Introduction to essay writing Judith Elkin

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Introduction to essay writingJudith Elkin
Marishona Ortega
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Steps to writing an essay

1. Understand the title
2. Start your research
3. Plan
4. Further research
5. Draft
6. Edit
7. Proof-read
8. Submit

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Understanding the title

• is the first step to planning your assignment

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Start your research

• What do you already know on the subject?
• What do you need to know?
• Collect evidence to help you plan your essay
• Lecture notes
• Books
• Journal articles
• Official reports
• Statistics surveys
• Relevant websites

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Planning your essay

• Helps you develop a structure
• Keeps you focused on the question
• Gives you a chance to think through develop
  your argument
• Helps you to avoid repetition

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Further research

• Expand on your initial research and collect
  evidence
• Remember to record information as you go along

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"The only skills a student needs nowadays are
cutting and pasting from the internet". Discuss.
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Structuring your answer

• You will need
• Introduction
• Main body
• Conclusion

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Structuring your answer 1

• Introduction
• State how you interpret the question and how
  you intend to address it in your essay
• Possibly give your essay a context what are the
  wider issues/areas
• Keep in mind the words this essay will argue
  that

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Structuring your answer 2

• Main body
• One idea one paragraph
• Support your ideas with your evidence
  (references)
• Relate one idea to another always referring back
  to the question
• Proceed step-by-step to a logical conclusion

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Developing your argument

• http//www.sussex.ac.uk/s3/?id164

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Developing your argument

• Try to present a balanced argument look at both
  sides, write about what each side says and offer
  your own critical opinion
• Opinions must be backed up with evidence

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Sources how to use

• Demonstrate that you have not only read widely,
  but also critically
• Use a range of sources, not just those which back
  your opinion
• When you use a source make sure you discuss it
  (and reference it!)

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Stick to the question

• Keep referring back to the question when you are
  writing
• Waffle will not get you marks

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Structuring your answer 3

• Conclusion
• Use this to reemphasize the main points made in
  your essay
• Relate your conclusion to your introduction
• Are there any wider implications or lines of
  further research
• Avoid raising new issues in your conclusion

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Useful websites
Learning Development_at_the Library http//lncn.eu/ab
i London Metropolitan University http//lncn.eu/b
j8 Hull University - podcasts and video
clips http//lncn.eu/hjx Open University http//l
ncn.eu/pqx2 University of Surrey http//lncn.eu/c
gsw University of Sussex http//lncn.eu/ir3 Univ
ersity of Worcester http//lncn.eu/jnrv