It’s been my experience that there are two kinds of people in this world: those who can handle chaos and are happy to let the pieces fall where they may, and those of us who chase those people around trying to prevent disarray in the first place. We like neatness....

“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 …...

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...

Aiming for the big ‘A’ on that next essay? Well guess what—winging it without an essay outline is just not an option! By now, you’ve probably made plans in one form or another. You’ve marked quizzes and paper due dates on a calendar. Maybe you’ve...

Your class has been writing a few argumentative essays here and there, and you have to admit … you’re getting pretty good at it. But now your instructor says that you need to take it a step further and write a synthesis essay. The name might be a little intimidating,...

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...

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...

You’ve probably argued with people before, maybe with your parents, siblings, or friends. Heck, you may have even been in a fight or two, but get ready to put away the harsh words and heavy gloves because writing an argument essay is a totally different beast....

Can you imagine a world where everything was named as blandly as possible? “Come here, Pet.” “Hey, Maternal Grandmother, could I get your recipe for Casserole?” “Book about a Long Journey is pretty much the best thing I’ve ever read.” “I love shopping...

The words “literary analysis” drop from your instructor’s mouth, and you freeze in terror. The Great Gatsby is one of those books that resonates throughout the ages–that’s why you’re reading it and writing about it for your class–but you certainly...

While thumbing through the chapters of The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you may wonder why you’re reading it in the first place. On the surface, it’s hard to relate to–it is written about the Puritans in Colonial America, after all. Not exactly...

Woot! You’re finally free to choose your own research topic. This calls for celebration! “Why celebrate?” you ask? Because you’re no longer under your teacher’s thumb, that’s why. You can pick whatever topic you like, something you actually care about....

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...

Unlike most of the other literature you’ve read for class, “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan is short and pretty easy to breeze through. But now you have to do a literary analysis on it–and suddenly its short length seems like more of a burden than a blessing....

Our world is shrinking every day – how do you like it? From the telegraph to the internet, from rails to jumbo jets, advances in communication and travel technology have connected people across the globe. Some of these connections have promoted prosperity while...

History is usually taught in the most boring way possible. You read your textbooks, try to memorize important names and dates, and take a few tests along the way. You’ve gotten used to this routine. But now your instructor wants to shake things up by having you...

Love video games? Hate them? Either way, if you want to write an essay about the effects of video games on players and support your ideas with strong evidence, then let’s get started! In this blog post, I’ll give you a head start on your research by providing...

So you’ve carefully read your professor’s instructions and picked your research topic. Awesome — but now what? The long and winding road to a great research paper starts with a strong thesis statement, but theses don’t grow on trees! You must first...

Storytelling – it’s what separates us from the animals! And now your teacher wants you to show off your storytelling skills in a narrative essay, but where do you begin? In this blog post, I’ll give you 20 narrative essay topics to explore along with advice...

I’m a traveler. During my journeys, I have met myriad travelers, each with different ways of traveling. One of the most interesting differences I’ve noticed has been the various ways in which travelers prepare for a trip. Interestingly, it mirrors the different...

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...