Google is the door to the world of information that exists on the internet. When used intentionally, Google is an invaluable resource that can be used to gather information and find resources that can improve your essay writing. Here are some tips on how to use Google to improve your writing and take your essay to the next level.
Gain Background on the Subject
The first step in writing any essay is to familiarize yourself with the topic you have chosen. Google is a great place to gain a basic understanding of any topic. In addition to what you learn in class, the information you find on Google can help prepare you to write a more insightful and informed essay. Although not all of the information you find on Google is completely accurate and worthy of being a cited source, for most topics you can find enough information to give you a good base understanding of your topic from which to begin.
Find Peer-Reviewed Resources
A regular Google search may yield thousands of articles and posts about your topic, but the majority of those sources are not reliable enough to be included in your paper as a cited source. However, Google features a special search mode called Google Scholar.
Google Scholar places a filter on your search so that you only receive academic materials when you search your topic. Google Scholar pulls academic and peer-reviewed articles that can be used as sources in your essay. If you don’t have access to a research database or want to broaden your search, Google Scholar casts a wide net and returns resources for your essay.
Google Scholar features a filtering system that can help you find the resources you are looking for. You can filter articles by the author if you are looking for a specific voice. You can also search by publication date and the location of where the article was originally published. Google Scholar is a great resource when searching for supporting sources that can help you gain trust with your reader.
Built-In Source Information
Google search has many built-in tools to help you assess the quality of the information you find. One of the most valuable tools that Google has added to its search engine is the source information attached to every search result. There are three vertical dots to the right of each URL that is returned from a search. When you click on those dots, Google provides you with background information on the source the information is being provided from and why that result was returned to you. You can use this information to determine if the source is trustworthy enough to be used in your essay before you even click on the link.
These three dots also allow you to save links that you may find useful or share links with others. You can also find similar related sources to help you expand your research. These built-in tools help you find trustworthy information while you search the internet for information to be used in your essay.
See Outlines and Examples of Similar Essays
Google has a wealth of resources to help you write an amazing essay that will captivate your reader. You can find endless examples of outlines and essays around any topic and in any style. Use Google to find an essay that is similar to yours and see what the original author did well and what you can do better. Example essays are a great way to get a good idea of how your essay can be structured and how to properly format every aspect of your essay. Be sure to avoid plagiarizing the exact structure and words used in your example essay while pulling inspiration from what has been done before.
A variety of essay outlines are available through a simple Google search. These outlines can help you plan and organize your essay effectively. Find the outline that makes the most sense for your essay style and topic and use it to help you organize your thoughts.
Use the Google Suite of Tools
The Google Suite includes online tools like Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar among other things. These tools are all browser-based tools that you can use on any computer that has access to the internet. These tools automatically save your work and provide all the resources you need to write your essay.
Google Docs is a web-based word processor that is powerful enough to handle all of your essay-writing needs. With built-in organization tools, you can keep all of your information exactly where you need it while you write. If you are working with others, Google Docs has real-time collaboration features that allow multiple people to work on the same document at the same time.
Google Drive allows you to keep all of your files in one place online. The Drive can be accessed through any computer with a single sign-in. This is the perfect tool to use to keep all of your sources and notes organized in one place. You never have to worry about losing a resource because everything is saved in the cloud. Drive also has organization tools to help you keep all of your documents where you can find them instantly.
If you are writing an essay based on quantitative data, Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet program with all of the features you need to synthesize data and keep your information organized. With Google Drive, you can keep all of your spreadsheets and documents in one place.
While these tools may not be new to you, using them in concert with each other can be an invaluable resource when it comes to planning, researching, and writing your essay. You can organize your sources in Drive while you quantify data from your surveys or research in Sheets. You can then use the information organized in these applications to help draft your essay in Docs.