A good reference, but a poor guide.

“Essay Writing Guide,” is developed by the same group who published the app “Lit Analysis 2.” The app’s purpose would seem to be a writing guide for how to create an essay, but it ultimately performs as a reference guide for essay writing terms. Like the literature analysis app, this app contains definitions and examples for the many terms and elements of writing an essay. The few changes in format include “Do”s and “Do not”s for each term, instead of the “Questions to ask” of the previous app, which are generally basic bullet point lists of advice for the user in regards how to best use or excel at the term.

The content of the app is generally good in quality, and comprehensive in the quantity of material it covers, but it acts as a simple reference guide, when the title would seems to suggest that it will guide a writer through the steps of writing an essay, which it does not adequately address. The design and layout of the content is presented identically to the way the material of “Lit Analysis 2” is presented, but where the circular wheel layout of that app works well for the sort of content it provides, it doesn’t work as well for this app. Any user would be forgiven their assumption that the app would be structured to guide them through the process of writing an essay. While this would be an annoyance in a free app, it becomes much worse when you consider that this app must be purchased at the time of this writing.

This app suffers from the same dull and lifeless graphical presentation of “Lit Analysis 2,” made worse by the fact that it would appear to be a rather lazy recreation of that style with little concern to its effectiveness for the material.

Despite all of that, I could easily see this app being used by a writer who already knows the basics of essay writing to improve his skills, or by a teacher who merely wants a concentrated reference tool for essay writing terms. It could be seen as just a few steps above a dictionary, but the quality of the advice and the examples can make a few bucks worth it. I give this app three and a half stars.

TheRealDruidan about Essay Writing Guide