Student Special: Essay Writing Tips

For most degree courses, essays are an important element in the assignments that count towards each year’s final grade. A lot of students struggle with written work of this kind, costing them vital marks. While there’s no substitute for hard work, good research and smart writing, there are ways of making the process of writing eaasys just a little bit easier.

1. Use software that automatically gives pointers. Instead of waiting ‘til you’ve finished to do a spell-check, before you start typing, have your settings fixed to check spelling and grammar. Google Docs is a great free alternative to Microsoft Word that highlights possible mistakes. Plus, all documents created on it save to your Google Drive, meaning you don’t have to email files to yourself or use USB sticks, in order to open the document on more than one device.

2. Decide on your argument and make notes that support it. Figure out how you’ll get it across in steps that add up to the required word-count. If the title is a discussion statement, do you agree or disagree with it? What evidence can you provide to support your interpretation? Type the question at the top of your document: you want it to remain top of mind. Not effectively answering what you were asked can cost marks. If you are arequired to provide examples, look for ones that either complement, or contrast with, each other.

3. Break your essay into sections, with an introduction, a conclusion, and a body of text that builds your main argument in between. • Your introduction should directly address the question and provide context to the discussion-points of your essay. It should also make your main argument clear to the reader.

• The body of your essay should consist of several paragraphs (the number will depend on the prescribed word count) that set out your over-arching argument. Each paragraph should contain a main point and at least one example that supports or illustrates that point, with reference to the question. Generally, paragraphs should thread together so that your essay reads with a consistent flow.

• Don’t treat your conclusion as a summary of the essay – it should draw the points you’ve made together in a way that highlights the fact that you have (we hope!) properly answered the question. If, in your introduction, you’ve listed points you are going to make, be sure that, in your conclusion, you can confidently state that you have actually made them.

4. Vary your language... Remember how in primary school almost all your sentences started with “I” or “The”? It’s easy to fall into the trap of repeating words and this doesn’t read well. Use a thesaurus to look up synonyms for words and find alternative ways of phrasing.

5. ... But err on the side of keeping it simple and, most importantly, understandable. A lot of students think that “good writing” means using ‘big’ words, and so they go mad with the thesaurus to find ever-more extravagant language. This can look false, make your essay harder to read and detract from your arguments. The ssame applies to long, convoluted sentences. It is vital to be sure that every sentence works. The best essays are usually straightforward, advance a clear argument and get effectively to the point. Varying your sentence lengths is also a good discipline. Remember: short sentences work.