Identify which of the given instructions are requirements for a strong essay.

put A if it is a requirement and B if it is not a requirement:

1: Make all sentences short and start each on with an adjective. A/B
2: Arrange ideas in an unconventional manner. A/B
3: Use tone and language appropriate for the audience. A/B
4: Do not reveal the sources of information used in a paper. A/B
5: State your argument consciously in your thesis. A/B
6: Connect ideas using transitional words and phrases. A/B

Before selecting the elements that make an essay strong we have to know what does an essay is: it is a text that explores, interprets, analyzes and evaluates a specific topic. There are some features that an essay have to have:

It is a written text that synthesises a significant theme

It is an argumentative text (it implies that it includes facts, references and external bibliography in order to accept or refuse the main idea, namely the hypothesis)

Its structure is composed of an introduction, a body text, a conclusion part and a references section

Its arguments are always based on verifiable and relatable data.

Now, knowing what an essay is, we can evaluate which of the following sentences are requirements for a strong essay text:

1: Make all sentences short and start each one with an adjective.

The correct option is B, because we don’t need to have short sentences and, of course, there is not a must to start it with an adjective. If it was like that, we were saying that the most important part of the sentence is the adjective and not in all cases work like that.

2: Arrange ideas in an unconventional manner.

The correct option is B, because, as we already saw, essays texts usually have an ordered structure of composition, which is an introduction, a body text, a conclusion part and a references section. Unconventionally arrange ideas could confuse our reader.

3: Use tone and language appropriate for the audience.

The correct option is A, because as an author, we have to think in our audience which is the population that we will be reading our texts. For example, if we know that the people who will be reading us are young our lexicon will be easier than if we know that our audience will be prepared adult people.

4: Do not reveal the sources of information used in a paper.

The correct option is B because we have to inform our readers about where do we extracted our sources which are our sources. As the same time, informing the readers about our sources will bring our paper more relevance and credibility.

5: State your argument consciously in your thesis.

The correct option is A, because our essay’s thesis has to be the product of an exhaustive investigation process, so it, of course, has to be consciously argued and thought.

6: Connect ideas using transitional words and phrases.

The correct option is A, because thanks to transitional words and phrases we will help our readers to understand easily our words, thesis and arguments. It is important, again, to think in who will be reading our text in order to work in our efficacy at the moment of write.