how to write an essay on a chromebook

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10 Best Writing Apps for Chromebook (Offline Support)

1. Google Docs

And if you are planning on using Google Docs in place of  apps like Microsoft Word , check out our article on  Google Docs tips and tricks  and  best Google Docs add-ons  to enhance your experience.

2. Calmly Writer

Check Out Calmly Writer  (Free, One-time fee of $10.99)

3. Microsoft Word

And in case, you have the setup file of Microsoft Office 2007 then you can use it to  install the desktop Word  on your Chromebook using Wine. Wine is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows apps on your Chromebook. The whole process will require you to have a bit of Linux knowledge so if you have the understanding then go through our guide and learn how to  install the desktop version of Microsoft Office on your Chromebook .

4. iA Writer

5. Simplenote

Simplenote is actually a note-taking app, but you can use it for writing purposes too as it allows  free-form writing with minimum clutter and intuitive UI . The app is available on the Google Play Store so you can install it on your Chromebook easily.

6. JotterPad

Apart from that, you get many writing tools like built-in phrase search, Markdown formatting, extended keyboard, word count, typewriter scrolling and more. There is even support for customized typefaces which you can use to create a personal space of your writing style.

7. Writer Plus

So, you can easily customize the content using a handful of  keyboard shortcuts . Another thing that I liked about this app is that it’s completely local and does not come with any cloud service integration. So users who want a strict offline writing app for Chromebook, Writer Plus is an excellent choice.

Check Out Writer  (Free trial for 14 days, Paid plan starts at $18 per month)

9. FocusWriter

10. Scrittor

However, the app offers a large and clean window for you to put down your thoughts. So, if you want  a well-designed writing app that can also help you with reminders and checklists  then Scrittor can be a good pick.

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook: Your Pick?

Passionate about Windows, ChromeOS, Android, security and privacy issues. Have a penchant to solve everyday computing problems.

Your article although content seems thorough, I see now from other comments made here, my be too ” loose”. Alot of these comments , seems valid for information you are not supplying. So how about ,rewriting your article and allowing hour truth to come forward , as a more Direct approach. People are needing Pros and Cons. So we can see better choice. Answer each specified action, with same intention. Maybe with each, compare the others . So we can see what’s better for us.

I need to write edit my final draft for book. Straight words no graphics. Chapter headers. Storeing document on disk or.

I am 72 no technical knowledge , will be working from home so always plugged in. Will not need internet. Thank you for help.

Marilyn Maxxwell, if you look on the list at #5 iA Writer, you will see that it has built-in dictation mode. I haven’t tried that app yet so perhaps the dictation mode is not available in the free version but I would give it a try if I were you. Just thought you may have missed it!

Thanks to Beebom for taking the time to compile such a great list of apps for all of us writers! I plan on trying each one to see which suits my needs best. Although from your thorough descriptions, I have a feeling that Jotterpad may be the app for me. I mostly write articles and poetry but have just begun research for my first novel and finding the right app for this project will make the process that much easier. Regards, Cathy H.

This article is soo ANNOYING! WHICH programs work OFFLINE??? What about iWriter??? Why can’t you do your damn job and spell it out?!?! UGH! I can’t connect to the internet, I NEED to work offline? KThxbye

hi , pls if you found the way tell it to me

Can you please let me know when Scrivener has an option to install/download Chromebooks? I really want to get the app, but it’s not available for Chromebooks–yet

Scrivener will likely never be ported to ChromeOS. They took years to get a Windows version, and have made no indication they’re working on an Android port.

I’m also wanting to know when Scrivener will be available for my Acer Chromebook please…any update received yet?

Why thank you, Beedom, is that right? I need to a writing~

Marilyn Maxxwell, I recently purchased my first Chromebook. I’ve taken it everywhere and have found it very responsive to my needs, even when there is not an internet connection. There are Cloud based Google applications such as Documents, and you can also add this app directly to your Chromebook so that you can work offline.

I did notice that Grammarly only works if you are online, so I plan on writing my content anytime, then doing my review and edits while connected to wifi.

Hope this inspires you to look further for the truth.

…Thanks for such a thorough eval of available writing software for Chrome OS. I’m offering this as simple feedback, not as questions, so you might know better what potential readers need from you.

We bought 2 Chromebooks from HSN last fall, because they were touted as fully loaded, giving immediate access to everything online, and intuitively updating themselves, only to find them totally unusable without an independent internet connection.

We’re both elderly writers, artists, & photographers who love to travel so we have need of tools we can use equally well from a roadside park to a Beverly Hills hotel! I need to be able to make Tables of Content, bibliographies, endnotes, footnotes, & revision notes as I do a lot of scripture work. My husband, not so much. (He has me!) We both need dictation capabilities.

Although you mention dark mode and markdown formatting, as an “enduser” only, I have no concept of either though I looked them up online.

Thanks again. I’m glad I found your article.

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How to Use Word on Chromebook: A Step-by-Step Guide

Using Word on a Chromebook is pretty straightforward. All you need is access to the internet and a Microsoft account. Once you’re signed in, you can create, edit, and collaborate on Word documents right from your Chromebook. Let’s dive in and learn how to get started.

Step by Step Tutorial for Using Word on Chromebook

Before we get into the steps, it’s important to know that using Word on a Chromebook means you’ll be working with the online version of Microsoft Word. This is a bit different from the desktop version you might be used to, but it’s just as powerful for most tasks.

Step 1: Open your Chrome browser

Open Google Chrome on your Chromebook.

In this step, you’re setting up your workspace. Make sure you have a stable internet connection because you’ll be working online.

Step 2: Go to Office.com

Navigate to Office.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.

If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you’ll need to create one. It’s free, and you can use any email address.

Step 3: Choose Word

Once signed in, click on the Word icon to open the online version of Microsoft Word.

Here, you’ll see options to start a new document or open an existing one.

Step 4: Create or open a document

Start a new document or open an existing one to begin working on it.

You can also upload a Word document from your Chromebook if you need to edit something you started earlier.

Step 5: Use Word as usual

Write, edit, format, and collaborate on documents as you would with the desktop version.

Remember that some features might be slightly different or only available with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

After completing these steps, you’ll be able to use Word on your Chromebook for all your document needs. Whether you’re typing up an essay or working on a group project, the online version of Word has you covered.

Tips for Using Word on Chromebook

• Make sure your Chromebook is updated to the latest version for the best experience.
• Take advantage of Word’s collaboration features to work with classmates or colleagues in real-time.
• Use keyboard shortcuts to save time. Many of the same shortcuts from the desktop version work in the online version too.
• Adjust your Chromebook’s settings to work offline if you know you’ll be without internet access.
• Explore the different templates available to jumpstart your document creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if i don’t have a microsoft account.

You’ll need to create one. It’s free, and you can use any email address to sign up.

Can I use Word offline on my Chromebook?

Yes, but you’ll need to adjust your settings to enable offline use. Keep in mind that not all features will be available offline.

Are there any differences between the online version and the desktop version of Word?

While the online version of Word is very powerful, some features may be different or only available with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Can I save documents to my Chromebook’s hard drive?

Yes, you can download documents to your Chromebook’s storage.

Can I use Word on my Chromebook without an internet connection?

You can, but you’ll need to set up your Chromebook to work offline first.

• Open Chrome browser
• Go to Office.com and sign in
• Click on the Word icon
• Create or open a document
• Use Word as you normally would

So there you have it—the ins and outs of using Word on a Chromebook. With just a few simple steps, you can unlock the power of Microsoft Word right at your fingertips, no matter where you are. This makes Chromebooks an excellent option for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to stay productive on the go. And, with the added convenience of online collaboration, working on group projects or sharing documents with colleagues is a breeze. Whether you’re drafting up your next novel, putting together a report, or just taking notes, Word on Chromebook is a setup that won’t let you down. So why not give it a try? Your Chromebook is more powerful than you might think, and mastering Word is just the beginning.

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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Best Writing Apps for Chromebook: 6 Top Options

Are you looking for the best writing apps for Chromebook? Learn more about the best applications for Google Drive and Google Docs!

The Chromebook is a good device for writing on the go. It’s quick, easy to use, and syncs with other Google applications and services. But finding the right writing app isn’t always easy. Google Docs is probably the best option for Chromebook if you want to write without frills or paying for it. However, writers have different needs, and the best writing apps vary by use case. Some need a text editor and word processor applicable across all platforms. Others want one that they can use offline, and that won’t drain battery life. If you are looking for the best writing apps for Chromebook, take a look at a few choices below!

We tested dozens of grammar checkers, and Grammarly is the best tool on the market today. It'll help you write and edit your work much faster. Grammarly provides a powerful AI writing assistant and plagiarism checker.

Testing Criteria

1. grammarly, 2. evernote, 3. scrivener, 4. prowritingaid, 5. ia writer, 6. google docs, final word on the best writing apps for chromebook, are chromebooks good for writers, what are the benefits of writing on a chromebook.

Multiple options are available if you are looking for the best writing apps for your Chromebook. We have used various writing applications, testing them thoroughly to determine which option is best for your needs. A few criteria we considered include the following:

• Features: We took a close look at the individual features of every option. We compare them across the board, figuring out which applications had the most comprehensive array of features. That way, you can figure out what features you need, what applications have them, and which ones are best for you.
• Ease of Use: We also took a closer look at how easy each of the individual applications is to use. Even if navigation has an impressive array of features, it may not do much good if it is impossible to use. The easier the application is to use, the better it will be. 
• Value for Money: Finally, we also compare the price of the application to its features. Nobody wants to overpay, and you need to ensure the program’s features are worth it for your purposes.

After evaluating a litany of applications based on the features above, we have put together a helpful list of the best writing apps for Chromebook.

Pricing: Free Version Available. Premium plans start at $12/month, billed annually. Best For: Writers looking to improve their grammar and stylistic choices dramatically.

Without a doubt, one of the best writing apps for Chromebook is  Grammarly . This is a comprehensive stylistic and proofreading grammar checker you can use to improve your writing dramatically. It is easy to use, provides automatic corrections, and clearly explains why it is telling you to change something. 

For example, the free version can automatically correct punctuation, spelling, and stylistic errors. If you upgrade to the premium version, you will have access to various new features. This premium writing software can help you avoid repetition, improve your word choice, and even give you access to a comprehensive plagiarism checker.

You have access to a free trial of the premium version before deciding if it is worth paying for. This remains one of the most popular writing applications. If you are looking for a comprehensive writing tool to help you correct grammar and punctuation , you may want to consider Grammarly. The premium version could also be worth it in some situations. Read our Grammarly review to learn more.

• There is a free version available. There is also a free trial of the premium version to help you figure out if this is worth it or not.
• You do not necessarily have to navigate to the Grammarly platform. There is a convenient Chrome browser extension available.
• This tool can help you correct run-on sentences, stylistic errors, and word choice problems.
• The plagiarism checker can be a bit overzealous at times, tagging things that are not necessarily plagiarism.
• The software program can get expensive when compared to other options on the market.
• The program can crash from time to time if you are using it for Google Docs or Gmail. This can be frustrating if you are on a time crunch. 

Pricing: There is a free version available. Premium plans start at $8 per month. Best For: Those who are looking to take notes, make business cards, and prepare for interviews

Evernote is another popular option for those looking for a writing application for Windows and Mac products. As the name suggests, this is an application you can use to create notes in various situations. If you have a significant reading assignment, you may want to use this application to help you store information regarding future links, possible ideas, and random thoughts you may want to expand on later.

In general, this is a powerful application you can use to take down ideas. You can also record helpful information about various topics. The purpose of this application is to help you simplify your workflow. You can produce a professional, structured finished product if you get all your ideas on the same page. This is an application that can help you do exactly that.

Overall, the application is versatile. You can use it to create voice memos, take down notes at meetings, and collaborate on group projects. You can also use this writing application to create work samples, prepare for interviews, and put together cover letters. Think carefully about the benefits and drawbacks of this program before you decide if it is right for you. 

Read our guide: What is Evernote?

• There is a powerful search functionality of the application. You can use it to search any keyword, tag, or phrase in your notebook, allowing you to retrieve information quickly.
• The Chrome compatibility is exceptional. The program is updated regularly, making it easy for you to access the information you need.
• There is also a convenient web clipper that you can use to capture images and web pages in your notes.
• The storage space is limited in this program. If you exceed the limit, you may need to upgrade your plan, which can make the application particularly expensive. 
• Even though the program is compatible with Google Chrome, the compatibility with other programs, such as Outlook, can be a bit hit-or-miss
• You can create tags for an entire notebook, but you cannot create tags for individual lines in your notebook. This can make it hard to find what you are looking for from time to time. 

Pricing: Free trial available. Premium version is a one-time payment of $20. Using it on a Chromebook requires a technical workaround. Best For: Those who write voluminously with complex structures.

Next, you may want to take a closer look at an application called  Scrivener . This has quickly become one of the most popular options for those looking for writing tools. This is a program you can use to help you write prolific novels with a complicated, in-depth structure. However, using it on a Chromebook requires some technical know-how.

If you’re comfortable tinkering with Linux to get Scrivener working, it works ok. You can subdivide your pieces by chapter. You also can make comments on your work and create multiple drafts, and tags are in areas of your work that you can use to come back to a specific area later on.

Ultimately, this application’s goal is to feel like a paper notebook. On the other hand, you can come back to your information later, allowing you to edit it later. If you use the program efficiently, this is the perfect program for complex writing. This could be helpful if you have to write a thesis for a specific course. Some individuals who are writing a PhD dissertation use this program to help them. You may even be able to write an entire book if you use the program well. Want to learn more? Read our Scrivener review .

• If you take advantage of the free trial, you will have access to every feature. You do not have to worry about being exposed to a watered-down version.
• You can track your word count, employ various templates, and structure an entire novel using the app.
• You can create a visual organization for your individual sections and chapters, allowing you to stay organized as you work on your project.
• There is no free version available.
• If you have issues with the application, the customer support team can take a while to get back to you.
• Because there are so many features, the learning curve is steep. It may take a while to get used to the program. 

Pricing: There is a free trial available. There is a free version and a premium version. The premium version starts at $70 per year. Best For: Those who need help with business writing.

If you are looking for an application to help you with business writing, then you should look closely at ProWritingAid . This is the perfect application to help you improve your grammar, match a style guide, and present a professional finished product. This application is helpful if you need to post something on social media.

This Chrome extension can highlight your grammar mistakes , allowing you to create a perfect piece. One of the significant benefits of this program is that you can collaborate with multiple people on a single piece of writing. It also comes with a comprehensive API that is relatively easy to use. You can access customizable branding, an extensive content library, and various content management features. This makes it great for digital marketing purposes. 

• It comes with a comprehensive variety of features that allow you to maximize your business writing.
• The customer support team is strong. If you have any issues with the program, they will get back to you quickly.
• It provides you with a lot of helpful information that allows you to customize your writing to meet the needs of your marketing campaign.
• The program can sometimes get a bit overzealous highlighting grammar issues.
• It does not have an automated sentence rephraser like some of the other programs,
• The program is one of the most expensive options available.

If you need a program to help you with your business writing, this could be your best option. Read our ProWritingAid review to learn more.

Pricing: IA Writer costs $29.99 for Mac products, Android, and other devices. There is a 14-day free trial. Best For: This is an excellent program for anyone looking for a minimalist app to help them avoid distractions in their writing.

Next, you may want to take a closer look at IA Writer . If you were having a difficult time getting your work done, it could be because you were getting distracted. What kind of font do you want to choose? What kind of spacing looks best for your work? These questions can be distracting, and you may need to find an application that can help you remove these distractions.

This is an inexpensive application that relies on Markdown. Anyone looking for minimalism will enjoy this application, which is excellent for short-form writers. On the other hand, this application does not necessarily the best for those who write longer works. There is even a style check feature that can help you cross out cliches and eliminate redundancies. This is an excellent way for you to keep your work concise. Read our IA Writer review to learn more.

• The app can help you eliminate distractions as you right. 
• The application is inexpensive compared to other options. 
• The application supports markdown formatting. 
• There are no templates available to expedite your writing.
• It can be a challenge to keep your files organized.
• The application is not great for those looking for long-form writing.

Pricing: Google Docs is free to use. Best For: This is an excellent program for anyone looking to save money and share their work with others.

You might also be interested in Google Docs . This is a free program that saves files to your Google Drive. Then, you can use this program to collaborate with others working on the same project. Even though Google Docs is free, there is a chance that you may need to purchase more storage space if you have too many files on your Google Drive.

This application is compatible with various valuable extensions, including Grammarly. Furthermore, you can save your files offline, syncing them with your Google drive when you have an internet connection. Because the application supports real-time editing, you can have multiple people working on the same file simultaneously.

• It is free to use.
• Multiple people can work on the same file at the same time.
• It has a convenient, familiar interface that makes it easy to use. 
• There is a chance you might run out of storage space.
• The programs can crash from time to time if you are doing too many things at the same time. 
• The dictation program is not the most accurate one in the world.

If you want to save money on your writing, consider Google Docs.

In the end, these are a few options if you are looking for the best writing apps for Chromebook. The best one is probably Google Docs. That said, evaluate the functionality of other options and compare the benefits and drawbacks of each choice before using one. Some applications have a markdown or dark mode feature, while others offer distraction-free writing. Some applications have special keyboard shortcuts, while others might be compatible with Gmail.

If you have difficulty figuring out the best Chromebook apps to work with your Chrome browser, do not hesitate to take advantage of a few free trials. That way, you can try out the features of each option before you decide which Chrome extension is best for your needs.

FAQs About The Best Writing Apps For Chromebook

Yes, this Lenovo product could be great for writers. Chromebook users have a great experience with the best writing apps, particularly if they come with cloud storage.

You can use the Chrome web store to find office apps that can help you find the best word processing app for your web browser, including Chrome. You can even use a tutorial to help you take full advantage of the features.

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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How to Write an Essay

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Essay Writing Fundamentals

How to prepare to write an essay, how to edit an essay, how to share and publish your essays, how to get essay writing help, how to find essay writing inspiration, resources for teaching essay writing.

Essays, short prose compositions on a particular theme or topic, are the bread and butter of academic life. You write them in class, for homework, and on standardized tests to show what you know. Unlike other kinds of academic writing (like the research paper) and creative writing (like short stories and poems), essays allow you to develop your original thoughts on a prompt or question. Essays come in many varieties: they can be expository (fleshing out an idea or claim), descriptive, (explaining a person, place, or thing), narrative (relating a personal experience), or persuasive (attempting to win over a reader). This guide is a collection of dozens of links about academic essay writing that we have researched, categorized, and annotated in order to help you improve your essay writing. 

Essays are different from other forms of writing; in turn, there are different kinds of essays. This section contains general resources for getting to know the essay and its variants. These resources introduce and define the essay as a genre, and will teach you what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab

One of the most trusted academic writing sites, Purdue OWL provides a concise introduction to the four most common types of academic essays.

"The Essay: History and Definition" (ThoughtCo)

This snappy article from ThoughtCo talks about the origins of the essay and different kinds of essays you might be asked to write. 

"What Is An Essay?" Video Lecture (Coursera)

The University of California at Irvine's free video lecture, available on Coursera, tells  you everything you need to know about the essay.

Wikipedia Article on the "Essay"

Wikipedia's article on the essay is comprehensive, providing both English-language and global perspectives on the essay form. Learn about the essay's history, forms, and styles.

"Understanding College and Academic Writing" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This list of common academic writing assignments (including types of essay prompts) will help you know what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Before you start writing your essay, you need to figure out who you're writing for (audience), what you're writing about (topic/theme), and what you're going to say (argument and thesis). This section contains links to handouts, chapters, videos and more to help you prepare to write an essay.

How to Identify Your Audience

"Audience" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This handout provides questions you can ask yourself to determine the audience for an academic writing assignment. It also suggests strategies for fitting your paper to your intended audience.

"Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

This extensive book chapter from Writing for Success , available online through Minnesota Libraries Publishing, is followed by exercises to try out your new pre-writing skills.

"Determining Audience" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This guide from a community college's writing center shows you how to know your audience, and how to incorporate that knowledge in your thesis statement.

"Know Your Audience" ( Paper Rater Blog)

This short blog post uses examples to show how implied audiences for essays differ. It reminds you to think of your instructor as an observer, who will know only the information you pass along.

How to Choose a Theme or Topic

"Research Tutorial: Developing Your Topic" (YouTube)

Take a look at this short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to understand the basics of developing a writing topic.

"How to Choose a Paper Topic" (WikiHow)

This simple, step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through choosing a paper topic. It starts with a detailed description of brainstorming and ends with strategies to refine your broad topic.

"How to Read an Assignment: Moving From Assignment to Topic" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Did your teacher give you a prompt or other instructions? This guide helps you understand the relationship between an essay assignment and your essay's topic.

"Guidelines for Choosing a Topic" (CliffsNotes)

This study guide from CliffsNotes both discusses how to choose a topic and makes a useful distinction between "topic" and "thesis."

How to Come Up with an Argument

"Argument" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

Not sure what "argument" means in the context of academic writing? This page from the University of North Carolina is a good place to start.

"The Essay Guide: Finding an Argument" (Study Hub)

This handout explains why it's important to have an argument when beginning your essay, and provides tools to help you choose a viable argument.

"Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument" (University of Iowa)

This page from the University of Iowa's Writing Center contains exercises through which you can develop and refine your argument and thesis statement.

"Developing a Thesis" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page from Harvard's Writing Center collates some helpful dos and don'ts of argumentative writing, from steps in constructing a thesis to avoiding vague and confrontational thesis statements.

"Suggestions for Developing Argumentative Essays" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

This page offers concrete suggestions for each stage of the essay writing process, from topic selection to drafting and editing. 

How to Outline your Essay

"Outlines" (Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via YouTube)

This short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows how to group your ideas into paragraphs or sections to begin the outlining process.

"Essay Outline" (Univ. of Washington Tacoma)

This two-page handout by a university professor simply defines the parts of an essay and then organizes them into an example outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL gives examples of diverse outline strategies on this page, including the alphanumeric, full sentence, and decimal styles. 

"Outlining" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Once you have an argument, according to this handout, there are only three steps in the outline process: generalizing, ordering, and putting it all together. Then you're ready to write!

"Writing Essays" (Plymouth Univ.)

This packet, part of Plymouth University's Learning Development series, contains descriptions and diagrams relating to the outlining process.

"How to Write A Good Argumentative Essay: Logical Structure" (Criticalthinkingtutorials.com via YouTube)

This longer video tutorial gives an overview of how to structure your essay in order to support your argument or thesis. It is part of a longer course on academic writing hosted on Udemy.

Now that you've chosen and refined your topic and created an outline, use these resources to complete the writing process. Most essays contain introductions (which articulate your thesis statement), body paragraphs, and conclusions. Transitions facilitate the flow from one paragraph to the next so that support for your thesis builds throughout the essay. Sources and citations show where you got the evidence to support your thesis, which ensures that you avoid plagiarism. 

How to Write an Introduction

"Introductions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page identifies the role of the introduction in any successful paper, suggests strategies for writing introductions, and warns against less effective introductions.

"How to Write A Good Introduction" (Michigan State Writing Center)

Beginning with the most common missteps in writing introductions, this guide condenses the essentials of introduction composition into seven points.

"The Introductory Paragraph" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming focuses on ways to grab your reader's attention at the beginning of your essay.

"Introductions and Conclusions" (Univ. of Toronto)

This guide from the University of Toronto gives advice that applies to writing both introductions and conclusions, including dos and don'ts.

"How to Write Better Essays: No One Does Introductions Properly" ( The Guardian )

This news article interviews UK professors on student essay writing; they point to introductions as the area that needs the most improvement.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

"Writing an Effective Thesis Statement" (YouTube)

This short, simple video tutorial from a college composition instructor at Tulsa Community College explains what a thesis statement is and what it does. 

"Thesis Statement: Four Steps to a Great Essay" (YouTube)

This fantastic tutorial walks you through drafting a thesis, using an essay prompt on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter as an example.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through coming up with, writing, and editing a thesis statement. It invites you think of your statement as a "working thesis" that can change.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (Univ. of Indiana Bloomington)

Ask yourself the questions on this page, part of Indiana Bloomington's Writing Tutorial Services, when you're writing and refining your thesis statement.

"Writing Tips: Thesis Statements" (Univ. of Illinois Center for Writing Studies)

This page gives plentiful examples of good to great thesis statements, and offers questions to ask yourself when formulating a thesis statement.

How to Write Body Paragraphs

"Body Paragraph" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course introduces you to the components of a body paragraph. These include the topic sentence, information, evidence, and analysis.

"Strong Body Paragraphs" (Washington Univ.)

This handout from Washington's Writing and Research Center offers in-depth descriptions of the parts of a successful body paragraph.

"Guide to Paragraph Structure" (Deakin Univ.)

This handout is notable for color-coding example body paragraphs to help you identify the functions various sentences perform.

"Writing Body Paragraphs" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

The exercises in this section of Writing for Success  will help you practice writing good body paragraphs. It includes guidance on selecting primary support for your thesis.

"The Writing Process—Body Paragraphs" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

The information and exercises on this page will familiarize you with outlining and writing body paragraphs, and includes links to more information on topic sentences and transitions.

"The Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post discusses body paragraphs in the context of one of the most common academic essay types in secondary schools.

How to Use Transitions

"Transitions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains what a transition is, and how to know if you need to improve your transitions.

"Using Transitions Effectively" (Washington Univ.)

This handout defines transitions, offers tips for using them, and contains a useful list of common transitional words and phrases grouped by function.

"Transitions" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This page compares paragraphs without transitions to paragraphs with transitions, and in doing so shows how important these connective words and phrases are.

"Transitions in Academic Essays" (Scribbr)

This page lists four techniques that will help you make sure your reader follows your train of thought, including grouping similar information and using transition words.

"Transitions" (El Paso Community College)

This handout shows example transitions within paragraphs for context, and explains how transitions improve your essay's flow and voice.

"Make Your Paragraphs Flow to Improve Writing" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post, another from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, talks about transitions and other strategies to improve your essay's overall flow.

"Transition Words" (smartwords.org)

This handy word bank will help you find transition words when you're feeling stuck. It's grouped by the transition's function, whether that is to show agreement, opposition, condition, or consequence.

How to Write a Conclusion

"Parts of An Essay: Conclusions" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course explains how to conclude an academic essay. It suggests thinking about the "3Rs": return to hook, restate your thesis, and relate to the reader.

"Essay Conclusions" (Univ. of Maryland University College)

This overview of the academic essay conclusion contains helpful examples and links to further resources for writing good conclusions.

"How to End An Essay" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) by an English Ph.D. walks you through writing a conclusion, from brainstorming to ending with a flourish.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page collates useful strategies for writing an effective conclusion, and reminds you to "close the discussion without closing it off" to further conversation.

How to Include Sources and Citations

"Research and Citation Resources" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL streamlines information about the three most common referencing styles (MLA, Chicago, and APA) and provides examples of how to cite different resources in each system.

EasyBib: Free Bibliography Generator

This online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. Be sure to select your resource type before clicking the "cite it" button.

CitationMachine

Like EasyBib, this online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. 

Modern Language Association Handbook (MLA)

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of MLA referencing rules. Order through the link above, or check to see if your library has a copy.

Chicago Manual of Style

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of Chicago referencing rules. You can take a look at the table of contents, then choose to subscribe or start a free trial.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

"What is Plagiarism?" (plagiarism.org)

This nonprofit website contains numerous resources for identifying and avoiding plagiarism, and reminds you that even common activities like copying images from another website to your own site may constitute plagiarism.

"Plagiarism" (University of Oxford)

This interactive page from the University of Oxford helps you check for plagiarism in your work, making it clear how to avoid citing another person's work without full acknowledgement.

"Avoiding Plagiarism" (MIT Comparative Media Studies)

This quick guide explains what plagiarism is, what its consequences are, and how to avoid it. It starts by defining three words—quotation, paraphrase, and summary—that all constitute citation.

"Harvard Guide to Using Sources" (Harvard Extension School)

This comprehensive website from Harvard brings together articles, videos, and handouts about referencing, citation, and plagiarism. 

Grammarly contains tons of helpful grammar and writing resources, including a free tool to automatically scan your essay to check for close affinities to published work. 

Noplag is another popular online tool that automatically scans your essay to check for signs of plagiarism. Simply copy and paste your essay into the box and click "start checking."

Once you've written your essay, you'll want to edit (improve content), proofread (check for spelling and grammar mistakes), and finalize your work until you're ready to hand it in. This section brings together tips and resources for navigating the editing process. 

"Writing a First Draft" (Academic Help)

This is an introduction to the drafting process from the site Academic Help, with tips for getting your ideas on paper before editing begins.

"Editing and Proofreading" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page provides general strategies for revising your writing. They've intentionally left seven errors in the handout, to give you practice in spotting them.

"How to Proofread Effectively" (ThoughtCo)

This article from ThoughtCo, along with those linked at the bottom, help describe common mistakes to check for when proofreading.

"7 Simple Edits That Make Your Writing 100% More Powerful" (SmartBlogger)

This blog post emphasizes the importance of powerful, concise language, and reminds you that even your personal writing heroes create clunky first drafts.

"Editing Tips for Effective Writing" (Univ. of Pennsylvania)

On this page from Penn's International Relations department, you'll find tips for effective prose, errors to watch out for, and reminders about formatting.

"Editing the Essay" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This article, the first of two parts, gives you applicable strategies for the editing process. It suggests reading your essay aloud, removing any jargon, and being unafraid to remove even "dazzling" sentences that don't belong.

"Guide to Editing and Proofreading" (Oxford Learning Institute)

This handout from Oxford covers the basics of editing and proofreading, and reminds you that neither task should be rushed. 

In addition to plagiarism-checkers, Grammarly has a plug-in for your web browser that checks your writing for common mistakes.

After you've prepared, written, and edited your essay, you might want to share it outside the classroom. This section alerts you to print and web opportunities to share your essays with the wider world, from online writing communities and blogs to published journals geared toward young writers.

Sharing Your Essays Online

Go Teen Writers

Go Teen Writers is an online community for writers aged 13 - 19. It was founded by Stephanie Morrill, an author of contemporary young adult novels. 

Tumblr is a blogging website where you can share your writing and interact with other writers online. It's easy to add photos, links, audio, and video components.

Writersky provides an online platform for publishing and reading other youth writers' work. Its current content is mostly devoted to fiction.

Publishing Your Essays Online

This teen literary journal publishes in print, on the web, and (more frequently), on a blog. It is committed to ensuring that "teens see their authentic experience reflected on its pages."

The Matador Review

This youth writing platform celebrates "alternative," unconventional writing. The link above will take you directly to the site's "submissions" page.

Teen Ink has a website, monthly newsprint magazine, and quarterly poetry magazine promoting the work of young writers.

The largest online reading platform, Wattpad enables you to publish your work and read others' work. Its inline commenting feature allows you to share thoughts as you read along.

Publishing Your Essays in Print

Canvas Teen Literary Journal

This quarterly literary magazine is published for young writers by young writers. They accept many kinds of writing, including essays.

The Claremont Review

This biannual international magazine, first published in 1992, publishes poetry, essays, and short stories from writers aged 13 - 19.

Skipping Stones

This young writers magazine, founded in 1988, celebrates themes relating to ecological and cultural diversity. It publishes poems, photos, articles, and stories.

The Telling Room

This nonprofit writing center based in Maine publishes children's work on their website and in book form. The link above directs you to the site's submissions page.

Essay Contests

Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards

This prestigious international writing contest for students in grades 7 - 12 has been committed to "supporting the future of creativity since 1923."

Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest

An annual essay contest on the theme of journalism and media, the Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest awards scholarships up to $1,000.

National YoungArts Foundation

Here, you'll find information on a government-sponsored writing competition for writers aged 15 - 18. The foundation welcomes submissions of creative nonfiction, novels, scripts, poetry, short story and spoken word.

Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest

With prompts on a different literary work each year, this competition from Signet Classics awards college scholarships up to $1,000.

"The Ultimate Guide to High School Essay Contests" (CollegeVine)

See this handy guide from CollegeVine for a list of more competitions you can enter with your academic essay, from the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards to the National High School Essay Contest by the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Whether you're struggling to write academic essays or you think you're a pro, there are workshops and online tools that can help you become an even better writer. Even the most seasoned writers encounter writer's block, so be proactive and look through our curated list of resources to combat this common frustration.

Online Essay-writing Classes and Workshops

"Getting Started with Essay Writing" (Coursera)

Coursera offers lots of free, high-quality online classes taught by college professors. Here's one example, taught by instructors from the University of California Irvine.

"Writing and English" (Brightstorm)

Brightstorm's free video lectures are easy to navigate by topic. This unit on the parts of an essay features content on the essay hook, thesis, supporting evidence, and more.

"How to Write an Essay" (EdX)

EdX is another open online university course website with several two- to five-week courses on the essay. This one is geared toward English language learners.

Writer's Digest University

This renowned writers' website offers online workshops and interactive tutorials. The courses offered cover everything from how to get started through how to get published.

Writing.com

Signing up for this online writer's community gives you access to helpful resources as well as an international community of writers.

How to Overcome Writer's Block

"Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue OWL offers a list of signs you might have writer's block, along with ways to overcome it. Consider trying out some "invention strategies" or ways to curb writing anxiety.

"Overcoming Writer's Block: Three Tips" ( The Guardian )

These tips, geared toward academic writing specifically, are practical and effective. The authors advocate setting realistic goals, creating dedicated writing time, and participating in social writing.

"Writing Tips: Strategies for Overcoming Writer's Block" (Univ. of Illinois)

This page from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Center for Writing Studies acquaints you with strategies that do and do not work to overcome writer's block.

"Writer's Block" (Univ. of Toronto)

Ask yourself the questions on this page; if the answer is "yes," try out some of the article's strategies. Each question is accompanied by at least two possible solutions.

If you have essays to write but are short on ideas, this section's links to prompts, example student essays, and celebrated essays by professional writers might help. You'll find writing prompts from a variety of sources, student essays to inspire you, and a number of essay writing collections.

Essay Writing Prompts

"50 Argumentative Essay Topics" (ThoughtCo)

Take a look at this list and the others ThoughtCo has curated for different kinds of essays. As the author notes, "a number of these topics are controversial and that's the point."

"401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing" ( New York Times )

This list (and the linked lists to persuasive and narrative writing prompts), besides being impressive in length, is put together by actual high school English teachers.

"SAT Sample Essay Prompts" (College Board)

If you're a student in the U.S., your classroom essay prompts are likely modeled on the prompts in U.S. college entrance exams. Take a look at these official examples from the SAT.

"Popular College Application Essay Topics" (Princeton Review)

This page from the Princeton Review dissects recent Common Application essay topics and discusses strategies for answering them.

Example Student Essays

"501 Writing Prompts" (DePaul Univ.)

This nearly 200-page packet, compiled by the LearningExpress Skill Builder in Focus Writing Team, is stuffed with writing prompts, example essays, and commentary.

"Topics in English" (Kibin)

Kibin is a for-pay essay help website, but its example essays (organized by topic) are available for free. You'll find essays on everything from  A Christmas Carol  to perseverance.

"Student Writing Models" (Thoughtful Learning)

Thoughtful Learning, a website that offers a variety of teaching materials, provides sample student essays on various topics and organizes them by grade level.

"Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

In this blog post by a former professor of English and rhetoric, ThoughtCo brings together examples of five-paragraph essays and commentary on the form.

The Best Essay Writing Collections

The Best American Essays of the Century by Joyce Carol Oates (Amazon)

This collection of American essays spanning the twentieth century was compiled by award winning author and Princeton professor Joyce Carol Oates.

The Best American Essays 2017 by Leslie Jamison (Amazon)

Leslie Jamison, the celebrated author of essay collection  The Empathy Exams , collects recent, high-profile essays into a single volume.

The Art of the Personal Essay by Phillip Lopate (Amazon)

Documentary writer Phillip Lopate curates this historical overview of the personal essay's development, from the classical era to the present.

The White Album by Joan Didion (Amazon)

This seminal essay collection was authored by one of the most acclaimed personal essayists of all time, American journalist Joan Didion.

Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace (Amazon)

Read this famous essay collection by David Foster Wallace, who is known for his experimentation with the essay form. He pushed the boundaries of personal essay, reportage, and political polemic.

"50 Successful Harvard Application Essays" (Staff of the The Harvard Crimson )

If you're looking for examples of exceptional college application essays, this volume from Harvard's daily student newspaper is one of the best collections on the market.

Are you an instructor looking for the best resources for teaching essay writing? This section contains resources for developing in-class activities and student homework assignments. You'll find content from both well-known university writing centers and online writing labs.

Essay Writing Classroom Activities for Students

"In-class Writing Exercises" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page lists exercises related to brainstorming, organizing, drafting, and revising. It also contains suggestions for how to implement the suggested exercises.

"Teaching with Writing" (Univ. of Minnesota Center for Writing)

Instructions and encouragement for using "freewriting," one-minute papers, logbooks, and other write-to-learn activities in the classroom can be found here.

"Writing Worksheets" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

Berkeley offers this bank of writing worksheets to use in class. They are nested under headings for "Prewriting," "Revision," "Research Papers" and more.

"Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism" (DePaul University)

Use these activities and worksheets from DePaul's Teaching Commons when instructing students on proper academic citation practices.

Essay Writing Homework Activities for Students

"Grammar and Punctuation Exercises" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

These five interactive online activities allow students to practice editing and proofreading. They'll hone their skills in correcting comma splices and run-ons, identifying fragments, using correct pronoun agreement, and comma usage.

"Student Interactives" (Read Write Think)

Read Write Think hosts interactive tools, games, and videos for developing writing skills. They can practice organizing and summarizing, writing poetry, and developing lines of inquiry and analysis.

This free website offers writing and grammar activities for all grade levels. The lessons are designed to be used both for large classes and smaller groups.

"Writing Activities and Lessons for Every Grade" (Education World)

Education World's page on writing activities and lessons links you to more free, online resources for learning how to "W.R.I.T.E.": write, revise, inform, think, and edit.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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How to use your Chromebook as a digital journal with and without a stylus

February 10, 2021 By Michael Perrigo View Comments

Journaling can be an important aspect of personal development and can even be therapeutic. Whether you’re jotting down your thoughts or simply planning out your week, it helps to reflect introspectively and realign your life toward your goals, among other things. In this digital age, it can be understandable to want to find ways to utilize technology to fulfill this need, as it’s convenient, readily available, and even a bit fun.

While a physical journal helps us to feel connected directly to our mission, it does have its limitations. Data is ever-changing, and paper has a limited space to work with. If you write in ink, as I do, then you can’t even erase. Managing multiple sets of data in a paper journal also means you have to pre-plan extensively before marking anything down if you want it to last you a while before you need to purchase a new journal.

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Today, we’re looking at a handful of my favorite tools for digitally journaling. Some will allow you to write directly on your Chromebook’s screen using a stylus, and others will focus on the ability to type out your thoughts in a special environment conducive to focus and privacy. We’ve had several requests for each of these, so I thought it would be a great topic to cover! If you’re interested in using your Chromebook as a sketchbook , a note-taking device , we have covered each of these areas as well.

Without a stylus

If you’re like me and use your journal to plan your day, I recommend utilizing some of Google’s other services to do so. While you could use a journal app for some lists and other types of data management, it’s inefficient. Data needs to be stored where it’s most useful and actionable, and the simple fact is that a calendar, a note-taking app, and so on will always be more well-suited to these tasks than a journal app. For this reason, Google Tasks, Google Calendar, Google Keep, and Gmail work extremely well together – especially now that your Tasks will synchronize with your Calendar and be manageable from your Chromebook instead of just your phone! Going this route also allows you to use your phone as an extension of your digital journal – almost like a PDA, do you remember those?

Additionally, while a Bullet Journal is great for logging your food , habits , dreams, and so on, I once again recommend using an appropriate app to do so if you go the digital route. Google Keep is a great way to journal about dreams (just use a ‘Dreams’ label!) and other such entries, so it’s worth trying out. If you want to use something outside of Google’s ecosystem, Evernote offers a diverse set of tools as well. Microsoft OneNote is probably the closest thing to a paper journal that can be recommended in this category. It has the most free-form workspace among those mentioned today, and I seriously wish Google Keep would adopt its features.

Alice Keeler , a popular content creator in the educational space, has compiled a fantastic guide on using Google Docs as a journal . She’s even created a template you can use to get started. If you do use Google Docs to keep a daily journal, you’ll have to manually input the date and other details, which can be a bit cumbersome. I really wanted this route to work for me, but ultimately decided not to continue with it! Keep in mind that Docs also has a word limit of 1.02 million characters, so it can start to act laggy after you build up entries. I recommend that you keep separate docs per entry or per month or week to work through this issue.

Okay, let’s wrap this section up. Should you want to keep a traditional journal in digital format, there are a bunch of nice apps and web apps that can assist with this. For example, Penzu lets you privately journal about your travel exploits (when you had them), while others like those found below offer tools for tagging how you’re feeling, your location, the weather, and all sorts of other things per entry so that you can analyze things as you reflect daily. Most of the following tools have the ability to export your entries to Google Drive or at least as markdown.

• Journey – Web app also available if you pay for premium, though it’s lacking in features compared to the app. This is absolutely my top pick for you!
• Journalistic – The web application for this is the best you can get if you want to journal on your Chromebook through the browser!
• Day One – Looks decent, great features, but not as polished as Journey.
• Grid Diary – Diverse bullet journaling features
• Daylio – Habit tracking and mood tracking as well. I ended up using this app solely for these two tasks!
• Card Diary – Fantastic, clean, but lacking features.
• PenCake – Simple and clean. Focus-oriented
• Reflectly – This one has great reflection tools and prompts you daily to jot something down quickly. Oddly enough, its ‘reflection’ tools are locked behind a paid subscription.
• Daily Note – Super clean interface with notebooks feature

More Journal Apps

With a stylus

Using your Chromebook as a journal with a stylus is an entirely different story. While there are fantastic apps that we’ve covered in the past, the sad truth is that at this time, most of them don’t have great palm rejection, and the device’s shelf continues to activate to the frustration of many. My top recommendation here is Noteshelf , and if you want to see full coverage on the rest of my suggestions, they’re found in my pen-based note-taking apps review !

These are just the methods that I’ve found which work best for digital journaling. If you have a tool or tip that I failed to mention, please mention it in the comments section so that others can benefit from it!

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About Michael Perrigo

Known as "Google Mike" to his customers, Michael worked at Best Buy as a Chromebook Expert who dedicated his time to understanding the user experience from a regular Chromebook owner's perspective. Having spent nearly 20 years meeting you face-to-face, he strives to help you understand your technology through carefully crafted guides and coverage, relentlessly seeking out the spark in what's new and exciting about ChromeOS.

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Type text with your voice

You can speak to enter text in most places you type. You can even add common punctuation when you say "comma," "period," "question mark," "exclamation mark," or "exclamation point."

• Speech won’t work if the spoken language doesn't match the device language.
• Some voice commands aren’t yet supported in right-to-left languages.

Set up voice commands

• At the bottom right, select the time or press Alt + Shift + s .

• Under "Keyboard and text input," turn on Dictation .
• Tap or select where you want to type.

Edit your text with voice commands

To use a command, wait for your spoken text to clear from the box, then say your command.

To edit your text, use the following commands:

Use new dictation commands

Important: You can only use these new commands in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

You can now use multiple commands to perform the same action and use more natural language to edit text.

For example, “Move to the next letter” and “Right one letter” moves the cursor to the next letter.

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Chromebook cheat sheet: How to get started

Got a new chromebook this guide will help you navigate the ever-expanding world of chromebook apps and figure out how to make the most of chrome os..

The beauty of Chrome OS today is its versatility: The operating system supports a huge range of applications in a variety of different formats — web apps, progressive web apps, native Chrome OS programs and Chrome browser extensions, Android apps, Linux apps, and sometimes even Windows apps (gracious!).

That’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. As a result of that platform-defying setup, though, Chromebooks can now handle all sorts of advanced productivity tasks and are viable far beyond their original web-centric focus , when the concept was quite literally just a “browser in a box” — a full-screen Chrome window with no desktop, nothing resembling a traditional app, and next to no options to consider.

But with power comes complexity, and — you guessed it — the weakness of Chrome OS today is that very same versatility. With so many types of apps and so many sources for software, it’s almost impossible to know where to begin and how to get started on your Chromebook adventure. And that’s to say nothing of figuring out the finer points of the operating system and how to optimize the environment for efficiency.

The interface itself may still be relatively minimalist, compared to other operating systems — with its customizable dock (the “shelf”) for holding frequently-accessed programs, its scrolling app drawer (the “launcher”) for finding everything else installed on a system, and its Android-reminiscent settings and notification panel — but beyond that unassuming surface, there’s actually a fair amount going on.

The main Chrome OS desktop doesn’t have much, but the launcher’s search function and the docked icons in the shelf make it easy to access everything you need. (Click image to enlarge it.)

For a platform once touted for its simplicity, things sure have gotten complicated. But they don’t have to be daunting. Follow this carefully crafted guide to getting started with Chrome OS — both finding the right apps from the right places and getting your system organized for optimal efficiency — and we’ll have you up and running with a custom-tuned setup in no time.

Step 1: Figure out what apps you need — and where to find them

The first step is simply to decide what software you need on your Chromebook — what apps will most effectively help you get your work (and non-work) accomplished. Make a quick list of your essentials: What app or service do you prefer to use for email? Do you need an app for chatting with colleagues? What about project management? Image editing? Note taking? Word processing and other office work?

Once you’ve figured out what programs you want, it’s time to think through the best place to find each of them. Let’s go through the main Chrome OS app types one by one and see which might make the most sense for different items on your list:

In general, with most Google apps and web-centric services, you’ll be fine sticking with the regular web versions — the same sites you always pull up in your browser. You can even create shortcuts to make them look and act more like apps and to keep them readily accessible: Just open the appropriate site in a normal browser tab, click the three-dot menu icon in Chrome’s upper-right corner, and then select “More tools” followed by “Create shortcut.” Give the shortcut whatever name you want — and if you’d like it to open in its own app-like window instead of a standard browser tab, select the “Open as window” option.

When you create a web shortcut and then set the site to open as a window, it looks and acts like an app. (Click image to enlarge it.)

If you want to get really advanced and customize the app’s icon and even the color scheme of its window, follow the steps outlined here .

Progressive web apps

We’ve heard a lot of buzz lately about progressive web apps , or PWAs — apps that install directly from the browser and then look and act like regular desktop apps, with their own standalone windows and shortcuts, speedier start times, and built-in support for offline use.

PWAs can be a nice alternative to regular web apps, but the problem is that there just aren’t a ton of worthwhile options at this point — nor is there any spectacular storefront for browsing through available options.

Not to worry, though: I’ve got you covered. I maintain an evolving list of the best PWAs for productivity. You can reference that guide for a broader set of worthwhile recommendations, but here are a few quick highlights that are particularly relevant to the Chromebook realm:

• The Todoist PWA looks, feels, and acts almost exactly like a regular local program, and it lets you work with your lists and notes even when you’re offline.
• The Zoom PWA frees you from the scaled-back website version of the videoconferencing service and lets you make and place calls with a fuller set of features and an experience that’s optimized for the Chrome OS environment.
• And Photopea can act as an admirable Photoshop-level graphics editing suite for your Chromebook, with or without an active internet connection.

No matter what kind of computer you’re using, you can accomplish advanced graphic work with or without an active internet connection with the Photopea progressive web app. (Click image to enlarge it.)

For more exceptional PWAs worth exploring and a full explanation of the not-so-simple steps involved in installing them, make your way over to my complete guide .

Chrome OS programs and extensions

So you’ve got some regular web apps and maybe a progressive web app or two — excellent. Now think about if there might be some native Chrome OS programs or Chrome browser extensions that could flesh out your collection even further.

This area of the Chromebook experience can get a little confusing, and it’s mostly because of terminology. So brace yourself: “Chrome Apps” — as a proper noun — are no longer supported on the platform. Those were vaguely PWA-like packaged apps that had been present on Chrome OS early on but were phased out this summer.

You can , however, still find native Chrome OS programs , even if they aren’t technically “Chrome Apps.” First, the Chrome Web Store boasts a bunch of cross-platform Chrome browser extensions, which are program-like add-ons that bring a variety of useful functions into your regular Chrome windows.

For instance:

• An extension called Text Blaze adds a powerful desktop-like text replacement system into the Chrome OS environment.
• A clever Chrome collaboration tool called Bubbles gives you a super-simple way to create screencast videos and then share what you’re seeing with anyone — with or without your voice involved.
• A Google-inspired screenshot markup system called Snippyly makes it simple as can be to capture and annotate screenshots and then send ’em to anyone without having to resort to awkward attachments.

Snippyly is one of many app-like extensions that’ll add extra value into your Chrome OS setup. (Click image to enlarge it.)

The Chrome Web Store also has an entire section of offline-capable extensions that are worth looking over.

Remember, too, that services such as Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive offer their own built-in offline options (though do be aware that you’ll need to enable the offline option in each of those services before it’ll work; you can find much more on that subject in my separate Chromebook offline guide ). Chromebooks also come with a handful of preinstalled offline-capable apps, including a calculator, a plain text editor, an image editor, and a file manager. All of those should be in your device’s launcher and ready to roll right out of the gate.

Android apps

Another category of software that works offline and adds interesting possibilities into the Chrome OS environment is Google’s sprawling collection of Android apps — all the same stuff you’d install on your Android phone, from the very same Google Play Store storefront. Most current Chromebooks support the Play Store and offer it as an option within the Chrome OS launcher; if you don’t see it on your device, try opening up your Chromebook’s settings and searching for “Play Store” in the box at the top. If an option labeled “Google Play Store” comes up, click it and follow the steps to enable its presence. If no such option appears, your device is probably among the crop of older and lower-powered legacy Chromebooks that don’t support the feature.

The trick with Android apps on Chrome OS is to know which apps are worth getting — which, in other words, will actually enhance your Chromebook experience in some meaningful way. Especially since so many Android apps are also available in web-based forms, figuring that out isn’t always easy.

I maintain an evolving list of Android apps for Chromebooks that aims to identify the most worthwhile titles. Among the apps I’d recommend installing from the Play Store are either OneNote or Keep (depending on your note-taking preference), Duet Display (which lets you have your Chromebook double as a wireless second display for your Mac or PC, if you use multiple devices), and the Google Calendar Android app (which will let you access your calendar offline — something its web-based brother won’t do).

The Google Calendar Android app has built-in offline access along with a more touch-friendly interface. (Click image to enlarge it.)

There are plenty more noteworthy options in the list , and it’s updated regularly with new recommendations.

The next type of app to consider one of the more recent additions to Chrome OS and one that certain older systems still can’t support: the geek-adored domain of Linux apps. Provided you have a reasonably recent Chromebook and don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty with technical trickery, it’s well worth your while to explore.

To start, click over to my Linux apps on Chrome OS guide to learn how to get Linux up and running on your system. Then, look through my evolving list of Linux app for Chromebook recommendations to see which titles might be right for you.

From a true native desktop Slack app to a fully featured local office suite and an Outlook-reminiscent email and calendar client, oodles of valuable options await.

The Linux-based Evolution program gives you an Outlook-like interface for local mail, calendar, and contact management in Chrome OS. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Windows apps

Finally, if you work in a place that still relies on some traditional PC software, you might have the option to access a virtual Windows desktop and use apps from that environment right on your Chromebook (yes, really!).

Google started offering an option for companies to do that in 2020, and Microsoft is expected to follow suit with its own Windows 365 Cloud PC program in August.

This category of apps is relevant only if your employer has an enterprise-level license to use it, but if you are in that situation, it could be an important part of your Chromebook productivity picture. You can see more about how it works and what it’s like to use in my hands-on assessment .

Windows and Chrome OS can come together in some pretty trippy ways these days. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Step 2: Organize your apps for easy access

With your apps all set, our next step is to get everything organized so you can access what you need with a minimal amount of ongoing effort. Chrome OS may not have a desktop in the traditional sense, but it does have two important areas for app storage, as we discussed at the start of this story: the launcher, or app drawer, and the shelf — the tray of docked icons at the bottom of the screen.

The launcher is where everything installed on your system appears. You can open it by either tapping your Chromebook’s Everything key (the one where Caps Lock usually goes, also sometimes known as the Search key or Launcher key) or by clicking the circle-shaped icon in the lower-left corner of the screen and then clicking the upward-facing arrow in the partial drawer that appears. If your device is a two-in-one that converts into a tablet — by swiveling the screen around past the 180-degree mark or by detaching the screen from the keyboard completely — the launcher will remain open on your desktop by default whenever it’s in a tablet state.

You can drag and drop icons throughout the launcher to change their order or drag icons atop other icons to form folders and organize things in any way you like. Truthfully, though, you probably won’t need to browse through that area too often; it’s far faster to simply tap the Everything key or click the circle-shaped icon in the lower-left corner of the screen and then start typing the name of the app you want. After one or maybe two letters, it should appear as the top option — and you can simply hit enter to open it.

Using the Chrome OS launcher’s search function is a fast way to open any app, anytime. (Click image to enlarge it.)

For apps you open often, find them in the launcher, right-click (or two-finger tap) them, and then select “Pin to shelf.” Once the icon appears in your shelf, you can drag and drop it to change its position. Pay careful attention to that, as each position holds a hidden shortcut: From anywhere in the system, you can press Alt and the number key corresponding with an icon’s placement in your shelf to open the associated program (or shift your focus to it, if it’s already open).

Between the Alt-number key shortcut, the Alt-Tab app-switching command, and the Overview key (the key showing a box with two lines, directly to the left of the brightness controls on your keyboard), opening and moving among apps on Chrome OS can always be swift and snappy.

Step 3: Learn some advanced shortcuts and power-user tricks

Congratulations! Your Chromebook is officially stocked, organized, and ready to help you get stuff done. All that’s left to do now is think about learning some advanced tricks for getting around Chrome OS and taking advantage of everything it has to offer.

First of all, Chrome OS is filled with useful shortcuts beyond the few mentioned above. You can capture a screenshot by holding down Ctrl and then pressing the Overview key, for instance — or if you want to capture a specific area of the screen instead of the entire display, hit Ctrl, Shift, and the Overview key together and then use the on-screen guides to select any area you want.

Some other especially handy shortcuts worth remembering:

Got all that? Good. Now, some Chromebook betterment projects worth pursuing — or hanging onto for a quiet day:

• Creating your own custom Chrome address bar actions . With a few minutes of simple setup, you can give yourself super-fast shortcuts to practically anything imaginable — be it an element of your system, a specific website you frequent, or even a specific command within a website (like launching a new blank email draft).
• Bringing widgets into Chrome OS . For all of its Android-inspired elements, one thing Chrome OS doesn’t support yet is the time-saving home screen widget. But there’s a workaround.
• Cranking up your Chromebook’s cloud-connecting power . A few simple tweaks that’ll make your Chromebook an even more connected part of your cloud-centric setup.
• Learning fast fixes for common Chrome OS problems . A list of common Chromebook problems you might encounter and the expert-approved solutions to solve ’em.

Last but not least, if you want to get Google-centric tips and insight all throughout the year, take 20 seconds now to sign up for my Android Intelligence newsletter . It’ll bring all sorts of next-level knowledge to your inbox every Friday — just one email per week, from me to you.

This article was originally published in March 2019 and updated in August 2021.

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JR Raphael has been covering Android and ChromeOS since their earliest days. You can ingest his advice and insight in his long-standing Android Intelligence column at Computerworld and get even more tasty tech knowledge with his free Android Intelligence newsletter at The Intelligence .

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

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What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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• How to Cite Social Media Sources in Academic Writing? 
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How to Write a Personal Essay for Your College Application

What does it take to land in the “accept” (instead of “reject”) pile?

How can you write an essay that helps advance you in the eyes of the admissions officers and makes a real impression? Here are some tips to get you started.

• Start early.  Do not leave it until the last minute. Give yourself time when you don’t have other homework or extracurriculars hanging over your head to work on the essay.
• Keep the focus narrow.  Your essay does not have to cover a massive, earth-shattering event. Some people in their teens haven’t experienced a major life event. Some people have. Either way, it’s okay.
• Be yourself.  Whether writing about a painful experience or a more simple experience, use the narrative to be vulnerable and honest about who you are. Use words you would normally use. Trust your voice and the fact that your story is interesting enough in that no one else has lived it.
• Be creative.  “Show, don’t tell,” and that applies here — to an extent. The best essays typically do both. You can help your reader see and feel what you are describing by using some figurative language throughout your piece.
• Make a point. As you finish your final body paragraphs ask yourself “So what?” This will help you hone in on how to end your essay in a way that elevates it into a story about an insight or discovery you made about yourself, rather than just being about an experience you had.

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We’ve all heard about the dreaded “college essay,” the bane of every high school senior’s existence. This daunting element of the college application is something that can create angst for even the most accomplished students.

• AA Amy Allen is a writer, educator, and lifelong learner. Her freelance writing business,  All of the Write Words , focuses on providing high school students with one-on-one feedback to guide them through the college application process and with crafting a thoughtful personal essay. A dedicated poet, Amy’s work has also been published in several journals including  Pine Row Press ,  Months to Years,  and  Atlanta Review .

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How to Copy and Paste on a Chromebook

Learn how to copy and paste on a Chromebook and make life a lot easier for yourself

• Quick steps

Tools and requirements

Step by step guide.

Even the best Chromebook can be a unique experience, and may even feel a bit barebones to those coming from a Windows laptop , or even a MacBook . One of the first thing newcomers to ChromeOS are going to want to know is how to copy and paste on a Chromebook. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do this. 

There are two basic methods, using keyboard shortcuts and using your trackpad. Once you learn how to copy and paste text those ways, you can apply it to a wide variety of scenarios including copying embed codes for videos, images, and more.

Steps for how to copy and paste on a Chromebook

• Press and hold the "CTRL" key
• Press the "C" key to copy text
• Press the "V" key to paste the text 
• A Chromebook (duh) 
• The text you wish to copy/paste 

1. How to copy and paste on a Chromebook with your keyboard

Have the screen displayed with the text you want to copy and paste on it. This could be a website, word processor, or anything else.

On the keyboard , locate the CTRL key, the C key, and the V key. Highlight the text using either the trackpad, mouse, or keyboard shortcuts. Press and hold down the CTRL key, then press and release the C key to copy. Navigate to where you want to paste the text you just copied, press and release the V key to paste the text.

2. How to copy and paste on a Chromebook with your trackpad or mouse

Have the screen displayed with the text you want to copy and paste on it. This could be a website, word processor, or anything else. If you're using a trackpad, press and hold down with one finger, then drag a second finger across the trackpad to highlight the text. Once you've done that move the cursor to the highlighted text and tap two fingers together on it to bring up a menu. Navigate to where you want to paste the text you just copied. If using a trackpad, tap two fingers together on it to bring up the menu again, then tap the paste option to paste the text.

If you're using a mouse, click and hold down the left button, then drag the mouse across the highlight the text. You then need to move the cursor to the highlighted text and click the right button to bring up a menu. 

Once you've followed these steps either on your mouse or trackpad, choose the copy option on the menu to copy the text.

Final thoughts

Now that you know the basics behind copying and pasting text on a Chromebook, you can learn more advanced options. For instance, if you find an image online you want to save, you can hover the cursor over the image, then use the steps to bring up the menu and select either Copy Image or Save Image.

If you want to copy an entire page's worth of text, you can quickly pull this off by using the keyboard shortcut CTRL key and A key in order to select all the text. Then simply copy and paste it normally. You can also copy and paste text without any formatting by either selecting “Paste without formatting” from the menu or by using the CTRL + Shift + V keyboard shortcut.

There are also tons of extensions that Chromebook users can take advantage of to make the copying and pasting process much easier. There’s MultiCopy Clipboard , which lets you copy multiple texts simultaneously and manage them; Office — Enable Copy and Paste , which adds unique tools to the menu for copying and pasting; ADP Copy & Paste , which adds copy and paste functionality to ADP sheets; Copy Paste Pro lets you override a site’s preventative measures against copying and pasting; Copy As Plain Text automatically lets you copy and paste text without formatting. 

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Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

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How to enable an sd card for storage on a chromebook.

Put your downloads on an SD card instead of your Chromebook's precious internal storage

Downloading content from Netflix or Plex or storing data on a Chromebook takes space. Opting for a top-of-the-line Chromebook or a budget ChromeOS device gives you an SD or MicroSD card slot for expanding storage capacity. You can use a cloud storage option like Google Drive , but you need an internet connection to access those files, unlike an SD card, where files are available offline.

In this guide, we share the steps you'll take to force apps to use your Chromebook's SD card storage so that you can download all the content you want.

How to install an SD card on a Chromebook

Your Chromebook has a microSD or full-size SD card slot. If it only has an SD card slot, you can use a microSD card with a microSD to SD card adapter. Choose the highest-speed microSD card , as video playback may stutter otherwise. This shouldn't be a problem most of the time, but if you regularly use external storage on your Chromebook, you'll appreciate the higher speeds.

These instructions are for all ChromeOS devices. It doesn't matter whether you have a Lenovo or Samsung Chromebook. The steps are identical.

After plugging in your SD card, you'll force your Chromebook to recognize it as external storage by following these steps:

• Open the Settings app on your Chromebook.
• Select Storage Management under the Device heading.
• Turn on the switch next to your SD card.

If you can't find your SD card on your Chromebook, enter External storage preferences in your Chromebook's search bar.

Now, your Chromebook treats your SD card as an extension of the Files app. However, you must perform extra steps to set your memory card as an app's default download location.

How to fix a slow Chromebook with ChromeOS Diagnostics

How to set up android apps to use your sd card for downloads.

Unless you follow these steps, your Android apps won't use your external storage to store downloads. While you can manually move files, apps won't recognize the new location until you follow these steps.

First, you'll allow storage permissions for each app. This is the same process for every app.

• Select Apps from the Settings window's sidebar.
• Select an app.

Next, you'll change each app's default storage location. This is done inside the app, not the ChromeOS settings, so the steps can vary. We show how to take these steps using the Netflix app.

• Select your profile picture in the upper-right corner of your screen.
• Select App Settings .
• Tap Download Location under the Downloads heading.

Most apps allow you to change your download location similarly. However, this usually doesn't automatically move your files. You must manually re-download or move files to get them onto your SD card.

Finally, to force these changes to take effect, shut down any apps you adjusted and restart them again. Your apps can now store downloads on your external SD card.

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Never run out of storage space on your chromebook.

An SD card offers an easy way to expand your Chromebook's storage, but sometimes you want more space. If that's the case, opt for external hard drives for your Chromebook that offer massive amounts of space. These are SSD storage devices. While they aren't as fast as your Chromebook's internal storage, they should be fast enough for everyday use.