We are well into the semester proper here at Scranton. The slack days are over, and your professors are getting geared up to hit you with all manner of nasty things, from quizzes to readings to exams to, the most menacing of all, the dreaded essay. This three-to-six-page timesink fills even the most weathered and jaded of college students with dread; in your caffeine-fueled imagination, it seems as though your professor is looming in the shadows, red pen in hand, itching to rip the product of five hours of your life to shreds.

But never fear, gentle reader. While these tips probably won't make the process any less painful, they may help you land a better grade at the end of the line.

1. Condense your thesis statement into one sentence.

A clear, strong thesis is the root to every persuasive essay ever. It should appear at the end of your introductory paragraph and create a nice lead-in to your body paragraphs; in most cases, keeping your thesis trim goes a long way toward a stronger paper overall. I'm often guilty of excessive wordiness myself, but if you can sum up the point of the paper in a sentence, you'll thank yourself for it when you're dealing with the next point...

2. Topic sentences should be arguments, not evidence.

Topic sentences are some of the most difficult sentences to write. In them, you not only have to relate back to your thesis, but you have to adequately present the topic you're introducing in your body paragraph. Rule of thumb is, you shouldn't use quotes in the opening sentence of a paragraph, and you should always make sure your topic sentence is making an assertion.

3. The more verbs, the better.

Strong verbs tighten up the pacing of your paper and create a smoother reading experience. Generally speaking, you want to avoid "to be," "to have," "to get," "to do," "to make," and "to give." Sentence constructions that involve too many prepositions or adverbs can also be reworked into something snappier.

4. Professor's word is law.

If your professor gives you specific standards for how to write an essay for their class, follow them. The professor is literally giving you a roadmap to an A on your essay, and if you're not sure of any of their standards, ask. Office hours are there for a reason.

However, I know some people have issues with slavishly adhering to your professor's expectations, which brings me to my final point...

5. If the constraints of the assignment allow it, don't be afraid to get creative.

In my philosophy class last semester, I wrote a third-person narrative essay on my own life in response to a prompt. It was the highest grade I got on an essay in that class, and I'm still quite proud of it. Sometimes, in a sea of uninspired papers, professors love the student who goes above and beyond. College is about critical thinking and making connections, so if you can put your own spin on what should be a routine essay, you'll have gotten the most bang for your buck.