What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “interpretive”? For me, a couple things come to mind—interpretive dance, language interpretation, and fortune telling. Hear me out on the last one for a second. Think about Professor Trelawney’s...

Compare the feeling you get when you earn an A on a paper to how you feel when you get a D on a paper. There’s really no comparison, is there? My goal in writing this post is for you learn more about compare and contrast essays, so you can skip that wretched...

All throughout your English, literature, and history classes, you’ve been learning the importance of analyzing over summarizing. But there’s a time and a place for everything—and for summarizing, that’s right here, right now. Learning how to summarize...

Travel. Adventure. Exploration. There’s so much to learn out there for those who go looking for it. André Gide once wrote: “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Of course, nowadays it’s a little less...

You’ve been reading Macbeth very closely and have gotten pulled into the drama of it all. And let’s face it—the fact that it’s Shakespeare’s shortest tragic play certainly doesn’t hurt. But just because it’s shorter than the rest doesn’t mean it’s...

For those of you who aren’t exactly fans of essay writing, standing in front of a firing squad might seem like a better option than having to write another essay about the death penalty. I hear ya. This is a long-debated topic and one that can be challenging...

Ever been nervous on a first date or freak out the moment you’re supposed to start a new job? Most people have. Why? Because you want to start on the right foot. You don’t want to call your date “Kay” when her name is actually “Kali.” And you don’t...

How many times have you watched a movie, bought a new phone, or bought a new anything based on an ad? If you’re anything like me, I bet you’ve done it at least a few times. After all, those ads can be pretty convincing. Ask your parents. I bet they’ve bought...

Classification: It sounds like one of those terms a mobster might use in a 1940s film noir. “Hey, Mac! Get that dame over here. This place could use some classification. Someone needs to class up this joint!” Okay, classification doesn’t mean “to class...

Are you a self-proclaimed featherweight champion essay writer? Have you met a worthy opponent in the persuasive essay? Has it left you on the ropes and ready to throw in the towel? Don’t worry. I’m in your corner. I’m here to help you learn more about...

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY DUE NEXT WEEK! You cannot escape it any longer. Your essay is due a week from today. (Thank goodness for homework apps, or you would have completely forgotten about it!) Remembering that you have to write an essay is only half the battle,...

If you’re anything like me, you probably read through The Scarlet Letter the first time and wondered how on earth colonial Puritans could possibly be relevant to your life today. Well … that’s the beauty of literature. Even though a story may be set in a...

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of those stories that could be made into a box-office hit. It has action, adventure, love, and seduction. Sir Gawain’s reputation precedes him in many instances, and he tries to live up to people’s expectations. While...

The Assignment: Critical essay Due Date: Tomorrow Confidence Level: Low Situation: CRITICAL You’ve sat through (and even paid attention to) your professor’s lectures about critical analysis essays. You’ve read all the assigned readings. You’ve even taken...

Some semesters can seem like the perfect storm—reading unfamiliar material, advanced writing, and seemingly not enough time to do it all. Before you start feeling like you’re drowning, learn how to take charge of your essay and be the captain of your own ship....

A One-Question Survey Select the answer that best reflects your knowledge of writing survey questions. When it comes to writing survey questions: A.  I have absolutely no idea how to write survey questions. B.  I have a basic understanding of...

I’m guessing the type of survey questions you’re most familiar with start with Steve Harvey (from Family Feud) saying, “Top six answers are on the board … ” If you’re working for Family Feud, you might survey college students about “something they...

“Hey, you’ll never guess what happened to me last night!” “Dude! You gotta hear this!” If a friend approaches you with one of these lines, chances are she has a story to tell. And judging by the sounds of it, the story is a good one! We all know those...

“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” —Thomas Edison Edison was right. It takes a lot of hard work to be a genius. I’m here to tell you that it takes a lot of hard work to be a good writer too. One of the first steps you can take to be a good...

Don’t know how to write an article review? Don’t panic—it’s easier than you think. Even if you’ve never written an article review before, the skills you’ve gained writing other types of essays will come in handy. Expository, descriptive, analytical,...

I absolutely love film. But I don’t absolutely love bad films. So you can understand why I appreciate good film critics. They essentially save me from wasting my life in two-hour increments. Although critics can be quite critical (read: negative) at times, they...