<p>I can no longer hide the fact that my writing is poor. I just found out that I made a C / 70 on my first College English Composition essay.</p>
<p>I am determined to improve my quality of writing. I need to in both the short run (college applications) and the long run (career in academics, though not necessarily English).</p>
<p>What are some good books on writing?</p>
<p>you can't learn how to write by reading a book that tells you how to write
you learn to write by reading books</p>
<p>sorry if that sounded weird lol</p>
<p>i agree. the more you read good writing, the better you write yourself. it's not about reading a book that tells you grammar rules and style tips (although those are important, don't get me wrong)--it's about reading good writing and seeing it in practice.</p>
<p>same goes with critical reading for SAT and such</p>
<p>I agree with everyone else. I read an average of 4-5 books a week and I ended up getting a 760 on my SAT Critical Reading and a 670 on Writing without studying at all. Try to read as much as possible and try identifying what works and what doesn't. It helps to take note of any parts of books that really strike you and re-read them to see what makes those parts so special or interesting.</p>
<p>Sigh. Noone really answered the OP's question. It's true that real writing skill is needed to actually do something, but reading some books about the essay, along with good examples of essays is a quick way to get started. </p>
<p>Check out "On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance and the College of your Choice" by Harry Bauld - it's a little old, but he's pretty easy to read and generally helpful. </p>
<p>"College Admissions Essays for Dummies" is pretty straightforward, too.</p>
<p>Go to your library and look 'em up.</p>
<p>Good luck, fabrizio...</p>
<p>As someone who is writing-inclined, I found THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE quite enlightening.</p>
<p>Of course, this thread is over two years old; so share with us, how have you improved your writing?</p>
<p>I tried to pay closer attention to the writing style of the assigned authors' essays. In addition, I spent much more time drafting and rewriting my own essays. I believe this was really the key. By paying more attention to what I was writing and occasionally reading it out loud, I was able to notice errors and poor transitions more easily.</p>
<p>The Elements of Style is indeed a great reference. I should review it as I'm planning to take the GMAT within the next six months.</p>