Recent content by Olga

  1. Olga

    The best essay topic I ever picked? Something I was angry about

    I wrote my best essay about how my high school's "no hoodies" policy was racist. Was I mad? YES. Did I do research? YES. Did my teacher love it? No, but the principal changed the policy lol. Anger + research = actual impact. You're onto something here. Pick what makes you mad, not what sounds...
  2. Olga

    How do I write a conclusion that isn't just repeating myself?

    I struggled with this for so long. My first conclusions were just my introduction in past tense. My TA wrote "I already read this" in the margin. Ouch. What finally clicked was thinking about the stakes. Your conclusion is where you stop talking about the evidence and start talking about what...
  3. Olga

    Why I'm using shorter sentences now (and why it's working) 💡

    Short sentences hit harder. No fluff. No hiding behind clauses. I've been doing the same thing lately—my prof actually said my arguments feel more confident now. It's weird how less words can make you sound smarter, right? Keep going with this.
  4. Olga

    Why I'm finally embracing the mess of my first drafts

    For years, I thought good writers produced clean, elegant first drafts. I'd stare at the blank page, waiting for the perfect sentences to arrive. They never did. I'd write a sentence, delete it, write another, delete it. After hours, I'd have nothing. Then I read an interview with a novelist...
  5. Olga

    Can I use personal stories in academic essays, or is that too informal?

    I'm writing a sociology essay about food insecurity, and I want to include a story about volunteering at a food bank. My friend said “personal stories don't belong in academic writing” . But I read an essay by a professor that started with a personal anecdote. Now I'm confused. A writing guide...
  6. Olga

    How do I write transition sentences that don't sound forced?

    My essays feel choppy. One paragraph ends, the next begins, and there's no bridge. A writing guide says transitions should “show the relationship between ideas” – contrast, addition, causation, sequence. They give examples like: “While X is true, Y offers a different perspective.” “Building on...
  7. Olga

    What are the most overused words in essays that I should avoid? 😬

    My professor circled “important” in my essay three times and wrote “find a better word.” I didn't know important was a bad word! A writing guide says the most overused academic words are “important, significant, interesting, and very” . They recommend using “crucial, vital, essential, or...
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