essay writing workshop_sept2012
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Essay Writing
Isabelle Pottinger
Effective Learning Adviser
Information Services
451 3062
Definition of ‘Essay’
• A short piece of prose writing on a specific topic.
Essay Writing
• Research Topic• Plan• Draft• Review• Revise• Edit
Getting started
• Clarify the task - seek guidance, if required.• Clarify the word length and completion date.
Researching the Topic
• Make a start on the background reading required.
• Consider taking bullet point notes of technical content to reduce the risk of plagiarism.
• Record full references for all the books/ journals/ websites etc. that you use.
with thanks to James Lamb; www.leapsonline.org
Note Making
with thanks to James Lamb; www.leapsonline.org
DIFFERENT NOTE MAKING STYLES
Linear notes
with thanks to James Lamb; www.leapsonline.org
DIFFERENT NOTE MAKING STYLES
‘Spray Diagram’ or ‘Spider Diagram’
with thanks to James Lamb; www.leapsonline.org
HOW TO MAKE NOTES EFFECTIVELY
Finding the approach that suits you: mind mapping?
http://www.mindtools.com
with thanks to James Lamb; www.leapsonline.org
HOW TO MAKE NOTES EFFECTIVELY
Grids
Planning the essay
• Plan the whole essay before you begin to write it.
Planning the essay
• Start to arrange your thoughts and ideas in a logical, sensible order that answers the question.
• Order and re-order your bullet point notes to match this essay plan.
Planning the essay
• Ask yourself:– How and where within your essay might you use
the information you have so far collected?– Are there still gaps in information?– Is further research necessary?
Planning the essay
• You may need to go around this Researching-and-Planning loop more than once to collect enough relevant information.
Using Library Resources
Using Library Resources
HWU Library
• Home page:
http://www.hw.ac.uk/is/
Using Library Resources
Study skills
• Books to help with your studies
• And e-books too.
Subject librarians
• Advice, guidance and teaching on identifying, accessing and using information effectively.
• Enquiry service: [email protected]
HWU Library – Subject Librarians
Civil and Structural Engineering:• Subject librarian: Sarah Kelly• E-mail: [email protected] • Tel: 0131 451 3574
References
• Use a suitable referencing systeme.g. the Harvard HWU
Reference style - Book
The correct reference for a book includes author, initials, year of publication, title, edition (if not first), place of publication, publisher. e.g.
• Sime, J.D. (2005) Safety in the built environment, London: Spon.
- Journal/ Periodical
• The correct reference for a periodical article includes author’s surname and initial(s), year of publication, title of article, periodical title, specific date of publication, volume and part number and pages, e.g.
• Stamp, G. (1999) “Clouded vision”, Architects Journal, 177(9), 25-31.
- Website
• The author or editor• Date of ‘publication’(in brackets)• Title (in italics or underlined)• The type of resource (in square brackets)• The URL• The date the resource was accessed (in square
brackets)
Referencing websites
• University of Bradford (1999) Making the most of presentations [online], available: http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/stedev/pres.html [accessed 12 August 2004].
References
• Use a suitable referencing systeme.g. the Harvard HWU:
http://www.hw.ac.uk/is/Harvardguide.pdf
Essay Writing
• Now let’s turn our attention to writing the essay.
Essay Writing
• Essay has three main sections:
• Introduction: 5% of length• Main body: 80% of length• Conclusion: 15% of length
Introduction
• Tells the reader how you will answer the question
• 5% of length of essay
• Written last
Body of Essay
• Answers the question
• In a chain of linked paragraphs that build and present a case.
Each paragraph:
• One big idea• Introduce• Define• Offer Argument• Offer evidence and discuss• Make final point
Your writing should answer:
• What is this paragraph about?• What exactly is that?• What is your argument on this (in relation to
the question)?• What is your evidence? What does it mean?• What is the final point (in relation to the
question)?
Linking and signposting
• Use link words and phrases– However; nevertheless; not only…but also
• Signposting– In short; as we have seen; to summarise
• Paragraphs are part of the signposting• Vary sentence length (max 40 words)
Conclusion = 15% length
• Re-state arguments• Re-state points • Show that you have answered the whole
question• Could make recommendation• NB: No new evidence introduced
Take-home message
• Allow adequate time to research and write the essay
• Follow the guidelines given• Write in own words• Acknowledge all sources of information• Check that you have answered the question
Contact Details
• Isabelle Pottinger• Effective Learning Adviser
• Level 2, Library• Ext: 3062• E-mail: [email protected]