Final answer:
The correctly punctuated sentence uses a colon after 'essay writing' because it introduces an explanation of the preceding clause. The example aligns with the punctuation rules reviewed in style handbooks that suggest enhancing communication by refining sentence structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question deals with the correct use of punctuation in forming a coherent sentence. It is essential to select the appropriate punctuation marks to effectively convey the intended message and maintain the flow of the writing. Specifically, this involves choosing between a comma, semicolon, or no punctuation to join two closely related sentences for richer meaning within an essay writing context.
The correct punctuation for the given sentence should use a colon after 'essay writing' since what follows is an explanation or elaboration of the first part of the sentence. Thus, the correctly punctuated sentence is:
A success tip for essay writing: start an assigned essay early to significantly reduce the chances of missing the deadline and increase the chances of earning a passing grade.
This example corresponds to the rules outlined in sections like Commas and Semicolons under the punctuation chapter of a style handbook. The handbook suggests reviewing sentence structure and punctuation to enhance readability and communication efficiency, while also considering how sentence elements are best organized to write cohesive sentences.