An essay is used to test the power of your critical thinking abilities and your ability to translate that thinking into an academic written format. This resource covers some key factors to be aware of when writing essays at university.
In the course of reading a student’s essays markers may ask questions, such as:
- Does this essay directly refer to the specific task?
- Does it appear to be a solid and supported position?
- Does it use sources that are relevant appropriately?
- Is the phrase clear, and does the style work?
- Is the essay organised coherently? Does the essay have a clear and concise introduction, body and conclusion?
Use these questions to reflect on your writing. Here are six top tips for you to address these concerns.
1. Review the question
Essays for students are written to answer specific questions. Since essays must answer the question in a direct manner your first step should be to examine the question. Make sure you understand what the question is asking of you.
Typically, essay topics have three major components:
- Content terms Key concepts specific to the task at hand.
- A limit on the subject: The areas that the topic focuses on
- Directive words: What do you need to do in relation to the content, e.g. discuss, analyse, define, compare, evaluate.
2. Define your argument
While you think about and plan to write your essay you need to think about what your argument is going to be. This includes taking a shrewd opinion or stance on the subject matter in the question, then defining and presenting an argument that is specific to the topic.Join Us https://www.makeitmissoula.com/2022/09/5-best-essay-writing-techniques/ website
Examine these two arguments:
The architectural application of light during Gothic cathedrals physically embodied the importance of light in theology in the middle ages.
Or:
Within the Gothic cathedral of Cologne The use of light helped emphasize the power and the ritual centrality and importance of the priest.
The statements in these paragraphs define the thesis of an essay. They help to establish coherence, by providing an overarching theme as well as a point towards which the entire essay will be directed.
3. Make use of reasoning, evidence and academic scholarship
To convince your audience your point of view, you have to employ evidence and reasoning that involves referencing and reviewing relevant scholarship.
- Evidence gives concrete evidence to prove your assertion. It is typically comprised of specific instances, facts, quotations figures, statistics, and other evidence.
- Reasoning connects evidence to your argument. Instead of citing facts like an itemized list of items You must evaluate the evidence and demonstrate how it supports your argument.
- It is used to illustrate the connection between your argument and what’s been written about the topic (citing particular works). Scholarship is a an element of evidence and argument to back up your argument.
4. Write a coherent and cohesive essay
An essay is composed of three main components : introduction and body and conclusion.
- Introduction
- Bod
- Conclusion
5. Note clearly
An essay that makes good argumentation backed by facts will get a top grade by being written in a clear and concise manner. The clarity is achieved by careful editing and revision that will transform a good essay into an outstanding one.
If you are editing your essay, you should take it in a fresh perspective It’s almost like someone previously wrote it.
Ask yourself the questions below:
Overall structure
- Do you have a clear and concise arguments in your introduction?
- Does the structure you have in place correspond to the “road map” described in your introduction?
- Have you clearly defined the way your principal points support your argument?
- Have you clearly identified the transitions between your main points for your reader?
Paragraphs
- Does each paragraph contain one principal idea?
- Does every phrase in the paragraph back the main idea?
- Does each paragraph contain pertinent evidence and logic?
- Does each paragraphlogically flow after the one before it?
Sentences
- Are all sentences grammatically correct?
- Is the spelling right?
- Does the connection between sentences clearly evident to your readers?
- Have you avoided redundancy or repetition?
Find out more details about editing on our editor’s page.
6. Use sources and proof
Also, make sure to check the citations you have submitted to ensure that they are accurate and complete. Some faculties require that you adhere to a particular style of citation (e.g. APA) while other faculties may permit you to select an appropriate style. Whatever style you use it is important to follow its guidelines in a consistent and correct manner. It is possible to use Recite to refer to the University of Melbourne style guide to verify your references.