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    What is a thesis statement? My professor keeps saying mine is "too vague." 😭

    I use your "good" thesis formula. "This paper argues that X because Y and Z." It forces me to have reasons. Without reasons, my thesis is just an opinion. With reasons, it's an argument. My professor stopped writing "too vague" when I started doing this. She writes "much better" now. It's not...
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    What tense should I use in an essay?

    I had the same problem. My rule: if the thing happened at a specific time in the past and is over, use past tense. "The battle occurred in 1942." If the thing is still happening or is generally true, use present. "Historians debate the cause." "The evidence suggests." For literature, the book is...
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    How do I write a thesis statement when my argument keeps shifting?

    Barbara, here's how you know your thesis is specific enough. Ask yourself three questions: Could someone disagree with this? (If no, it's a fact, not an argument.) Does it include a "because" or "through" that explains your reasoning? (If no, it's probably vague.) Can you point to specific...
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    Why I'm writing my introduction last (and why it's fixing my essays) 💭

    I used to stare at the introduction for hours, trying to craft the perfect opening before I'd written anything else. I'd stress over the hook, the context, the thesis. Then I'd write the rest of the essay, and my argument would shift. My beautiful introduction no longer matched what I actually...
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    Why I'm using shorter sentences now (and why it's working) 💡

    I used to think long sentences made me sound smart. I'd string clauses together with commas and semicolons, trying to fit multiple ideas into one breath. My sentences were technically correct, but they were hard to read. A writing coach told me: “Short sentences are powerful. They force you to...
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    My professor said my essay “lacks a voice.” What does that even mean?

    I thought my essay was fine. Clear thesis, good evidence, proper citations. My professor wrote: “Technically correct, but lacks voice. It reads like a summary of sources, not an argument.” I don't get it. A guide says: “Voice is what makes your essay yours. It's your perspective, your way of...
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    Is it okay to start an essay with a question?

    I started my essay with “Have you ever wondered why…?” My TA circled it and wrote “cliché.” But I see essays online starting with questions. When is it okay? A writing guide says: “A question can work if it's specific and not rhetorical. But it's risky. Professors see it all the time.” Maybe...

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