There’s a reason the film industry acknowledges great supporting actresses and actors, and not just the stars of the show. Without the supporting cast, the film wouldn’t be possible. Instead, it would be flat, filled with plot holes, and missing dialogue that advances the script. A composition is a lot like a film: It has […]

When doing research for a project or report, it’s great to seek out different types of media, from text-based articles to videos. But what do you do when the video and article are on the same online article or web page? As it turns out, both media types need to be cited separately — but […]

So your professor assigned you a research paper in their class and you’re unsure of where to start. We’ve all been there. You have a topic. You know little about it. You need information. Where do you even begin? That’s where the “pre-search” process comes in. What’s pre-search? “Pre-search” is the process of learning about […]

The dreaded blank page. Every time you start to write, you fight this battle. You sit with fingers poised over the keyboard, a head full of ideas ready to pour out, but all you get are beads of sweat and an overwhelming desire to scroll through your Twitter feed just one last time. You have […]

Have you ever been given an assignment and thought, “I’ve written a paper like this before…”? If yes, then you might’ve considered re-using content from that previous paper for your new one. If it’s still relevant and the result of your own work, so why not? Doing so, however, should be treated with extreme caution, […]

It’s best to start extra early on each element of your college applications (not just the essay). According to College Board, “The summer before your senior year is the best time to start. Most students do the majority of their application work in the fall of their senior year.” So if you’re currently a junior, […]

Have you ever composed a beautifully written (brilliantly thought out) essay only to receive a disappointingly low score because you didn’t address the topic? No matter how great your essay is, you’ll never receive a high grade if you don’t address the topic and stick to it. On most standardized tests, for example, writing an […]

There is perhaps no better-known writer in history than William Shakespeare, the English playwright whose works have been acted and reenacted perhaps millions of times throughout their storied history. So how can you create a reference to one of Shakespeare’s works in your next research paper? Here are some tips for making your citation as […]

Piled precariously on bedside tables, crammed in bulging backpacks, or downloaded as pixel-filled pages, books are everywhere. Books bring joy and information to many of us, but some 750 million adults around the world can’t read them according to figures from the United Nations. Millions more of every age have limited access to books and […]

Planning is one of the most important parts of the writing process, but it’s also one of the most overlooked. Some students think planning is a waste of time, while others aren’t exactly sure how to plan.   In this article, we’ll explain why planning actually saves you time, plus give you tips on how to […]