (pp. 57–69). New York: Routledge. 

Google. (n.d.). Google Calendar. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/calendar 

Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). Writing Next: Effective Strategies to Improve Writing of Adolescents in Middle and High Schools. Alliance for Excellent Education. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED497746.pdf 

Harvard College Writing Center. (n.d.). Editing the Essay, Part One. Retrieved from https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/editing-essay-part-one 

Purdue University Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html 

Todoist. (n.d.). Todoist: The to-do list to organize work & life. Retrieved from https://todoist.com/ 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2020). Editing and Proofreading. Retrieved from https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/ 

University of North Carolina Writing Center. (n.d.). Thesis Statements. Retrieved from https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/

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Hello there! I am Emily Smith, a passionate assignment helper and writer in education. My mission is to simplify complex academic concepts, making learning enjoyable and stress-free for students. When I am not helping with assignments, I love exploring new books and hiking. Feel free to reach out for assistance with your educational needs! As a dedicated tutor, I pride myself on working closely with students from diverse backgrounds, creating tailored strategies to help them excel. My approach involves breaking down complex ideas into manageable pieces, ensuring that students grasp the subject matter and gain confidence in their abilities. If you seek expert guidance and support for your assignments, do not hesitate to get in touch!

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12 Easy Steps To Write Essay In An Hour

Writing an essay in an hour can seem like an impossible task. However, with the right preparation and organization, it is possible to write an effective essay in a short period of time. This article will provide readers with twelve easy steps for writing an essay in just one hour. With these tips, even the most difficult writing tasks can be completed quickly and efficiently, allowing you to make the most out of your time.

Table of Contents

Strategies To Write Essay In An Hour

When it comes to writing, preparation is key! To make sure you have a clear direction for your piece and know exactly what points you want to get across – take the time beforehand. Follow these basic steps and craft an engaging masterpiece that captures your creative vision: ensure the purpose of topic clarity; develop ideas & structure; outline content with keywords; review & revise before submission. With these approaches, your written work will be guaranteed success.

1. Analyze The Assignment

Writing an essay in an hour may seem like a daunting task, especially if you need to familiarize yourself with the assignment. However, it is possible to create a high-quality essay with simple steps in a short amount of time.

The first step in writing an essay in one hour is to analyze the assignment. Make sure you understand the type of essay and what the professor expects from this paper. Additionally, keep track of how long each section should be and whether there are any specific requirements, such as formatting or citation style.

Take some time to look up any confusing terms as well as any background information that will help you answer the prompt thoroughly and accurately. After analyzing the assignment, ensure that you have enough research material to support your argument before jumping into writing the paper itself.

2. Brainstorm Ideas

The second step is brainstorming ideas. It Takes some time to brainstorm and explore a variety of approaches – think of your essay as a problem you can solve. After you’ve come up with potential solutions and angles, narrow down your ideas and pick out one specific angle that will form the main argument of your paper. With an idea or two already sketched out, the rest of your essay-writing process should flow much more easily and quickly! Plus, if at any point things get too tough or you run out of time for the hour limit,

Here is how to Brainstorm Ideas for essay writing

Brainstorming can be a great way to get ideas when writing an essay in an hour. Thinking of a possible topic, arguments, and evidence before one begins writing can save frustration and stress. A good approach is to come up with three potential topics before choosing the best fit. You can then create a brainstorming webs or clusters for each topic by writing one word that comes to mind for each idea first, then expanding on it with other related words, thoughts, and facts. Creating several web or clusters from different angles and perspectives helps ensure that a diverse range of ideas has been considered and provides material to draw from when forming the draft of your finished essay.

3. Choose A Topic

The third step of writing your essay in under an hour is choosing the best topic for your argument . A great topic will help you stay focused and make sure your thoughts flow naturally. If possible, try to pick something that interests you – that way, it’s easier to keep up motivation and write with enthusiasm! You’ll also want to make sure that it’s relevant to what you’re studying – this will save precious time when doing research. Once you have chosen your ideal topic, take some time to brainstorm any ideas or concepts related to it before getting started on the actual writing process.

Here is How to Pick the Best Essay Topic:

Choosing a topic for an essay is one of the most important tasks in writing. Knowing how to pick the right topic can make the difference between producing a compelling piece or one that falls flat and fails to engage your audience. Here are some key tips that will help you choose the perfect essay topic:

First consider who will be reading your essay. Before selecting a topic, ensure it’s appropriate for your target audience. Think about what they might be interested in reading and any potential biases they may have towards specific topics.

Next, think carefully about what interests you most when it comes to your chosen subject matter. Your goal should be to write something that has educational value and resonates strongly with you on a personal level—something that genuinely excites you to discuss!

4. Breakdown The Assignment

The fourth step is breaking down the assignment. Before you start writing Take a few minutes to review your assignment and determine what needs to be accomplished Make sure you understand the requirements for researching, formatting, and structuring of your paper Once you understand what’s needed, break down your essay into manageable parts so that you don’t get overwhelmed as you work through it. This will help keep you on track and ensure that each section is properly addressed while avoiding any potential roadblocks during the process.

Breaking down an essay assignment can help you stay organized, focused, and on track so that you can write a high-quality essay in the given amount of time. Here are some steps to break down an essay assignment:

• Read the prompt carefully and make sure you understand it fully. Ask yourself questions such as “What is the objective of this essay?” and “What kind of research should I be doing?”
• Break down the assignment into manageable chunks. Start by taking note of key words in the prompt and breaking these down into smaller tasks such as researching, writing an outline, creating a draft, etc.
• Set deadlines for each task. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time for each task but also make sure to plan ahead so that you don’t procrastinate or fall behind schedule.
• Create a plan for researching sources: Develop a plan for researching quality sources and organizing them into categories according to your assignment’s requirements.
• Begin writing! Once you’ve done all the necessary preparation work, start writing your essay with confidence.

5. Outline Your Essay

Outlining your essay is essential when attempting to write an essay in one hour. By outlining, you are able to organize your thoughts and ideas into a structure that will help determine the direction and flow of your paper. It also allows you to write down what sources you may use and the relevant points to explore each theme. Without this initial step, it will be much harder for you to complete the task in one hour. So take a few minutes before writing to map out exactly how you want to present your ideas in the allotted time frame.

Outlining your essay is an important step in the writing process

First, decide what type of essay you are writing. This will help you determine the structure of the paper and how much detail should go into each section. Once you have selected the type of essay, begin by thinking about an appropriate topic and then create an overall argument or thesis statement related to it. Make sure that this statement is concise and clear so that readers know what they will be reading about from the start.

Outlining can help you brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts, and ultimately make it easier to write your final draft. Here are some steps to take when creating an outline for your essay:

• Consider the prompt: What is the prompt asking of you? Is there a specific format that you are going to follow? Understanding what kind of essay you will write will help guide the structure of your outline.
• Brainstorm ideas: Think about what topics you want to include in your essay and how they relate to each other. This is a great time to do some research or jot down any relevant notes or quotes that could be included.
• Create an outline: Start by creating a main point or argument that you want to focus on in your essay; this will be the central theme for all of your supporting points and arguments. Then list any subtopics or points related to this argument and arrange them in order of importance so that each point effectively supports the main idea.
• Edit & revise: Take a look at the overall structure of your outline and make sure that it flows logically from one point to another; consider rearranging points if necessary or adding more detail where appropriate. Once everything looks good, move on to writing your essay!

6. Choose your Research Sources

When undertaking any research project, especially essay writing, it is important to select credible sources. Knowing which sources are reliable and trustworthy can be the difference between a passing grade and an outstanding one. So, how do you choose source materials for your essay? Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

7. Research

The sixth step is research. Once you’ve got your outline sorted out, it’s time to gather any source material that will support your points. If you can, try finding online sources that are applicable so that they are easily accessible when needed during the writing process. Take notes on anything relevant while researching; this step should help streamline the rest of the writing process by providing facts and figures quickly within arm’s reach. Remember: always cite where necessary! Taking these extra measures now can save valuable time later.

8. Create A Draft

The seventh step is Creating a draft, an essential part of successful essay writing in an hour. Writing out your main points, crafting a compelling introduction, and constructing a solid body are great starting points. Those steps are sure to have set you up for success, but pay attention to this final step-creating a draft. In your draft, arrange all of your points in a logical order and make sure they connect to each other and that your essay maintains its focus on the chosen topic. This is the final chance to make any corrections or adjustments before submitting it, so take advantage of it! Going through this step increases the likelihood that you will create a well-crafted essay appropriately formatted in less than an hour.

With your vision for the essay firmly in place, it’s time to begin crafting a masterpiece! Gather up all of your ideas and evidence, then arrange them into an organized structure that will captivate readers. Let the words flow; you’re building something incredible!

9. Check Formatting Requirements

Writing an essay can be a challenge for many. To ensure your work is up to the highest standards, it is essential to check for formatting and style requirements.

Before you start writing, make sure to familiarize yourself with any guidelines provided by your professor or other assignment instructions. Properly formatted essays will make a great impression on the reader and show that you have put in the effort required to craft a well-written piece of work. The most common formatting styles include APA , MLA , Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian. Each has its own set of rules that must be followed when citing sources and organizing material within an essay.

In addition to following specific formatting requirements, there are also general grammar, spelling, and punctuation tips that should be adhered to when writing an essay.

10. Write Your Introduction

Now that you’re armed with an outline and timer, let’s focus on writing your introduction. The introduction should explain the essay’s topic in brief and provide the reader with essential background information. It would be best if you also settled on a thesis statement, which concisely outlines your argument or purpose in writing the essay. Moreover, you can use a hook to grab the reader’s attention before they dive into your main points. Therefore, taking an extra five minutes to write your introduction may be helpful during this part of the process.

• Ensure the purpose of topic clarity.
• Develop ideas & structure.
• Write Your Introduction with keywords; review & revise before submission.

11. Write The Body Of Your Essay

The body of your essay is where you get to demonstrate your ideas. Make sure to introduce each new point in a sentence, explain it in two or three sentences, and provide evidence and examples where necessary. Depending on the type of essay you’re writing, you may need to include long quotes from books or other sources – just make sure to include appropriate citations for these. Don’t forget about transitions between paragraphs either; these help your paper flow better and make it easier for readers to follow along! Finally, make sure to read through your body paragraphs before moving on – this helps ensure that everything works together cohesively.

12. Write The Conclusion

The tenth and final step to completing your essay is writing the conclusion. Your conclusion should summarize all that you have discussed in the body paragraphs of your essay without repeating any exact phrases or sentences. Make sure that the conclusion flows well from the body text, but at the same time, be sure not to introduce anything new that was not already mentioned in the body. Once you finish drafting your conclusion, review it once more to ensure that all of your ideas are connected and make sure it has summed up all of your points in a satisfying way. After this ninth step is complete, congratulations – you’ve written an essay in an hour’s time!

Don’t Make These Mistakes In Your Essay Conclusion

Conclusion paragraphs are a critical part of any essay. In conclusion, the author ties together all their points to provide closure to the reader. Knowing what to include and what not to include in a conclusion can be tricky, so here are some helpful tips on avoiding common mistakes when writing your essay conclusion.

When writing your conclusion, be sure to refrain from introducing new ideas or concepts that were already discussed in your paper. Additionally, avoid simply summarizing or paraphrasing information from previous parts of your paper; instead, try connecting back with the main point you made throughout the entire essay. Finally, keep ends loose by providing clear answers and conclusions for any questions posed in your introduction; this will help create a smooth transition between body paragraphs and give closure to readers.

• 20 Top Tips for Writing an Essay in a Hurry

In an ideal situation, you’d have all the time in the world to write a great essay, but sadly it doesn’t always work out that way. There will always be times when you’re required to write an essay uncomfortably quickly, whether because of a tight deadline imposed by a teacher, or because you’ve been so busy that the essay has ended up being put off until the last minute. However, it is possible to produce a good piece of work even when very pushed for time, and in this article, we asked former a Oxford Summer School student how.

1. Adopt the right mindset

Before you start writing, it’s crucial to get yourself into the right mindset. You may be experiencing feelings of panic, feeling as though you don’t have enough time and you can’t do it. You may feel defeated before you’ve even begun. To be successful, however, you will need to banish these negative feelings . It’s vital to be positive, to try to relish the challenge, and to adopt a ‘can-do’ attitude. If it helps, imagine it’s a battle that you’re going to win. Give yourself a pep talk, and keep the end goal in mind: you’re going to do a great job and impress your teacher. You’re going to prove to yourself that you can take on this challenge, enjoy it, and write an essay in record time. Take a deep breath, remain calm, and start to attack the work systematically and logically.

2. Switch off your phone and social networks

The last thing you need when you only have a couple of hours to write an essay is to get distracted by your phone or social networks, which have a habit of eating away at your time without you even realising. Procrastination isn’t an option at this late stage, so it’s time to ban yourself from your phone, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, iPlayer, YouTube, and anything else you think might distract you. Sit somewhere quiet and put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door. If it helps, install a full-screen text editor onto your computer, such as Darkroom , to force yourself to look at your essay and only your essay. You can also get browser apps that keep you off social networks for a time period of your choosing.

3. Type your essay rather than handwriting it

Most young people these days type faster than they write by hand, so unless you’ve been told that you must handwrite your essay, type it. This will make it much easier to edit what you’ve written and change things around, and you’ll be able to get more words in through typing quickly. It’s probably also going to be easier for your teacher to read a typed document than your handwriting, and you won’t suffer an achy arm that could slow you down, so that’s an added bonus.

4. Read the question carefully

When you’re in a rush, it can be easy to skim over the question and think you’ve understood it – only for you to realise, after writing most of the essay, that you got the wrong end of the stick and it’s too late to change it. This is particularly hazardous when you’re under pressure, because your brain has a tendency to see what it wants to see; it may tell you that the title is asking a question that you want to answer , while the reality might be subtly but crucially different. So, start by reading the question very carefully and ensuring you’ve completely understood what it’s asking you to do. If it helps, underline key instructional words in the title, such as “compare” or “analyse”. This forces your mind to focus on the right kind of task, so you write the essay with this in mind.

5. Get your books ready

Prepare your workspace by opening the books you’ll need to use on relevant pages, or putting Post-It notes in them to mark where relevant information is. This means you won’t have to keep wasting precious time hunting through books to find the information each time you need to refer to it.

6. Sum up your argument in a sentence

To get yourself thinking clearly about what you’re going to be writing, see if you can sum up what your argument is going to be in a single sentence – a bit like an ‘ elevator pitch ’. If you can’t do this, the chances are that you don’t quite know what you want to say, with the result that you may end up waffling in your essay, thereby wasting valuable time. It’s important to set out with a clear idea of what your argument is, because then everything you write subsequently will be working towards the goal of getting this particular argument across. Of course, don’t spend too long on this and end up with not enough time to write the actual essay!

7. Write your notes directly into the document

When you’re in a hurry, your notes can double up as an essay plan, killing two birds with one stone. Start by typing your essay notes directly into the document you’ve created for your essay. This could be bullet points or one-sentence summaries of what you want to write in each paragraph. For each point, also include a line or two on what evidence you’re going to use in support. Once you’ve done this, organise the notes into a sensible structure by dragging and dropping paragraphs into an order you think works. This becomes your detailed essay plan.

8. Then rewrite your notes into an essay with an argument

You now have the outline of your essay in note form. You can now turn your notes into an essay by rewriting them into academic prose, complete with ‘filler’ sentences that glue it all together and help build your argument.

9. Save the introduction and conclusion for last

Perhaps surprisingly, the introduction and conclusion of an essay are often the hardest bits to write. So, save these for last. By the time you’ve written the body of the essay, the task of writing the introduction and a summarising conclusion should be much easier, as you’ll already have spent plenty of time on your argument and you’ll be very familiar with it.

10. Do the references as you go along

If you’re required to add references and a bibliography to your essay, do these as you go along to save time. Each time you quote someone, add in a footnote saying where the quote is from, and at the same time, copy and paste the details of the book into a bibliography at the end of your document.

11. Proofread as you go along

Save time on proofreading by checking over each sentence or paragraph for spelling, grammar and typos as you write it. When you’ve finished writing, it’s still worth having a quick final read through your essay for a sense check and to ensure that it flows well – but this should take less time now that you’ve already checked for errors.

12. Don’t be tempted to copy and paste

The internet is full of resources that probably exactly match what you’re going to be writing about, and when you’re in a hurry, there can be a strong temptation to copy and paste useful paragraphs into your essay. Don’t ever do this! Plagiarism is not only immoral, but it also means that you won’t learn the topic in as much depth – and the whole point of writing an essay is to consolidate what you’ve learned and prepare you adequately for future exams. Teachers can use Google too, and if they suspect that you’ve stolen someone else’s work by copying and pasting something off the internet, all they need to do is type one of ‘your’ sentences in Google and they’ll instantly find where you’ve got it from. It’s normally easy to spot copied work, because the style will be different from the rest of the essay. It’s just not worth the risk, as you’ll lose your teacher’s trust and this will probably be reflected in the quality of the reference they give you for university.

13. Try not to over-quote

A common tactic by students pushed for time is to use too many quotes – or very long passages – from other people (scholars, sources and so on) to bolster the word count and reduce the amount of writing they actually have to do themselves. Try to avoid doing this if you can; it’s a transparent tactic and shows that you haven’t fully mastered the subject yourself, so you have to resort to hiding behind the words of others. The vast majority of the writing in the essay should be your own. Short quotes here and there, accompanied by your commentary on them, are a good thing; lots of long quotes that take up much of the essay, with little explanation from you, are not.

14. Keep your style concise

You’re not going to have time for long-winded sentences, so keep your written style as concise as possible. There’s nothing wrong with being short and to the point in your sentences, providing it adequately conveys what you want the essay to convey. Being economical with words will ensure that you express yourself clearly as well as saving you time, so it’s a good idea all round.

15. Try a change of scene

If you’re struggling to concentrate on writing your essay in your normal work space, a change of scene might be just what you need to focus your mind. If you normally work at home, try heading to the library or a local coffee shop to see if you can work any better there. If you’re distracted by noise at home, try some noise-cancelling headphones or simply put some music on.

16. Take a break (but only if you feel you need one)

It sounds counterintuitive when you’re pushed for time, but taking short breaks from time to time will stop you running out of energy and keep you focused. If you have two hours to write the essay, for instance, take a break for five minutes after you’ve worked for an hour. That said, if you’re really ‘in the zone’ and working efficiently, and you don’t feel you need a break, just work straight through and take advantage of your spate of productivity for as long as it lasts.

17. Don’t bother with the usual tricks

Many students try to trick their teacher into thinking that their essay is longer than it really is by widening the margins, selecting a bigger font and using wider line spacing. Your teacher will see straight through this, and it might irritate them – so don’t bother!

18. It’s OK to use Google for quick research

While Google is no substitute for reading what you’ve been told to read, it can be useful for quick definitions or getting to grips with something you’re struggling with at the last minute. Don’t rely on it, by any means, but if you’re writing your essay and haven’t quite understood something in class, a quick Google search should enable you to acquire the level of understanding you need.

19. Keep hydrated and fed

Make sure you drink plenty of water while you’re writing, as this will help you stay alert. You may also want to equip yourself with some snacks to keep you going, as this can make the process of writing an essay more bearable as well as maintaining your energy levels.

20. Reward yourself

Give yourself something to look forward to once you’ve finished the essay, as this will help to motivate you to complete it. It could be a chocolate bar, the promise of watching an episode of your favourite television show, or an evening out with friends – anything that will provide sufficient incentive to get your essay finished. You’ve worked intensively and have a great essay to show for it, so you deserve a reward!

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