Essay Plans

Study Skills: Essays

WHY WRITE ESSAYS?

• Essays enable you to demonstrate skills outside of an exam environment.
• Essays provide an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge – analytical, evaluative and communicative skills.
• Essays encourage in-depth reading about a subject.
• Essays allow you to express yourself.
• Essays are designed to assess your grasp of the course.
• �Its better than doing an exam!’

PREPARATION

• DO NOT PANIC.
• Start thinking about your essay early.
• Choose ONE title and STICK to it.
• Choosing an essay title:
    -   вЂ?Which of the areas am I interested in?’
    - Do not choose what appears to be an easy question. A question is not easy if you are not interested in the subject area.
• Read the question carefully. �What am I being asked to do?’
• Organise your reading. Pin point essential reading materials as well as other sources i.e. newspapers, internet, reports etc.
• Gather RELEVANT material for essays.
• Be aware of shortages of books in the library.
• Reading should go beyond lecture handouts and notes.

MAKING NOTES

• Do not copy great chunks from the sources you are using – they were not written with your essay in mind. This could also lead to plagiarism.
• Establish what is relevant to your essay. BE FOCUSED.
• ANALYSE and EVALUATE different opinions and arguments as you make notes.
• Write the full title, year, author, edition (if applicable) and publisher of the book you are making notes from.
• Colour code your notes i.e. thematically, quotes to be used, your own thoughts.
• Use quotation marks when making notes.
• Always write page references in the margin.
• Make a list of the sources you are using.
• Organise your notes to help you structure your essay.

ESSAY PLAN

• All essays must have a clear and coherent structure:

Opening Paragraph

Body of the Essay

Conclusion (Return to the Question)

• Introduction should clarify the question and outline...