<p>You need to learn the following:</p>
<p>—how to organize your paper</p>
<p>—what kinds of evidence are (and aren’t) suitable</p>
<p>—how to analyze that evidence</p>
<p>—how to use the right kinds of words</p>
<p>—how to vary the lengths and types of sentences you write</p>
<p>—how to use punctuation for rhetorical effect</p>
<p>This is all quite simple but it’s not easy.</p>
<p>Absolutely NO one “guide” in itself is going to take you from an “8” to a “12.” If there were such a template, upper-half scores would be the rule rather than the exception.</p>
<p>Finally, if you see similar “tips” coming from multiple people (including and especially teachers), you’d be wise to disregard them.</p>
<p>As with most things in life, the masses are usually wrong.</p>