Strong writing skills help students organize ideas, elucidate complex concepts, and perform better academically, while also equipping them for future college assignments, internship applications, and professional communication. Like any skill, writing improves with regular practice, so intentionally upscaling your writing skills now effectively increases confidence over time.
Practice Argumentative Essays
An argumentative essay is a type of academic writing where the writer assumes a clear position on a topic, supports it with empirical evidence, and addresses opposing viewpoints.
Practicing writing argumentative essays benefits students by strengthening their critical thinking, because students must research, evaluate sources, and distinguish between strong and weak evidence before deciding what to include. It also builds skills in organizing ideas logically, using transitions seamlessly, and maintaining a clear, formal tone.
The standard format for an argumentative essay starts with an introduction and a thesis statement, followed by several body paragraphs that present reasons and supporting evidence, as well as opposing viewpoints, and a conclusion that reinforces the main argument.
To get started, students can follow this simple process:
- Choose a focused, debatable topic (for example, “Should phones be allowed in the classroom?”).
- Research clashing perspectives and collect facts, statistics, and examples from reliable sources.
- Draft a clear thesis statement that shows your stance.
- Outline body paragraphs, each with one main reason and supporting evidence.
- Write, then revise for clarity, logic, and grammar.
Aralia Students Are 4x More Likely to Publish a Research Paper
Be a Journalist for the School Newspaper
Journalistic writing, such as news articles and feature stories, requires a different skill set from that of essays. Journalists and reporters focus on facts, interviews, and reliable evidence. They must master the inverted pyramid structure of writing, putting the most important at the beginning. Articles also require concise language, strong headlines, and clear leads to grab readers’ attention.
Practicing school journalism helps students learn to write clearly and efficiently by prioritizing key information and omitting unnecessary words. Journalists also develop research and communication skills through interviewing, fact-checking, and working with editors. These abilities translate directly into better academic writing and polished professional communication.
Beyond skill-building, taking leadership roles in student publications can significantly impact college applications. As highlighted in High School Newspaper Leadership: The Overlooked Activity That Boosts Ivy League Admissions, students who lead or contribute significantly to school newspapers demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and influence within their school community, which are qualities universities value. Similarly, starting a student-led literary magazine shows creativity, project management, and the ability to collaborate with peers who share similar goals.
Practice Writing a Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one‑page document that accompanies a resume when applying for internships, part‑time jobs, or extracurricular programs. It highlights the applicant’s suitability for the opportunity. Typically, a cover letter introduces the writer, highlights relevant skills and experiences with brief examples, and ends with a polite call to action, such as an invitation to an interview.
Writing cover letters sharpens students’ ability to tailor their message to a specific audience and purpose, which is a core academic writing skill. It also teaches students to connect experiences, such as joining clubs, volunteering, or doing projects, to concretize skills, helping them tell a compelling personal story that will be utilized for scholarship and college application essays.
Here is a detailed guide to writing a cover letter.
81% of Aralia Students Receive Awards in Top Language Competitions
Participate in Writing Contests
To push your writing skills further, the second writing task is to challenge yourself by participating in a competitive writing contest. Many prestigious competitions are especially for high school students, for example:
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: This is a long-running, prestigious program for students in grades 7-12, offering categories such as journalism, personal essay, poetry, and short story, with opportunities for national medals and scholarships.
New York Times Informational Writing Contest: Inspired by The New York Times Magazine’s Tip column, in the New York Times Informational Writing Contest. students are asked to write a concise how-to essay that explains a task in 400 words or fewer. They will also need to interview an expert on their chosen topic, making the piece both informative and trustworthy.
By entering writing contests, you have the chance to practice writing under more advanced guidelines and word limits, challenge yourself with creative prompts, and develop resilience through drafting and revision. Winning or even participating can strengthen your college application by demonstrating initiative, creativity, and dedication to writing. Explore other exciting writing contests here!
Aralia’s Writing Competition Prep Class
Writing competitions for middle and high school students are powerful gateways to building writing skills while exploring global cultures. Aralia’s Writing Competition Prep classes help students strategically prepare for all these international, national, and regional writing contests. With expert guidance, students will strengthen their grammar, vocabulary, and writing while refining their ability to analyze prompts, structure responses, and present ideas clearly.
