Tips for writing essays address the major stumbling blocks of writers: syntax and organization. Syntax refers to the ways in which sentences are constructed. Here is an example of tortured syntax: "He made the bed on which he lay after arising in the morning." With better syntax, it might read: "After rising in the morning, he made the bed on which he had laid." Organization refers to the
. structure and placement of sections and paragraphs within the essay. A great tool to help learn how to organize an essay, particularly one requiring citations, is the "Five Paragraph Essay Organizer" located here: http://www.studenthandouts.com/graphicorganizers.htm