Writing a Grade-A Paper

How to Write a Grade-A Paper

We have all been there as students. You look in the syllabus and see “essay” or “term paper” you read a little bit of a sometimes unclear rubric and think “How do I write an A paper”. Lets get into it. 

I've written a lot of papers across philosophy and political science, and I've read a lot of drafts as a peer coach. The same few habits separate the A papers from the B papers almost every time. None of them require being a "natural" writer.

Write a Thesis Someone Could Disagree With

A thesis is a claim, not a topic. If nobody could argue with it, it isn't doing any work. Let's take an example. "Social media has pros and cons.". That doesn't really tell us why either way, so let's try something else. "Social media weakens democratic debate because it rewards outrage over persuasion."

The strong version tells your reader exactly what you'll prove and how. Put it at the end of your introduction, and make sure every paragraph after it is helping prove it. If a paragraph isn't, cut it or rewrite the thesis.

Outline Before You Draft

Ten minutes of outlining saves hours of rewriting. Write your thesis at the top, then list the three or four reasons that support it. Each reason becomes a body paragraph.

Every body paragraph can follow the same simple pattern:

1. Every body paragraph can follow the same simple pattern.
2. A topic sentence that states the paragraph's point
3. Evidence, like a quote, data, or an example
4. Your explanation of how that evidence supports the point
5. A sentence linking back to the thesis

That third step is where most essays lose points. Don't just drop a quote and move on. Tell the reader why it matters.
 

Take the other side seriously

The single biggest upgrade you can make is a paragraph that raises the best objection to your argument and answers it. It shows you've actually thought, not just collected sources that agree with you.

State the objection fairly, the way someone who believes it would put it. Then explain why your thesis still holds, or adjust your claim slightly to account for it. Professors love this, because it's shows that you did research.

And use evidence from the course readings whenever you can. It proves you did them, and it's what your professor is looking for.

Revise like it's a different essay

Your first draft is supposed to be messy. The A comes from revision, so finish the draft early enough to step away from it for a day.

• Read it out loud. Your ear catches what your eyes skip.
• Check that each paragraph's first sentence, read alone, sketches your whole argument.
• Cut filler like "in today's society" and "throughout history."
• Reread the prompt and the rubric one last time.

Then get another set of eyes on it. Take your draft to the Writing Center, visit your professor's office hours, or book a session with a peer coach. Asking for feedback isn't a sign you're struggling. It's what good writers do.

Catch you later, Wildcats!