<p>i have always considered myself a relatively smart kid, great at mostly everything (especially science). i have always made all a's in everything and most of them were pretty high a's too. but for some reason, i always just barely manage to scrap out an A in english. i know its pretty annoying to complain about getting my first possible b this semester but i was just wondering if you guys could me out a little. my main problem is writing essays. for some reason, i just suck at writing and this always brings down my grade. how did you guys learn to write great essays? any help is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>i just got done writing an essay for school, and again i feel like its worthless...</p>
<p>I'm the opposite, writing is much easier than science for me.</p>
<p>You should read things that you enjoy reading, and learn to recognize good writing. If you don't appreciate good writing you can't create it. This doesn't mean you have to start read a bunch of novels, even newspaper articles can be written well.</p>
<p>Also, there's a book called the elements of style, by e.b. white and somebody else. It's a good resource for writing essays.</p>
<p>You should probably talk about this with your english teacher. English teachers can be irrational and they want you to write in a certain style. They won't tell you this, but if you go over your work with them sometimes you can figure it out.</p>
<p>Post your essay here, maybe we can help with it. I'm not going to write it for you or anything, but I could try to find weak points.</p>
<p>I agree with the notion of reading more newspaper articles. It's pretty obvious that to be a good writer you must be a good reader, and vice versa. It doesn't even have to be newspaper articles pertaining to the world. Just subscribe to magazines that interest you, or read professional reviews of certain products. Regardless of their insignificance or superficiality, these pieces are still done by professional writers and editors that know a thing or two on sentence structure and diction. It is important to note that when reading, you must be perceptive to unusual sentence structures so you can utilize them yourself.</p>
<p>Which brings me to my next point: vocabulary. It's beneficial to have a wide selection of words so as to articulate or convey your thoughts. I recommend looking up SAT words because not only is it helpful for prepping, it also has many words that are considered sophisticated.</p>
<p>How did I learn to write a good essay? lol. Reading forums, you wouldn't believe what kind of smart ass comments are made, those really boost up my vocab.
Just general reading like hell over the summer, especially the types of stuff that you like. I think I just experiment with my essays, teachers will tell you what you're screwing up with.</p>
<p>
[quote]
how did you guys learn to write great essays?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It came to me in a flash of insight in second semester of 7th grade.
Seriously. The rest was details.</p>
<p>I really wish I could answer, but...I never really "learned." Writing is my thing, like it sounds like science is yours...it just comes to me without trying very hard. I have to work hard at math and science, but writing essays...I never have had any problem with grammar or structure or anything because it's just...there for me.</p>
<p>But if I were going to give you one suggestion...READ. A lot. Hopefully the rest will come.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Also, there's a book called the elements of style, by e.b. white and somebody else.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Strunk and White? Ha, I just finished recommending that to somebody else! Yes, it is great.</p>
<p>READ. The only way to become good at writing is to read.</p>
<p>Practice writing, too. Keep a journal or something. The more you write, the more fluid you become with words. If you're not comfortable writing, the readers will be able to tell.</p>
<p>Why am I good at everything? Well, some have told me I am Jesus, I'll take their words for it.</p>
<p>hpa 10
Write , write, write. Even if you dislike it, write a little every day.
Keep a journal, this will help you discover your own style.
Write, this is one of the most important skills a person can have.</p>
<p>I'm only a sophomore, and English is easily my best subject. </p>
<p>I read a TON, from very good authors, and I kind of picked up some of their writing traits, which in turn helps me be a better writer. </p>
<p>But it really does depend what type of English teacher you get. Last year I got one that was very much into giving a vague expectation of what he wanted, and let you run with it, which is what I like. Needless to say I did very well.</p>
<p>But on the other hand, this year, my english teacher is very strict on what he wants you to write. It has to be such and such with an emphasis on this, and has to use language like that. That plus he's more into poetry and play writing, than creative writing and essays, and I loathe plays and poetry. Needless to say, I'm struggling really badly in that class.</p>
<p>meh, dont read, its boring -_-... just watch tv and play games, thats what works for me.</p>
<p>sushant269: really, that helps you write better? Maybe you're just innately talented. </p>
<p>Write fanfiction, the feedback is fantabulous (as you avoid controversial pairings, etc.) This is how I developed half of my writing style. The other half was in English ^.^</p>
<p>think of it this way: the author is desperately trying to tell you something about him/her or about humanity but using characters. but the rules of the game are that she can't be explicit.</p>
<p>think of it as a fun charades. I was a math nerd turned lit nerd.</p>
<p>thank you all for your help. i started reading some more and my english teacher says my writing is progressively getting better. right now, im getting a-minuses on most of them and keeping about an a-minus in honors english. its not as high as i would like it to be, but an a is a.</p>