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The ability to construct a well written essay is a great skill for college students to possess. There are many factors which make a good essay and this task can be approached in many ways. While the methods may vary, there are typically some general good rules of thumb to follow that will help you write a high quality essay.

*Select a topic. Occasionally a professor will assign the topic, but it's not uncommon that you'll be given a general guideline in selecting a topic of your own. I've found the best way to start is with a tentative broad sketch of ideas with room to make lots of adjustments. This is my "topic brainstorming" stage, which is really an informal kind of outline that is shaped before moving into the research phase. After some exploring and narrowing down what direction to take the essay in, it makes it easier to construct a more formal outline.

*Research. Take the time to thoroughly explore your topic and obtain the factual "nuts and bolts" you'll need to expand on your subject. As you do this, make sure you keep a carefully detailed list of your sources and references. Include authors, publications, article or book titles, dates, page numbers and/or web pages. Later on, this will prove invaluable as you're working. When you've accumulated some good information, expand on your outline and start constructing paragraphs.

*Be clear and concise. As you're cultivating your paragraphs don't digress and ramble off topic. Stick to your outline to help you stay focused on the theme. Each paragraph should start off with a point and subsequent sentences should explain it.

*Interweave research with your own thoughts. Don't regurgitate what you've read, use it to develop your own ideas, analysis and solutions. Content is very important to a successful essay. A well structured, grammar and error free essay on its own won't guarantee a good grade; be sure your content is relevant and has a focal point.

*Include citations. Accurately document your sources giving full credit where credit is due. Most colleges require citations and you want to be sure to follow proper protocol as you do this. Refer to the reference list you've kept record of and properly acknowledge all necessary information. A note of importance - be clear on whether your college prefers APA or MLA style (or another style if applicable) and understand the guidelines to accurately do this. You can get more information on how to properly document sources and citations in your school's library or you

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