What tense should college essays be written in?

I suggest beginning your essay with active language, in the present tense that draws the reader into a specific time and place. If you don’t hook your reader in the first paragraph, your essay is likely to get skimmed or looked over.

How do you use tense correctly?

As a general rule, the verb tense you are using should be consistent throughout your sentence and your paragraph. For example, the sentence “We had eaten (past perfect tense) dinner, and then we talked (simple past tense)” should be written as “We ate (simple past tense) dinner, and then we talked (simple past tense)”.

How do you write an answer in literature?

If you are asked to analyse an extract:Read it through two or three times.On your second reading begin to underline key words and phrases.Make a plan of your answer, ensuring that you cover every point asked in the question.Concentrate on the passage and avoid irrelevant material.