Essay writing

These pages outline a set of strategies for approaching the task of writing essays at university level. This skill usually takes some time to acquire, but by following the advice below we hope you will gain a better appreciation of what is required.

Plan your research and start your reading and writing weeks, not days, before the essay is due. Look closely at the assignment specification. Make sure that you have covered all that is asked for in the assignment. The marking grid is a very helpful guide; ask yourself, ‘Have I covered each aspect of the assessment? and tick each one off.

Essay questions usually contain one or more of the following KEY WORDS, which are your main guide as to what is required -

ANALYSEConsider the various parts of the whole and describe the inter-relationship between them.

COMPAREExamine the objects in question with a view to demonstrating their similarities.

CONTRASTExamine the objects in question for the purpose of demonstrating differences.

DEFINEGive a definition or state terms of reference.

DISCUSSPresent the different aspects of a problem or question and draw a reasoned conclusion.

EVALUATEExamine the various sides of a question and try to reach a judgment.

SUMMARISEOutline the main points briefly.

Question the assessment task itself. Consider the possibilities, scope and limitations. Define each term used in it and use these definitions as tentative headings for your research. Essay questions at university level are usually more testing than those you may have previously confronted. If you are unclear about what is wanted, ask your lecturer or tutor for clarification.

Plan your initial research around questions relevant to the topic.

1. You can use a mind map to plan your work. Have a look at the mind maps created by Tony Buzan. Some people find mind maps a very useful way of sorting out their ideas. If you are not buzzing with ideas It’s helpful to read around the topic a bit first.

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Here is a brief example of an uncompleted mind map. The theme is smoking and young people.

2. Use small cards on which to build up a file of material. Question headings can go on to these. Alternatively, make notes using a Notepad or Word processing facility so that you can cut and paste later.

3. See that your reading is not too general and that you do not amass material haphazardly and to no purpose. Prune steadily as you read, and actively assess the value of your material.

4. Continually check your reading against your questions - and the questions asked. Your subject may redefine itself as you become more familiar with the material.

Smoking patterns of young people

Media

Peer pressureRole of schools

TV

Music & film

School nurse

Curriculum/ PHSE

Politics/ policy

Legislation

Physiology and pathology

Anti-smoking campaigns

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5. It is helpful to note ideas, facts and quotes on separate cards or as part of your word processed notes. This makes later organisation of material much easier, especially if you have to rewrite a draft.

6. Review all your material and decide what your line of approach (argument, plan) will be. Sort your ideas into a pattern that will best support the development of your ideas. This is a very important part of your work. it is rarely sufficient to summarise or just describe material. You will be required to use techniques such as analysing (detecting unstated assumptions, seeing interrelationships between ideas, distinguishing facts from hypotheses) and evaluating (making judgments about the value of material and methods for given purposes).

7. It is your responsibility, not your reader's, to see that you make sense of your material. An introduction outlining the question and the organisation of your answer is necessary. In the same way, a conclusion that sums up and clinches your argument is necessary. Remember sub-headings may be helpful in some subjects. This may be achieved by a carefully planned outline. One basic framework for an outline is -

Introduction – think of this as an introduction to the journey of your essay. Tell the reader where you are going

Comment on the subject of the essay. (What do you understand by it? How is it important?).

Introduce the points you are going to discuss, first stating your case in general terms - the opinions you are going to support in the rest of the essay.

Very briefly summarise the overall theme of your essay, indicating the main points to be made, and perhaps the order in which they are to be presented. This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and greatly increases his comprehension. Do not waste your own and your reader's time with padding.

The Main Body

Develop your line of argument through several main ideas. Support each idea with examples and illustrations drawn from the books, articles and

any other sources you have used. As you develop your essay, make it clear how your arguments in one place relate to

others you have used or will use.

Headings often help divide your text into logical units for your reader and yourself. Think of headings as signposts along the journey. If you use headings, the text should make sense as it stands. In other words, headings are additional to the essay. Employ a

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conventional format in your setting out of headings. If you use headings just use bold. There is no need to use upper case, a larger font or underline.

Conclusion

Summarise the main ideas Form a tentative answer by way of final comment on the main theme under discussion.

Be prepared to write more than one draft - in the first you will concentrate on content rather than style.

(Adapted from Aston University)

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