How do you write an A-level paper?

Answer 1

Writing an A-plus paper has been the topic of many contentious discussions in the field of academic writing, with all sorts of answers from literature professors, English teachers, and scholars of composition and rhetoric. Based on my knowledge of the topic, as well as my personal experience as a writer and tutor, I can give some very general answers to this question:

1.) Make a clear argument, claim, or proposal at the beginning of your paper. Of course, include a proper introduction of the topic of interest beforehand, but don't wait until you've made it to the third paragraph to flesh out your thesis or topic statement.

2.) Structure the paper around your argument or topic statement. Each body paragraph should begin by restating one element of your thesis. For example, if you are arguing for, say, the existence of life on other planets, and you have three good reasons for believing this to be the case, then the first body paragraph should probably begin with stating the first reason as its topic sentence. After this, support your reasoning with evidence. Show us why your reason is convincing. Repeat this for the rest of your body paragraphs.

3.) Reckon with counterarguments. Both in my own experience and in the experience of my clients, whenever you take objections to your argument into account, not only does it give you an opportunity to defend your position, but it makes you think about whether your argument is strong enough in the first place. If the objections to your argument are credible, then you might have to tweak your original stance on the topic of interest. This might seem like a hassle, but by doing so, you'll end up with an even stronger argument than before.

When it comes to academic writing, these are the main "rules" for writing a good paper that I can think of off the top of my head. Of course, papers vary in their requirements and guidelines, and some may not even require an "argument" in the traditional sense of the term. As I said, these are just some generalized rules to keep in mind for any academic paper. I hope this was helpful. Have a great day!

-Aaron W.

Answer 2

There are many factors that go into writing an "A" paper, and perhaps too many variables for me to give you one, definitive answer. For example, who is your teacher / professor? What defines an excellent essay may vary from instructor to instructor. Some instructors are looking for something profound, an intriguing insight or takeaway that requires an attentive and analytical eye for the text. Some instructors are looking for personal flair, and won't give you the grade you crave unless they feel they have gotten to know you in some way by reading your paper.

In my experience, however, the most critical aspect of any essay across all teachers and professors I've taken is this: organization. Ultimately that's what any essay boils down to. An essay, after all, is just an organized collection of thoughts on a given topic. We write essays to construct ideas in accessible ways for others. All of our most profound thoughts and ideas mean very little if we have no way of translating that into an accessible medium. Yes, passion matters. Yes, your own personal "flair" can be important. But ultimately? If it isn't organized, then it isn't a good essay.

If it all boils down to organization, you might be wondering what that organization should look like. Well, in more abstract terms it should look like one, coherent thought developed over the course of several pages. In more specific terms, it looks like an introductory paragraph that contains a map of your argument and a thesis statement (i.e. what is your essay about?). After this, it looks like several paragraphs that each build off of different ideas presented in your introduction, this is where evidence and textual support is key. Finally, it looks like a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis and drives home your main point. So:

(1) Introduce your topic, show us a little bit about yourself and why you are qualified to write this essay, and tell us how you're going to prove your point to us.

(2) Develop the main points of your thesis, the "why" and "what" of your argument, and support those points with evidence from credible sources or the text you're analyzing itself

(3) Tell us why your thesis matters, and drive home your main points. Give us something to think about as we finish reading your cohesive, organized thoughts.

Hope you find this helpful!

Answer 3

It is a very good idea to make sure that your paper is edited and proofread for solid content and polished writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization) from beginning to end. Make sure that your essay stays on topic all the way through and keeps the readers alert every step of the way. If possible, throw in your own special touch to your writing (be it a certain tone, style of humor, self-expression, etc.) so that your audience will recognize the writing style and author behind it in you.

Happy writing!

Answer 4

1) Choose a topic you care about

2) Use an outline

3) Cite your sources

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