500 Word Essay

Essays are given specified word counts for a reason. They prevent us from going too far in our research, thereby losing a sustained argument, and they prevent us from keeping our scope too narrow. However, cutting word counts is not always easy, especially in a piece of writing you have written yourself. You feel like you wrote all these words for a reason and there is a sense of accomplishment in watching the word count rise as you work. The phrase "kill your darlings" advises writers to cut any elements from their writing that do not serve to further the work as a whole, even if those elements are ones that they love. By forcing yourself to “kill your darlings”, you are actually practicing objectivity, which improves your self-editing skills. Here are 10 tips on How to write a 500 word essay.

3. Get rid of adjectives and adverbs. The purpose of an essay is to argue a particular point, using objectivity and evidence. The addition of too many adjectives and adverbs can give the impression that the writer is being subjective in their attitude towards the topic. Adjectives should generally only be used in describing colour, size and number. Instead, if you want to create an atmosphere in your writing, you can amplify the intensity of a statement by making your verbs work harder for you.

4. Use the shortest form of the word. Why say ‘utilise’ if you mean ‘use’? Why say ‘conceptualisation’ if you mean ‘concept’? This may not reduce your word count, but it will make your essay easier for the reader to process. Using a longer form of the word can also be a trap for the unwary, as some words that appear to be longer versions of another word, may actually have a different meaning, for example ‘concept’ ≠ ‘conception’. Use the words you know and keep it simple.

5. Use the shortest possible form of the phrase. There are many standard phrases that we use to link sentences, to denote pointers, and to "complement" our writing.

6. Sentences should contain 25-30 words. It is almost impossible to control a 40-word sentence and is very difficult to follow. You really can't get lost in a 25-word sentence as a thinker, writer, or reader. If you have a penchant for writing 50-word sentences, you will find that breaking them into 2 sentences makes your thinking clearer, your writing more effective, and helps the reader understand your topic.

7. Don't come back. Begin each paragraph of your essay carefully. Never refer to the previous text. Starting any section with the words "As I said in the previous paragraph..." is a waste of energy and words. A letter like this leaves the reader thinking and perhaps literally skimming through your work if the link is too vague. This is especially important in your conclusion. Your conclusion is your chance to have a generalized discussion that ties paragraphs together to form a common argument. You don't want to interrupt the flow by telling your reader to go back to what you already said.

9. Explain only one idea at a time. Writing multitasking is very messy. This is ultimately less efficient than doing one thing at a time. Academic writing, in particular, values ​​logical development, explaining cause and effect, and isolating individual factors. If you try to discuss too many factors together, they can become confused, or at least confusing; you will need additional words to explain them, otherwise you will feel the need to knit too many loose strands, which will negatively affect your structure.

10. Avoid extraneous ideas. Stick to the sole purpose of the letter. There shouldn't be anything else in this part. If it was put in a footnote, this is your first sign that it is irrelevant. When in doubt, check your dissertation and ask yourself if this information contributes to the reasoning you set out to achieve.