If your final grade depends on this one academic essay, set aside plenty of time to brainstorm before putting pen to paper. You probably know that any well-written essay requires an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But how can you go beyond these basics to give your work the character it needs to stand apart from the rest?

Here are some expert tips to make your academic essay one of the best in class:

Research first, write second

If you start writing before carrying out substantive research you may end up with a piece that lacks focus and organization. Clarity of thought is crucial to have coherence and intelligibility on paper. Browse through various resources and don’t rely on one source for all your research. The more profound your exploration is, the more well-formulated your analysis will be.

Devise a thesis statement

Even if your academic paper doesn’t require one, you should still develop a thesis statement to give your work direction and flow. A thesis question or statement will guide your research and help you put together the findings. Whether your findings support the statement in question is another story. Professors are more likely to judge your paper based on how exhaustive the thought process behind the work was.

Plan, outline, and organize

Remember, the best academic essays have clarity and structure. The best way to achieve both involves a lot of planning. If you have to write a rough draft to see how your paper looks, don’t be afraid to invest some time in it.

However, if you want to move away from traditional outlining and planning practices, consider creating flowcharts, writing on index cards, and using mind maps. A little planning and organization can go a long way in putting together a well-written piece.

Don’t get fancy

While reading other academic essays you may be fascinated with their choice of complex words and sentence structures. This may translate into your writing, making your essay hard to read. Avoid using jargon and fancy words; instead, prioritize clarity and write to inform, not to impress. Nothing can help get your point across clearly quite like simple and straightforward language.

Hire professional editors

Once you’ve put together your work, let us take care of the rest. At Panther Academic Editing, our professional APA style editors use their expertise and experience to identify and fix the problem areas of your academic essay. They will proofread your work for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, structure, and much more. Connect with us to learn more about our academic copy editing services today.