Writing Essays

1
Writing Essays

• Tamara OConnor Sylvia Mooney
• Student Learning Development
• Student Counselling Service
• 896-1407
• student.learning_at_tcd.ie
• http//student-learning.tcd.ie

2
Writing Stages/Phases

• Planning
• Thinking
• Researching
• Writing
• Editing

3
Planning the assignment

• Understand the question
• Breakdown
• Verbs
• Requirements
• Length, Wording
• Referencing
• Establish Time Frame

4
Planning time frame

• Create deadlines
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________
• _____________

• List tasks
• Preliminaries
• Gathering Information
• Organising Information
• Rough outline
• Draft 1
• Draft 2
• References
• Proofreading

5
Thinking

• Brainstorm
• Ideas
• What know
• Try mindmapping
• Preliminary reading
• Refine topic
• Continues throughout process

6
Discuss the contribution of nursing models to the
development of practice

• Key Words?
• Discuss
• Nursing model
• Practice
• Key themes arguments
• Define model
• Arguments
• Advantages Disadvantages of using models

7
Structure

• Introduction
• outline of essay
• Main section
• Main point A
• details, evidence
• Main point B
• Conclusion
• summary of main points
• personal conclusions

8
Researching

• Rough outline
• Gather information relevant to topic
• Keep good notes
• organise content according to outline
• choose what to include
• Keep references
• Digest and reflect on information

9
Writing

• Start writing early
• extend outline
• one idea or section at a time
• get something down!
• Write first, rough draft
• Revise improve draft
• How many drafts?

10
Develop your argument

• Use source material
• Compare and contrast
• Show awareness of complexities
• Show line of reasoning
• link points
• central guiding line
• Your conclusions - based on evidence

11
References

• Why?
• Credit sources of information ideas
• Reader can locate for further information if
  required
• Demonstrate breadth of reading knowledge

12
References

• When?
• Direct quotes
• Paraphrases
• Statistics/Studies
• Theories
• Interpretations
• Facts

13
Plagiarism

• Using someones words or ideas and presenting
  them as your own (Marshall Rowland, 1998)
• Inappropriate use of ideas from books, articles,
  internet, or other students work

???
14
References

• How?
• Reference system e.g. Harvard
• Record sources
• Take careful notes
• Reference list
• In-text citing or referencing

15
Sample marking criteria

• Focusing on a topic
• Structuring an essay
• Content
• Formulating arguments

• Presentation
• Referencing
• Evidence of language skills
• Use of learning resources

16
Editing

• Proof read
• out loud
• time out
• peer
• Write up references
• Final draft
• presentation

17
Submit!

• Final deadline
• Checklist
• Feedback