Improving the
Content
of Your Essay
of Your Essay
1. Use the Thesaurus in your computer to improve your word choice.
Try to find better, more specific nouns, adjectives, and verbs. First, highlight the word you want to change. Then, right click and go to synonyms.
Make sure the word you choose makes sense and is appropriate in your sentence. If the word bank in the computer doesn’t offer choices, try using a dictionary or thesaurus on the cart.
2. Vary your sentence structure.
Examine the way your sentences begin. Do too many sentences start the same way? Do they sound repetitive? Combine short sentences into longer ones, or separate long, awkward sentences into two short ones.
Example: Mary is my best friend. She helps me with my homework.
Revised: Mary, who is my best friend, helps me with my homework.
Revised: Mary is one of my best friends because she helps me with my homework.
Revised: Mary, my best friend, helps me with my homework.
3. Add specific, vivid details to your sentences.
Original version: The cow jumped over the moon.
Revised : A black and white Holstein leaped over the silvery disk in the midnight sky.
4. Delete unnecessary, dull, or repetitive information:
What is unclear or too vague to understand?
What’s boring or uninteresting to read?
What sounds repetitious?
5. Get rid of cliches or overused expressions. Say things in your own original way.
Original cliche: She was as red as a beet.
Revised: Her face flushed red with embarrassment.
Original cliche: Joe was as mad as a hornet.
Revised: Angry words came to Joe’s mind as he slammed the door in frustration.
6. Use figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, etc.) when appropriate.
Original version: I was really tired.
Using personification: My feet stubbornly refused to move when I told them to.
Using a simile & metaphor: My brain felt like a rusted out, old junker. It just wouldn’t run.
CONTENT guidelines = Your content is graded on both quality (style, voice, word choice, creativity, etc) and quantity (the development of ideas and effort). You should be aware of the following page guidelines.
Less than 21 minimum sentences = F (Unacceptable—you’ll get it back!)
Develop your ideas with details and examples so that you have a 1.5 – 3 page essay
