How to Write English Essays if You Are Not a Native Speaker

Even native English writers sometimes struggle to manage their papers if they do not have the right approach. For international students who study English as a foreign language, such a task can be even more challenging.

We have gathered some tips that will help you come up with a qualitative paper even if English is not your native language. The key is asking questions, which help clarify the focus of the paper.

Style, Format, and Purpose

First, you should ask yourself about the paper’s style, format, and purpose.

The style of writing defines whether you are going to compose a research paper, a position statement, review, a cause and effect essay, etc. Ask yourself the following:

• Is your goal to convince the reader to take a specific standpoint?
• Are you going to present carefully researched information about the topic?>
• Are you asked to sum up something?

Depending on your answers, you will have to choose one of the numerous writing styles.

The format is the standard way you should structure your paper. Typically, students are asked to use one of the following writing styles: APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard.

The purpose is key to composing a solid thesis statement. It means you have to ask yourself what you have to write about. Avoid wandering through a topic aimlessly.

Precision, Concision, Proofreading

After you have answered all the questions above, it should not be a problem to write an essay. But writing the paper is only the first step. Now, you have to make sure it is well written. Here are several tips to check if your paper is OK.

First, you have to check if the paper is precise; that is if you express your thoughts clearly. Make sure it does not contain any unnecessary words and expressions. When you use sophisticated phrases that your reader cannot understand, it does not add value to your essay.

Second, make sure your essay is concise, meaning the ideas are stated succinctly. If you are not able to express exactly what you need to get across, it is likely that there is confusion or vagueness in your thinking.

Eventually, ask somebody to proofread your essay. It would be great if you have a native speaker who would be able to do that. You should also check your paper for any spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors.