How to prepare How to prepare better essays?better essays?

What is an essay?

“Essay” comes from the Latin word – “exagium” which means the presentation of a case!!

If you were him, what would you decide if you heard this

from a lawyer?

“Your honour! Trust me, my client is innocent! He didn’t do it.

THAT IS ALLTHAT IS ALL!”

What would you expect to hear from a lawyer in the court?

no matter he / she is prosecuting or defending a client…..

Proof & evidence!! Argument!!

Essay tipsEssay tips

An essay ……

carries a formal convention is a set style which it must conform or it is not an essay!

The convention The body – the key section of answering the question Paragraph structure

- introduction, definition, argument, evidence & discussion, final point Paragraph as dialogue The conclusion (Tips: use the words from the question in your

conclusion to prove that you have answered the whole question.)

Bibliography (special note to citing!)

The essay structureThe essay structure

Essay tips

making it a continuous piece of writing, instead of dividing it up by headings or strap headlines

set length (words) – be reasonable presentation counts – be professional &

well cared for be formal – use formal English, do not

abbreviate leave space for the marker – be considerate

How to Prepare & How to Prepare & write an essay?write an essay?

Step 1: Prepare to research

It takes time Open a research folder Look at the question! - underline every key words in the question - Every word in a question is a gift! Read them all!” - Make sure that you do sth about every word – don’t leave any out! Be creative

Step 2: Systematic & targeted research

Carry out the action plan: the 4Ws & more

- what: note what you will research

- why: reminding yourself the reasons for

researching that topic

- where: collecting information from

different sources

- when: set a date and keep to it

- check: check when you have done it

Step 2: Systematic & targeted research

Read with a purpose

big notes – all your reading about 1 topic on 1

large big sheet of paper (e.g. A1)

Step 3: Review your notes

notice the evidence for and against your topic

think what your argument will be

(based on the given evidence) Index surf – brush up your paragraphs

Step 4: Plan

plan your body first one main idea per paragraph consider opposite evidence order your points of argument to build a

logical case!

Step 5: Write the first draft

Use paragraph questions to prompt your writing: What is it about? What exactly is that? What is your argument? What is the evidence? What does it mean? Therefore…..? What is your final point? Try to build a flow in your writing

Step 6: Leave it!

allow a break in your essay writing process to allow the your unconscious mind will

seek to close the gaps that you left by offering yourself some distance &

objectivity believe it or not: you are working with

your brain even during this stage!

Step 7: Review, revise and edit

this is the essay writing processes! allow plenty of time for this process go through the whole essay when doing the first

and last drafts but in between, just attack 1 paragraph at a time you go back and put in the “best” word check the links between paragraphs and make

sure that they still connect with each other

Step 8: Proof read

read your essay aloud swap essays with a friend – proof read each other’s

work cover the essay with paper and proof read one

sentence at a time proof read from back to front proof read from the bottom of the page to the top proof read several times, just checking for one of

“your” mistakes at a time proof reading gets better with practice

Step 9: Hand it in

submit it on or before the deadline always keep copies of your essay why?

10. Getting work back

to review what you have written to utilise the feedback you get from the marker to use that feedback to write a better essay next ti

me to perform a SWOT analysis:

Strengths+Weaknesses+Opportunities+Threats

SWOTing your essay

Tips: If you can answer an exam question on a topic

previously covered in an assignment, put the assignment in your revision folder.

If you improve the essay then the exam answer will be even better.

Share it! read other’s work, discovering different writing styles & other approaches to answer a question – so as to stretches our thinking!

Essay development activities Group writing Practice brainstorming Write those

paragraphs Do not aim for

perfection Practice writing Write a lot!

Why write essays?Why write essays?

why write essays?

a form of assessment a dialogue between student and tutor write to learn

Work Hard & Good Luck!!

Reference

Burns, T. & Sinfield, S. (2004). Essential Study Skills. pp. 178-197