Posts by Susan M. Inez:
Let’s see, for your Ancient History 101 course, your topics so far look like this: The history of the landline phone Life before the Internet A world without Snapchat Even though these topics might seem like ancient history, they’re probably not what your course...
2016.10.3 / by Susan M. Inez
“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” This clever quote from Romeo and Juliet sums up the drama in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. But if you’re struggling to find a topic for your Romeo and Juliet essay, you might feel...
2016.9.12 / by Susan M. Inez
Ever watch an episode of CSI (or maybe binge-watched an entire season … or two)? If you have (or have watched just about any other TV crime drama), then you’ve seen a group of detectives investigating a crime. You’ve seen them trying to figure out if...
2016.9.5 / by Susan M. Inez
There are lots of times when doing something in reverse isn’t the best idea—like walking backwards through town or driving in reverse down the interstate. Neither of these serve any useful purpose (and can actually be dangerous). So don’t try these at home....
2016.8.22 / by Susan M. Inez
Take a look at these four essay topics, and tell me why they won’t work as a topic for your paper: psychology Romanticism World War II music If you said that all of these are great subjects but they aren’t great topics because they’re too broad,...
2016.8.1 / by Susan M. Inez
You’re not too thrilled about writing another essay, but when you check your next assignment, it reads: PRO-CON ESSAY. “Whoa! Pro-Con,” you wonder out loud, “Is that anything like Comic-Con? If Comic-Con is all things comics and culture, maybe Pro-Con is...
2016.7.25 / by Susan M. Inez
I’m pretty sure your writing teachers have instructed you on the finer points of writing a variety of essays, including the persuasive essay, compare and contrast essay, and argument essay. You have these skills fine-tuned and can hold your own with the best...
2016.7.18 / by Susan M. Inez
How many times has a professor given you a list of assigned topics and told you to write about one of them? How many times did you complain that you didn’t like any topics on the list? I bet you’ve done it at least once or twice. You yearn for the freedom to...
2016.7.4 / by Susan M. Inez
Have you ever logged in to your class to check your grades and sat there staring blankly in amazement because you failed a test or got a big fat “F” on an essay? After you got the anger (and maybe a few tears) out of your system, did you think about why you...
2016.6.20 / by Susan M. Inez
The Problem: You don’t know how to write a proposal paper. The Solution: Find someone who does know how to write a proposal paper (that would be me) and read her advice (that would be this article). Problem solved. Phew! That was easy, right? So let’s get to...
2016.5.30 / by Susan M. Inez
It’s been a long night of frantic researching and writing, and as you check your word count for the fifth time in the past 10 minutes, you realize your required 2,000-word research paper is still only 1,162 words. Gone are the days of trying (and likely failing)...
2016.5.23 / by Susan M. Inez
POP QUIZ! How confident are you right now in your ability to write a killer definition essay? A. Super-confident. I can write a great essay with one hand tied behind my back. B. Reasonably confident. I’d probably need both hands to type my paper. C. Completely...
2016.5.18 / by Susan M. Inez
Write an analytical essay. It’s a short sentence, but it packs some intimidation, doesn’t it? Don’t let it scare you. It’s really just a fancy way of saying, “Write a paper, and support what you say.” It’s like piecewise linear interpolation. Now...
2016.5.9 / by Susan M. Inez
Remember when that annoying light came on while you were driving home last night? Turns out it really did serve a purpose—to tell you one of your tires was low. Unfortunately, you ignored the warning light. Unfortunately, you missed class because of your flat...
2016.4.27 / by Susan M. Inez
Two weeks ago, your professor assigned a cause and effect essay, but when the due date came, you didn’t even turn it in. What caused you not to turn in your paper? Of course, it could be any number of reasons. Let’s say you simply didn’t feel like writing...
2016.4.25 / by Susan M. Inez
“I propose that we cut taxes by 22%.” “I’m going to propose to Emma on Valentine’s Day.” “I propose we go to the new sushi place for dinner.” These are all great proposals, but they’re nothing like the research proposal you need to write …...
2016.3.30 / by Susan M. Inez
Really? You have to write another persuasive essay? As I see it, you have two choices: 1) Try to persuade your professor that you know all there is to know about writing and there’s no need for you to write this persuasive essay. 2) Assume #1 (see above) won’t...
2016.3.28 / by Susan M. Inez
Okay, so an ear-shattering bang with a fiery-aftermath-type bang isn’t what I’m talking about when I say, “This is how to start an essay with a bang.” (But I bet this adorably suspicious kitten has one heck of a story to tell.) So what do I...
2016.3.16 / by Susan M. Inez
Remember when you were a kid and each time you went to the store with your mom you asked her for a new toy? When she answered “no,” I’m sure you asked, “why not?” Her reply: “Because I said so.” This may have worked for your mom, but this obviously...
2016.3.14 / by Susan M. Inez
Let’s cut to the chase. You have to write an informative essay. You pretty much know how to write one, but you’ve been staring blankly out the window because you can’t think of anything to write about. Am I right? Regardless of whether you’ve been...
2016.2.17 / by Susan M. Inez
Even though you might not think you’re a master at persuasion, chances are you’re better than you think. Did you ever try to persuade your parents to let you stay out beyond curfew? Have you ever tried to persuade a friend to watch a movie he really didn’t...
2016.1.20 / by Susan M. Inez