Lecture Communication skill: Chapter 3 - Tracey Bretag, Joanna Crossman, Sarbari Bordia

Chapter 3 - Essay writing. After studying this chapter you will be able to: prepare a research plan for an essay, prepare a writing plan for an essay, present persuasive arguments, supplemented with references, write a well-presented academic essay.

Chapter 3

Essay writing

Learning objectives

On completion of this chapter students will

know how to:

• prepare a research plan for an essay

• prepare a writing plan for an essay

• present persuasive arguments

supplemented with references

• write a well-presented academic essay

Why write essays?

• To analyse a topic closely

• To develop a point of view in relation to a

topic

• To persuade the reader that your position is well supported by the ideas and information you present

Steps in writing an essay

• Choose the question

• Analyse the question

• Make an initial plan

• Locate the resources

• Read and make notes

• Write the first draft

• Revise and redraft

• Organise the reference list

• Proofread

Choose the question

• Which topic interests you the most?

• Which has good resource material

Analyse the question

• Three main parts of an essay question:

• information limits (e.g time, place, group)

• academic limits (word length, due date)

Types of essays

• Two main types of essays:

– explain (an essay that explains a process or

situation)

– argue (an essay that argues a point of view).

• In analysing the question, determine which type of essay you are expected to write

• Many essays are a combination of both

types

Plan your essay

• Do this as soon as you have analysed the

question Use the knowledge you already

have about the topic.

• The plan will:

– help you clarify your point of view – give you direction (get you started) – point you towards resources.

• Remember: this is only an initial plan and

you can add to it as you progress towards the final document

Structure of an essay

• Introduction (10%) Define the question and

the key terms Give a thesis statement: this is the main idea you will develop in the essay using evidence.

• Body (80%) Develop evidence, information and

examples for each side of the topic, with support from appropriate references.

• Conclusion (10%) Weigh up the information

and give your opinion based on the evidence

No new material.

Locate the resources

Research and note-taking

• Organise and focus the research

• Use section headings based on the analysis

Read and take notes

• Revise Chapter 2 on note-taking

• Scan the whole text first

• Look for key words and phrases

• Locate and read the thesis and topic

sentences carefully

• Take notes in your own words

• Think while your read: why is this document relevant? Ask yourself questions Be critical

Write the first draft

• Based on your research, create an essay

plan (what you will include in your essay)

• Make sure you have enough time to write

and revise the essay

• Write the main points of the essay (the

body) first and then write the introduction and conclusion

• Paragraphs are the units of composition

used for developing your topics

• If there is a new topic, there should be a

be left out.

• Connectors are words or phrases used

within paragraphs to help show the connection between one sentence and another, or one topic and another

• Connectors should be used carefully and

sparingly A well-written essay will make the relationship of ideas clear to the reader

Connectors (cont.)

• Connectors are used to:

– make comparisons or contrasts – add to one idea

– express a result – summarise

– illustrate or explain – arrange ideas:

• in order

• in time, or

• in space.

Connectors (cont.)

• Some common connectors are:

Topic sentences

• Paragraphs usually consist of several

sentences that are arranged in a logical manner to develop a main idea

• The main idea is usually contained in a

single sentence, a part of a sentence, or sometimes two sentences

• Topic sentences may appear at the

beginning, middle or end of a paragraph (usually the beginning)

Topic sentences (cont.)

• Topic sentences are sometimes implied,

rather than stated

• Occasionally the topic sentence is the last sentence of the preceding paragraph

• Clear topic sentences are vital to the

organisation and development of ideas in an essay

Paragraph checklist

• Does each paragraph have a definite point

to make? Is there a topic sentence?

• Have you used a plan to develop each

paragraph?

• Have you removed unnecessary sentences?

Do all sentences now relate to the main topic in each paragraph?

• Have you used a variety of methods in your paragraph development?

• Do your ideas move forward in a straight,

uninterrupted flow from beginning to end?

Paragraph checklist (cont.)

• Have you made effective use of

• Do all of your paragraphs relate to the

statement/question of the essay?

Revise and redraft

• Once the main issues to be discussed in the essay have been written up in paragraph

format you should do the following:

– Write the introduction and conclusion, placing emphasis on the main points.

– Read over the paragraphs to see if they flow logically or need to be re-organised.

– Check to see if the paragraphs are connected (through ideas rather than connectors).

• The introduction should be a road map for your readers It should tell them what you will discuss in-depth later in the essay This

is why it should be written once the main points have been written up

• It should contain a thesis statement that

suggests your point of view to the reader

• Supplement your views with generalised

references but do not go into specifics in the

• Your conclusions should remind your

readers of the significant points made in the essay

• Do not include any new arguments or

references

• For most essays, one paragraph of

conclusion is preferred

Organise the reference list

• A reference list is a list of sources that you have cited, not just read Read Chapter 4 for details The reference list should include the following:

– an alphabetical list of all the sources based on the first author’s last name

– all details necessary for the style of referencing stated in your course.

• The reference list should correspond to the in-text references

• The final thing to do before submitting

your essay

• Keep a gap of at least a day between

finishing an essay and proofreading it

• Check your essay for stylistic or grammatical errors

• Check the logical flow of the content

• Check for clarity in presentation

Final checklist (cont.)

• Are the paragraphs connected (i.e logical connections to previous and subsequent paragraphs)?

• Does the introduction have a thesis

Final checklist (cont.)

• Are the reference list and the in-text

references appropriate for the style of referencing you are supposed to adhere to?

• Have you proofread the essay?

• Is the presentation clear and readable?