STUDY SKILLS BOOK - Assumption University

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ESSAY WRITINGWriting essays and other assignments will be made easier if youlearn to break down this large task into smaller steps. Don’t think toyourself that you have an essay due in 5 weeks. Instead, plan eachstep along the way, setting yourself deadlines for the completionof each task and trying to keep to them. Plan your research andstart your reading and writing weeks, not days, before the essayis due. In fact, you should start thinking about your essay the momentyou are given the title. So, what are the steps in writingan essay?1. Some basics: Do you have to use particular sources?If so, locate them, is the essay a set length? Areyou sure of its due date? Are there any requirementsfor its presentation (does it have to be word processed?)2. Understand the question! Essay titles’ usually containone or more KEY WORDS, (such as analyze, contrast,define, discuss, evaluate, outline, and summarize) whichare your main guide as to what is required. Be sure thatyou note and understand these key words (there are manystudy skill books which define these and other key words intheir chapters on essay writing).3.Question the question itself. Brainstorm itspossibilities, scope and limitations. Defineeach term used in it and use these definitionsas tentative headings for your research. Essayquestion at university levels are usuallymore testing, more subtle and morecontroversially worded than those youhave confronted before. If you are unclearabout what is wanted, ask yourtutor for clarification.4.Plan your initial research aroundquestions relevant to the topic. Itis helpful to note ideas, facts, andquotes on separate cards. As youread and take notes keep on asking yourselfhow this material is going to fit in to your essay. Yoursubject may redefine itself as you become more familiarwith the material.5. Review all your material and make a rough outline plan whichyou will probably need to modify. Sort your ideas into a patternthat will best support the development of your ideas. This is a veryimportant part of your work. It is rarely sufficient to summarize material.You will be required to use techniques such as analyzing(detecting unstated assumptions, seeing interrelationships ideasor information in such a way as to build a pattern or structure notclearly there before), and evaluating (making judgement aboutSTUDY SKILLS BOOK A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS 14
value of material and methodsfor given purpose).6. It is your responsibility, notyour reader’s, to see that youmake sense of your material.In most subjects no introductionoutlining the question andthe organization of your answer is necessary. In the same way, aconclusion that sums up and clinches your argument is necessary.Remember that side and sub-heading may be helpful in some subjects.a. Introductioni. Comment on the subject of the essay. (What do youunderstand by it? How is it important?) Explainany terms.ii. Introduce the points you are going to discuss.iii. Very briefly summerise the overall theme of your essay,indicating the main points to be made and the order inwhich they are to be presented. This gives the readeran idea of what to expect and rarely increasescomprehension. Do not waste your reader’s timewith padding.b. The Main Bodyi. Develop your line of argument through several mainideas. Each new idea should start with a new paragraph.ii. Support each idea with examples and illustrations drawnfrom the books, articles and any other sources youhave used.iii. As you develop your essay, make it clear how yourargument in one place relates to other points you haveused or will use.c. Conclusioni. Summarize the main idea.ii. Answer the question or comment on the topic.7. Heading can help to divide your text into logical units for bothyour reader and yourself. If you use headings, the text shouldmake sense as it stands. In other words, headings are additionalto the essay. Employ a conventional format in your setting-out ofheadings. The following format can be used where there are manysub-categories to be discussed.CENTRE HEADINGFREE STANDING SIDE HEADINGPARAGRAPH HEADING8. Be prepared to write more than one draft. Use a straightforward,basically simple, and grammatically accurate style. Do a first draftas rapidly as possible concentrating on content rather than style.Then re-check your material against the question.9. Beware of:a. oversimplifying issues-using jargon or cliches as asubstitute for careful explanation;b. making generalizations without giving specific examples;STUDY SKILLS BOOK A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS 15
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STUDY SKILLS BOOK - Assumption University

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