Whatever your business course is finance, marketing, management, or IT, you will most likely encounter an essay assignment. For this task, you will need in-depth subject knowledge, a topic, and most importantly, a plan of how you are going to write the paper. Most students start writing their essays with high enthusiasm only to get stuck halfway through. But don’t worry, we are ready to show you how you can improve your business essay writing skills.
In this article, we will discuss seven things you can do before, during, and after writing to make sure you end up with a standout essay.
Don’t Waste Time! Start Early
Many students tend to fail their assignment not because they couldn’t do them, but because they wrote their papers in a rush. So, when your professor hands out a task, begin as soon as possible so that you have enough time to deal with any challenges that you may encounter along the way. Practice good time management so that you can be most productive during your active hours. When you begin your business paper days or weeks in advance, you will also have time to set it aside and go through it with a fresh mind before the submission date.
Analyze the Essay Prompt and Create an Outline
Knowing what the course entails isn’t enough to write an excellent essay. You need to understand what the essay question is asking you before you can attempt to answer it. To fully get the prompt, you must examine it word for word. Business essays will have keywords like examine, discuss, analyze, explain, compare, illustrate, describe, and so on. Also, check the type of essay you are writing before you determine the approach you intend to take. If you have been told to choose your focus area, go for a topic that interests you so that it is more pleasant to write.
Section Your Work Appropriately
Want your professor to enjoy reading your essay? Structure it properly. Well organized work is more legible and gives a good impression of the author in the reader’s mind. Structuring may depend on the type of essay and institutional guidelines. However, a good essay should have an introduction, main body, conclusion, and a list of references/ bibliography. While you won’t mark these parts as such (except the references), the reader should know when they are moving from one section to the other. Give each idea its paragraph and use transitions.
Pay Extra Attention to the Introduction and Conclusion
How you begin your essay is as critical as how you finish. The introduction is arguably the most important of the two as it contains the premise of the essay, otherwise known as the thesis statement. Plus, the introduction paragraph is what pulls the reader to explore your story further. Start with a compelling introduction and finish just as strong. If you are not sure how to start, you can write the introduction after the body paragraphs. Use the conclusion to restate your thesis and main points.
Use Clear and Understandable Language
Complicated wording and sentences when writing essays may water down your argument. So, instead, stick to understandable language. Let each point build onto the other while making sure you present clear explanations. Eliminate any ambiguous or unnecessary words in your work so that it is concise.
Cite All the Sources You Use Correctly
Since you will draw most of your points from other scholarly works, ensure you list all sources used. Each university has an accepted referencing style with the most common being APA, MLA, Harvard, Turabian, and Oxford. Make sure you list not just all the material used but that you do so according to the rules of the style required. Understand how to list references and insert in-text citations before you begin writing the work.
Proofread for Grammar Accuracy
One of the top mistakes most students make is handing in essays before proofreading. Have you checked for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes? These errors can significantly lower the quality of your work. While proofreading and editing are mostly about grammar, there are other things you should check too. Check if:
- You have sufficiently answered the essay question
- There is enough evidence and it is from credible sources
- Every source used has been referenced
- The format, length and word count are appropriate
- All provided instructions have been met
Lastly, the place you designate to do your business essay assignment is also important. Preferably, look for an area that is quiet, well-lit, and free of distractions. That way, you will make the most of your writing sessions.