<p>Well, I'm currently a junior.
Now that i've become a junior, i have so much use of writing, either
applying for programs & internship, and massive amount of assignments.</p>
<p>Problem is this, I can't quite get grades above mid 90s.
I'm taking honors eng and AP euro, two classes i write the most for.</p>
<p>My grades range from B+ ~ A-.
I read books on regular basis as everyone advises me to,
but i haven't necessarily improved greatly.</p>
<p>This subject has stressed me out so much lately.
Can anybody help me??? PLS??</p>
<p>I can't say I am a GREAT essayist, but I know I am at least decent. I improved so much through just writing practices. Even if you don't know if you are improving or not, eventually you will see the difference. Your writing will gain more flow, better organization, better structure, and great thesis by sheer practice. </p>
<p>reading books won't help as much as practicing writing. Reading will mainly increase you literary analytical skills. </p>
<p>Reading great sample essays from either online or books can help you a lot. So look into those as well. </p>
<p>Essay writing is really just plugging great words into a formula. Use the classic 5-paragraph format and then make it as verbose as possible. Then go back and make it concise (verbose essays are bad, but you need the boost in language so it sounds better). Just make sure that your thesis statement is very strong and that your topic sentences all relate directly back to your thesis. Then follow with your ornate verbosity. Use a thesaurus. Your essay should produce the response, "Did you actually write this?" I take that as a complement, though that one's usually from students. The teacher's comment is something like, "You have great talent!"</p>
<p>Try using a dictionary as opposed to a thesaurus, or at least in conjunction with one. Otherwise you will, without doubt, end up using words in the wrong way.</p>
<p>Each sentence you write needs to say something. Don't write empty sentences that state regular facts, instead, write sentences that not only include facts but analyze those facts.</p>
<p>You say you "read books on a regular basis as everyone advises" you to do. That's not enough. You need to read books not because you think you should, but because you WANT to. When you think it is fun, you will start noticing little things that might otherwise escape you. For example, when I read books by Charlotte Bronte, I love not only the story, but also the language. I am constantly amazed at her way of expressing things, especially in her use of punctuation. By appreciating it, I become aware of it. Once I am aware of it, I can start trying to incorporate similar things into my own writing. Reading can definatly make a huge difference in becoming a better writer!</p>
<p>I disagree strongly with JBVirtuoso- great writing is not just putting words into a formula. In fact, formualistic essays are often very dry and boring. They may be 'good'- impressive words, perfect grammar, logical arguments, coherent structure, etc- but still don't have that litte, almost undefinable quality that makes an essay great. </p>
<p>What is the point of writing? I would say the point is to get a message across, and thus to communicate. All the things such as structure, diction and so on are tools for communication- they are not communication in themselves. They can make your communication more effective, but they are not a substitute for the real substance of the essay. So, for a great essay, you need good thoughts. This is the basis. </p>
<p>Then, you need to find ways of expressing those thoughts. This is perhaps the hardest part. Explaining something verbally and writing it are very different. This is where I think practice is important. If you start trying to capture your thoughts on paper, you'll start getting used to it, and eventually it'll come naturally. </p>
<p>When you've reached that point, then you can start polishing it with finding the perfect word, and playing around with the sentence structure, and finally fitting it all together into one essay.</p>
<p>How can I best write a personal narrative? I write great mechanical essays, but when something is in my "voice" it just doesn't work out. Apparently my thoughts are all short and disjointed. =/</p>
<p>Use Strunk & White (The Elements of Stlye). I bought it and read it just for the heck of it, and it does help. However, some of the rules are a bit outdated.</p>
<p>If you don't feel like it, here's the gist of it: Communicate your point as effectively as you can with the fewest unnecessary words.</p>