The Benefits and Importance of Writing Your Own Essay
The Benefits and Importance of Writing Your Own Essay

The Benefits and Importance of Writing Your Own Essay

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  • Pages: 5 (1210 words)
  • Published: November 18, 2021
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Most educators all over the world encourage students to always write their own essays, basically in their own words. It has become a repeated concept for learners from as early as grade school to doctoral thesis. Students have the challenge of writing in their own essays, particularly during the present age where the availability of internet allows almost any piece of idea, knowledge or information to be copied, and even presented in a very short period of time. Despite the fact that the internet simplifies the learners’ essay writing experience, instructors and educators still stress on writing in original words, even if the essay is well cited or referenced.

Therefore, this paper explains the importance and benefits of writing one’s own essay.
One of the most notable benefit of writing own essay is that it contributes an

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d creates new meaning. When someone else’ words are used in an essay, there is lack of creation of something new and the larger discussion lacks significant contribution. While it is important to cite and quote other people’s work, one’s own words adds more value to an essay and it also builds upon the copied word rather than just repeating it. If the words of other people are repeated in an essay, the writing lacks innovative creations, inventions or discussions. A change in context and words might help a reader to better understand the essay, creates a new perspective and also clarify the connection that was previously missed (Pennebaker et.al. 1999 p.205). For instance, in the essay Dog walk poo, a reader is able to make various connections because the writer shows a precise connection between his situations of picking do

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excrements to the relevant British law that applies to it. Therefore, a reader is able to clearly understand these laws. Generally, writing your own essay aids in the formation of skills that are required to think creatively and meaningfully.

Writing own essay enables one to learn how to write. Regardless of career or academic choices, the form of writing communication is very important. In the modern world where there are various forms of writings such as blogging, media, learning and online communities, originality in writing in very crucial professionally and socially. Writing in one’s own words can also improve one’s writing capabilities (Elbow, 1999 p.88). When essays are copied, learners lack the opportunity to express their thoughts as well as learn how to effectively string words. More so, it is hard to express opinions and feelings when essays are copied. For instance, in the essay commissioning, the writer is able to express his opinion on how essays are relatively cheap to commission, where he uses his own words to express his frustration. Therefore, learning how to write in original words helps people to communicate effectively socially, academically and even professionally.

The ability to write own essay demonstrates a better understanding of the material at hand. According to Lundstrom et al. (2009 p. 169), when other people’s essays are copied and pasted, it only depicts that the information that had been asked is located, however, it does not show that the information was understood, read or processed. Academic essays and other writings are very crucial because they are designed to show instructors that concepts and topics were understood and at the same time demonstrate that learners are able

to apply the concepts by their own. When a writer or a learner takes time to research and think through the topics thoroughly and then write an essay in their own words, the writing will reflect the level of understanding and the due diligence involved. Writing an essay in one’s own words goes beyond just finding information, it involves understanding the right information and how it is applied to reflect the level of understanding. For example, in the essay Backing yourself into a door, the author is able to apply what he/she had previously read in strengthening the subject matter of the essays evidenced in “It reminded me of a piece of art I had once seen and felt a need to elaborate…” This strengthens the quality of the essay.

Essay writing in original words is an effect way of learning and retaining the subject information. For instance, when students take notes in their own words in the classroom, the writings without doubt help them in retaining the information and also understand the topic better. The comprehension level between a students who writes his/her own notes and the one who has copied from another student’s notes is very different. Partly, it is because the notes are unfamiliar and the fact that copying engages the brain less. This is very similar to essay writing; own words engage the brain more and it helps in better comprehension (Pennebaker et al. 1999 p.156). Writing in one’s own words means more knowledge is acquired and retained in the memory. This is evidenced in the essay Utility, where the writer is able to narrate his experience during his recent holiday. This

implies that originality in writing helped him retain the information.

Scholarly and academic integrity are portrayed through original writings. Writing is an important opportunity to process and connect information, express one’s voice and explain the importance of the conclusion. When learners are given the assignment of writing essays, they are expected to complete it in due diligence while critically analyzing it in a manner that it expresses their thoughts effectively and intelligently. Originality in essay writing is a mark of integrity (Pennebaker, 1993 p.95).

In the midst of tight deadline, stress and lack of preparedness, learners often think of copying and pasting, a phenomenon that often causes students to fail. Originality in essay writing prevents loss of legal, financial and career repercussions, and improves educational performance. Originality in essay writing goes beyond school work as it shapes work ethics and good habits (Goffman, 2005 p.67). In the essay toenails, the writer has avoided plagiarism by paraphrasing the writing into his own words but retaining the content as demonstrated when he writes what Nietzsche once wrote.

Conclusion

Writing original essays builds valuable life skills, creates something new, improves comprehension, expresses one’s own thoughts, opinions and feelings; generally, it makes the writing more valuable. While there are places and times when other people’s works are copied and even quoted, the benefits of the writing are lost. When teachers instructs that essays must be written in original words, they do not intent it to be harder, rather, they want the student to make it more valuable and it also express the level of comprehension of the subject matter and also a chance to be graded.

References

  • Elbow, P., 1999. Everyone can write: Essays

toward a hopeful theory of writing and teaching writing. Oxford University Press.

  • Goffman, E., 2005. Interaction ritual: Essays in face to face behavior. AldineTransaction.
  • Lundstrom, K. and Baker, W., 2009. To give is better than to receive: The benefits of peer review to the reviewer's own writing. Journal of second language writing, 18(1), pp.30-43.
  • Pennebaker, J.W. and Seagal, J.D., 1999. Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of clinical psychology, 55(10), pp.1243-1254.
  • Pennebaker, J.W., 1993. Putting stress into words: Health, linguistic, and therapeutic implications. Behaviour research and therapy, 31(6), pp.539-548.
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