Helpful-guide-to-essay-writing
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A Helpful Guide to Essay Writing!
By Vivien Perutz
ESSAY WRITING
Contents
Page
Introduction
3
Part 1 – structure and organisation
4
A good essay structure
A model essay structure
Essay writing – the main stages
Stage 1 – analysing the question
Key words in essay titles
Stage 2 – planning
Stage 3 – use your plan to guide your research
Stage 4 – refine your plan
Stage 5 – drafting
Stage 6 – editing your draft
Useful linking words and phrases
4
4
5
6
6
8
9
9
10
10
11
Part 2 – style and clarity
14
Academic writing style
Descriptive writing
Argumentative writing
Evaluative writing
Using personal experience
A critical, analytical approach
Using your reading to support your writing
Citing references in text – some useful expressions
Conventions of style in academic writing
Expressing your ideas clearly
Spot the gaffe!
14
14
15
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Sources of further guidance
23
Useful websites
23
2
Introduction
Please note the following is general guidance; different courses have different demands. You should check with individual tutors regarding specific requirements.
The guide is partly based on material gathered and adapted from a range of publications listed in the further reading section at the end.
Part 1 concentrates on structural and organisational aspects. Part 2 offers guidance on style and clarity in essay writing.
The guidelines should be taken as just that. There is no rule, for example, that says you must plan an essay before writing it. Some people find that they work best by getting the ideas flowing first and imposing some sort of structure later; it is only once they start writing that they start to have an idea of what their direction will be. Even so, they must be clear at the outset as to what the essay title requires of them to make sure that they stay within its constraints. If, however, you are fairly new to essay writing and not very confident about it, you might find it helpful to follow the suggested
A Helpful Guide to Essay Writing!
By Vivien Perutz
ESSAY WRITING
Contents
Page
Introduction
3
Part 1 – structure and organisation
4
A good essay structure
A model essay structure
Essay writing – the main stages
Stage 1 – analysing the question
Key words in essay titles
Stage 2 – planning
Stage 3 – use your plan to guide your research
Stage 4 – refine your plan
Stage 5 – drafting
Stage 6 – editing your draft
Useful linking words and phrases
4
4
5
6
6
8
9
9
10
10
11
Part 2 – style and clarity
14
Academic writing style
Descriptive writing
Argumentative writing
Evaluative writing
Using personal experience
A critical, analytical approach
Using your reading to support your writing
Citing references in text – some useful expressions
Conventions of style in academic writing
Expressing your ideas clearly
Spot the gaffe!
14
14
15
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Sources of further guidance
23
Useful websites
23
2
Introduction
Please note the following is general guidance; different courses have different demands. You should check with individual tutors regarding specific requirements.
The guide is partly based on material gathered and adapted from a range of publications listed in the further reading section at the end.
Part 1 concentrates on structural and organisational aspects. Part 2 offers guidance on style and clarity in essay writing.
The guidelines should be taken as just that. There is no rule, for example, that says you must plan an essay before writing it. Some people find that they work best by getting the ideas flowing first and imposing some sort of structure later; it is only once they start writing that they start to have an idea of what their direction will be. Even so, they must be clear at the outset as to what the essay title requires of them to make sure that they stay within its constraints. If, however, you are fairly new to essay writing and not very confident about it, you might find it helpful to follow the suggested