Essay Writing Tips for CWA Submissions
Practical advice to help your essay stand out in AI evaluation.
The Essay category at CWA welcomes analytical, persuasive, personal, and reflective nonfiction. Whether you're writing a literary analysis, a personal reflection, or a persuasive argument, these tips will help you craft a submission that performs well under our AI evaluation criteria.
1. Start with a Clear Thesis
Every strong essay has a central argument or insight. Before you write, articulate in one sentence what your essay is really about. Not the topic — the claim. The AI evaluates thesis clarity, so vague or wandering essays will score lower than focused ones.
2. Structure with Intention
A well-organized essay demonstrates thinking discipline. This doesn't mean rigid five-paragraph format — it means logical flow:
- Each paragraph should serve a clear purpose
- Transitions should connect ideas, not just separate paragraphs
- The ending should do more than summarize — it should elevate
3. Use Specific Evidence
Abstract claims are weak. Concrete examples, data, quotations, and specific observations make your argument credible. The AI recognizes and rewards specificity.
4. Develop Your Voice
Your voice is what makes your essay yours. It's the personality behind the argument. Don't write like a textbook unless you're deliberately subverting the form. Write like a thinking, feeling human with something to say.
5. Precision Over Complexity
Sophisticated writing isn't about using the longest words — it's about using the right words. The AI evaluates language precision. A clear, precise sentence always outperforms a convoluted one.
6. Revise Ruthlessly
First drafts are for getting ideas down. Second drafts are for making them good. Third drafts are for making them sing. Cut everything that doesn't serve the essay's purpose.
7. Read Your Essay Aloud
If a sentence trips your tongue, it'll trip a reader's mind. Reading aloud catches awkward phrasing, rhythm problems, and unclear passages that silent reading misses.
8. Study the Criteria
Review the essay evaluation criteria: thesis clarity, structure, evidence, voice, and language precision. Write with these dimensions in mind — not to game the system, but to align your natural strengths with what's being measured.
The best competition essays don't feel like competition essays. They feel like someone who has something important to say, saying it well.
Ready to submit? Follow our submission guide. Also see: poetry guide, general competition tips.