When times get busy or you don’t feel like putting school at the top of your priority list, getting assigned an essay can be overwhelming, frustrating, and generally a pain in the neck. You might be tempted to go online and find someone to write your essay for you, and you could probably find a few options for basic essays with a single Google search. There are some dangers with using those canned essays you find online though, and you might be better off getting the help you actually need so that you don’t have to feel frustrated and overwhelmed the next time an essay is assigned.

Getting Caught

The most obvious reason to write your own essay is the likelihood of getting caught. Many schools have automatic plagiarism checkers built within the learning management system. Teachers don’t have to do anything to find out if you’ve plagiarized. They are notified by the plagiarism software if other essays similar to yours already exist. After the notification, they can even take a look at what specific sentences and paragraphs were found. 

Most schools have pretty harsh consequences for plagiarism, and in college especially, students can be placed on academic probation or even expelled for an infraction like this. After being expelled from college, you can probably imagine that it’s not all that easy to get back in. For high school students, having academic dishonesty in your records isn’t the type of history you want shared with the admissions counselors for a future college or university, either. In a competitive academic market, that slight on your record can be the difference between you or someone else getting a spot in your top choice for college.

Learning to Think

Sure, if you’re at the point where you’re trying to figure out how to get out of writing your own essay, you might not want to hear the next reason why you should just get help with your work rather than pawning it off on someone else completely. But we’re addressing it anyway, so buckle up. The trick about writing is that it’s not just writing. Writing is thinking, and thinking – though an essential skill – takes effort.

Writing is one skill that allows you to demonstrate how you think, what you think, and why you think that way. It’s a great way to explore your own views about the world, the content you’re studying, and the way your brain works. However, you can’t just jump into a written assignment cold and expect it to fall into place. It takes planning, sometimes research, and always thought. So what’s hard about thinking in order to write?

A lot of times, students have gotten used to the multiple choice options of quizzes, tests, and standardized tests, so when you get an essay assigned to you, it can feel daunting. The draw of writing is that it’s the one academic task that actually prepares you for an adult life in which you will be expected to figure out what you think about things and express those thoughts in a way that others understand. So it’s worth the practice!

Getting Help

If you are struggling with writing, just ask for help! Whether from your instructor, a trusted friend, or a professional tutor like those available through Train The Brain’s one-on-one online tutoring service, you won’t regret breaking down the writing assignment with someone else so that you don’t feel pushed to the brink with the next one. Critical thinking skills are the ones that prove the most useful throughout your experiences, so putting the time in now is well worth it.

You want to be able to think for yourself now and in the future. Reaching out for help learning how to do that is an important step toward making sure your thoughts are your own and you’re able to express them clearly.

About Train The Brain

Train The Brain is an innovative online homework help and tutoring service that you can access anywhere you have a solid internet connection. You no longer have to leave your home and sit around at a tutoring center. You can set up and attend tutoring or homework help sessions with our highly qualified content area experts in the comfort of your own home, the library, or even in a classroom at your school. If you want to learn more about TTB and the services we offer, feel free to check out our services and our blog. Additionally, you can reach out to our Train The Brain admins online. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.