Analysing Essay Questions Planning Workshop

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Analysing Essay Questions Planning Workshop

• How to analyse and plan better essays and
  assignments.
• ? ? ? ? ??

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Welcome to the workshop

• Speaker Jonny Wells
• From ELSSA centre

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ELSSA Centre

• Provide workshops in faculties throughout the
  semester
• Provide 1 to 1 appointments
• Support students with academic skill building
• Website www.elssa.uts.edu.au
• Phone [phone]

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Please make notes today

• Presentation is not available may be on the
  ELSSA website in the near future.
• Please do not copy word for word there isnt
  time.
• Use good note taking skills
• Use bullet points to get the main issues
• Please feel free to ask questions as we go along!

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Todays program

• Discussion / Ice breaker
• Analysing the assignment question thoroughly
• How to plan your essay effectively
• How to structure well so the essay writes
  itself!
• Questions to ask your lecturer before hand-in!

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Discussion Questions

• Ask your partner these questions
• How soon do you start your assignments? Are you
  an early starter or leave things to the last
  minute?
• Do you always fully clarify the assignment task
  with the lecturer? If not, why not?
• How do you plan before writing? Do you have a
  good strategy? If so, please describe it.
• How many drafts of an assignment do you do before
  you hand it in?
• How do you proofread your work? What are some
  important things to look out for?

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Analysing the Question

• Imagine Youre given an assignment question.
• How do you attempt to understand the question?

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Starting Off.

• In order to decide how best to answer an
  assignment question you need to identify what the
  question requires in terms of content and genre.
• You need to thoroughly examine and break down
  the assignment question.
• You also need to work through a 7 step process of
  planning and writing.

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1. Analyse the Question

• Clarify the task!
• Look at key words
• Look at the direction words
• (analyse, describe, discuss, explain, suggest
  etc.)
• Search for defining or limiting words (that will
  clarify / limit what is required.
• Clarify any uncertain terms/ unfamiliar vocabulary

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Answer the Question set

• By fully analysing the question first you will be
  sure to
• Give relevant info in your writing
• Give good supporting arguments
• Provide relevant references and examples
• ANSWER THE QUESTION that has been set!

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2. Collect your research

• Focus on the relevant information you need.
• Be selective
• Be a critical reader
• Use only relevant reliable information
• Ask yourself how will I use this info?
• Be sceptical of wikipedia never quote or
  reference it!

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3. Organise and plan

• Organise your work as you go along
• Make lists/charts/flow diagrams
• Use planning diagrams to help you (see later in
  this slideshow)
• Check you are making progress
• Ensure you have an organised plan for your
  writing/assignment

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4. Reflect on your research

• Once you have the relevant information think on
  it
• What have you learnt?
• What do you NOW know?
• What have you NOW discovered?
• How does your new knowledge help your
  understanding?
• What arguments or evidence have you discovered?
• How have your ideas/opinions been influenced?
• Do you now have a clearer understanding of the
  task ahead?

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5. Write your first outline plan

• You must plan first before your 1st draft.
• Structure your writing into paragraphs
• Use an outline plan (see example later)
• Write your first draft early on

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6. Work on 1st draft

• Develop your first draft
• Leave it for 24 hours then come back to it
• Re-read edit change improve
• Ensure clarity, cohesions and logical flow of
  ideas in your writing
• Move on to develop 2nd/ 3rd drafts

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7. Your final draft

• Edit and check your final draft
• For grammar
• For mistakes
• For correct referencing /quote styles
• For cohesion, flow and unity
• For presentation
• Hand in on-time!

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What type of assignments?

• Discuss with a partner/group
• What type of assignments have you written so far?
• What other type of assignments might you be asked
  to write whilst studying at university?

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Types of Assignments

• Essays discuss/contrast /compare/argue
• Case Studies
• Reports
• Technical Reviews
• Literature reviews
• Journals/Personal Experience
• Critical reviews
• Thesis

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Analyse this question

• Relate the rise of growing illiteracy rates in
  teenagers, to the general decline in educational
  teaching methods in some western countries.
• What is this question asking you to do?
• How would you structure your answer?
• What is the direction word?
• What are some of the key words?

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If not sure of the question

• If you dont understand the question at first.
• Re-write it on a piece of paper
• Underline the key words
• Underline the direction terms
• Delete the unnecessary words
• Re-read the Q. again and see if its clearer

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Intro to Essay Planning

• How do you plan for assignments?
• How do you get all of your ideas down on paper
  (before you start to write?)
• What are some effective planning methods?

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Intro to Essay Planning

• Bubble diagrams
• Brainstorming
• Outline plans
• Making lists
• Note cards
• Mind mapping
• Flow diagrams

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Example Mind Map
Source studyskills.com
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Example Bubble Plan
Source studyskills.com
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Example note card system
(studyskills.com. n.d)
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The Marking Criteria

• Ensure you read the marking criteria carefully,
  as this is your content checklist.
• Stay within the word limit set by your lecturer.
  More is not always better, and can sometimes be
  worse!

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Essay Planning

• Use a planning sheet to help you map out your
  intended essay/assignment
• Using the planning sheet put the plan of the
  essay onto it.
• Always keep in mind the original question being
  asked and ensure your arguments/ examples are
  relevant!

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The Planning Sheet
?? It helps to plan out the draft of your essay
on an A4 sheet of paper
(Monash University, 2009) www.monash.edu.au
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Having Trouble?

• What can you do if you dont understand what the
  assignment question is asking you?
• Ask in class
• Go see your lecturer personally
• Go see another member of faculty
• Ask peers/classmates
• Email lecturer for help
• See ELSSA tutor
• ALWAYS seek help if you need it!!

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Imagine

• If you wanted to drive from Sydney to Adelaide
• Youd need to know the direction to travel in
• Youd need to plan your journey
• Youd need a reliable up to date map/plan
• Youd need to start your journey early
• Youd need to ask for help if you didnt know how
  to get there
• Youd need to take breaks to relax and refresh
  yourself
• Youd need to ask for help if you got lost or
  lose direction
• Youd need to drive long and hard to get to your
  destination of 1300 kilometres
• Youd need to check that you had finally
  arrived at your destination
• This is the same for writing an assignment!

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Summary of key points

• To answer the question correctly
• Know the direction you must take
• Clarify key words / terminology
• Follow the 7 step process of planning - writing
• Stay within the limits/scope of the Q
• Fully understand the task ahead of you
• Stay within the word limit penalties will apply
  if not.
• Have a clear coherent plan before you write
• Start Early finish early less stress

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Things to ask your lecturer about your assignment

• How many references are wanted?
• Is there anything you particularly require in
  assignments / indenting/ double spacing-1.5
  spacing/single spaced?
• Are there any things that you dont want students
  to do in their assignment?
• What should I do if I cant hand my essay in
  personally?
• Can I submit my assignment electronically?
• Can I submit my assignment by faculty
  mailbox/pigeonhole?
• Dont be afraid to ask questions of your lecturer
  
• if you dont ask.you dont get!

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Remember!

• If you first FAIL to plan
• You PLAN to fail

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Further resources / help

• Internet
• Books / Bookshop / study skills section
• Lecturer/ Faculty staff
• ELSSA centre
• Your Peers

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Good Resources

• Academic Writing Handbook by Stephen Bailey
• Study Skills Handbook by Prof Cottrell

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Essay Writing Cycle

• Start early as soon as you get the question!
• Analyse the question fully.
• Plan effectively and take your time doing it .
• (your essay will write itself!).
• Write / edit / re-draft.
• Write / edit / re-draft for a 2nd time.
• Write / edit / re-draft for a 3rd time minimum.
• Do your best work.
• Hand-in on time.

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Any questions?

• Do you have any questions about analysing
  questions, planning assignments or todays
  workshop?

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Thanks for your time

• Good luck with your studies!