Writing an essay can be a daunting task, especially when you find yourself with little time left to complete it. Time constraints can be a significant hurdle, as you may have a limited amount of time to conduct research and organize your thoughts.
This will not only lead to a lack of clarity and coherence in your writing, as you struggle to express your ideas effectively but also resort to plagiarism.
Donald McCabe’s research spanning seven years and involving a survey of 70,000 high schools revealed that 58% of the schools admitted that they practice plagiarism.
Writing a last-minute essay is not impossible. But, it indeed requires focus, discipline, and effective time management skills – or better yet, a fast essay writing service such as Writers Per Hour.
In this article, we’ll break down some practical writing tips for writing a last-minute essay without resorting to plagiarism.
1. Start with a plan
One of the most effective ways to overcome the challenges of writing a last-minute essay is to start with a plan. This means taking a few moments to gather your thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and outline your argument before you begin writing.
Having a plan can help you stay focused and organized, ensuring that you address all the key points and meet the requirements of the assignment. It can also help you identify any gaps in your knowledge or research and guide you in conducting further research if necessary.
To create a plan, start by reviewing the assignment guidelines and identifying the key requirements and expectations. Next, brainstorm ideas and jot down post-it notes on the main points you want to cover. Then, organize your thoughts into a clear and logical structure, outlining the main sections and subtopics of your essay.
Remember, your plan doesn’t have to be perfect or detailed, but it should provide you with a clear roadmap for your writing. By starting with a plan, you can save time and avoid the stress of feeling lost or disorganized as you write your last-minute essay.
2. Conduct research effectively
Even when time is limited, it’s still important to conduct effective research to gather the necessary information and support for your argument.
Start by identifying credible sources that are relevant to your topic and research question. Use a combination of primary and secondary sources, including scholarly articles, books, and reputable websites. Be sure to take notes on key information and ideas as you read, making note of the source information so you can cite it properly later.
To save time, focus on the most relevant and useful information, rather than trying to read everything related to your topic. You can also use search techniques such as keyword searches and advanced search options to narrow down your results and find the most relevant sources quickly.
As you conduct your research, be sure to keep track of your sources and take note of any direct quotes or paraphrased information. This will help you avoid accidental plagiarism and ensure that you can cite your sources properly in your essay.
3. Use plagiarism checkers
Using plagiarism checkers is an effective way to ensure that your last-minute essay is free of plagiarism. These online tools allow you to check your work against a database of existing content to identify any instances of similarity or plagiarism.
Robust plagiarism checkers can also help you identify any unintentional instances of incorrectly cited sources or accidental paraphrasing. It can also help you ensure that you have cited all of your sources properly and that your work is original and meets the academic or professional standards required.
While plagiarism checkers are useful tools, it’s important to remember that they are not foolproof and may not catch all instances of plagiarism. Therefore, it’s important to use them as a supplemental tool and not rely solely on them to ensure the originality of your work.
4. Write in your own words
Besides using the plagiarism checker, another foolproof way to avoid plagiarism when writing a last-minute essay is to use your own words. This means expressing your ideas and arguments using your own language and style, rather than copying and pasting content from other sources.
Avoid plagiarism by writing in your own words. Start by understanding the key ideas and arguments from your research. Then, paraphrase or summarize these ideas in your own language, making sure to credit the original source. This demonstrates that you have engaged with the material and can express it in your own unique way.
It’s also important to avoid over-reliance on quotes. While quotes can be an effective way to support your argument, it’s important to use them sparingly and ensure that they are properly cited.
Be sure to use proper citation methods, such as APA or MLA style, to give credit to your sources. This includes citing any paraphrased or summarized material, as well as direct quotes.
5. Edit and proofread thoroughly
After all those efforts, it’s finally time to review your work carefully. Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors, and make sure that all of your sources are cited properly. You can take a break from your essay after you’ve finished writing it. This will help you come back to it with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective.
Then, read through your essay carefully, checking for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use tools such as spell checkers and grammar checkers to catch any mistakes you may have missed.
Next, double-check your citations and references to make sure that all of your sources are cited properly and that your formatting is consistent. Make sure that you have included all of the necessary information, such as author names, publication dates, and page numbers.
For the last thing, read through your essay one more time, focusing on the overall flow and coherence of your argument. Make sure that your ideas are clearly presented and that your paragraphs and sentences are well-organized.
Takeaway
Writing a last-minute essay without plagiarism is achievable with the right approach and mindset. Before you start with anything, it’s crucial to remember the consequences of plagiarism in the first place.
Plagiarism is a serious academic or professional offence that can result in severe consequences, including loss of credibility, legal action, and even expulsion from school or termination from a job.
Therefore, it’s essential to practice good writing habits like write 15 minutes each day, for 30 days straight and avoid the temptation to cut corners by resorting to plagiarism.
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Adela Belin is a writer, marketer, and content strategist with over 10 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for storytelling, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the field of content marketing and is dedicated to creating result-driven content. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
