Writing and Structuring Assignments
Essay writing improves with practice. It is best to keep your writing style simple and straightforward. Don鈥檛 try to sound 鈥榓cademic鈥�, but concentrate on expressing your points clearly.
Also, always use your own words, unless you are actually quoting someone else, and be clear about plagiarism (see below).
Key points
鈥� Have a clear structure for your essay.
鈥� Make a plan that works for you.
鈥� Answer the question and address the relevant issues.
鈥� Show evidence of reading 鈥� use evidence to support your points.
Key features of essay structure
鈥� Introduction 鈥� addresses the title, outlines key areas essay covers
鈥� Main body 鈥� sections of essay, each with main arguments, evidence,
references
鈥� Conclusion 鈥� sums up key points, showing subject is addressed.
Use a plan to help 鈥� based on word count
鈥� Intro and conclusion 鈥� roughly 10% each of the word count.
鈥� Identify your main areas of discussion 鈥� decide an order.
鈥� Roughly decide number of words for each section.
鈥� Plan out main points, with examples and explanations.
鈥� Write up sections roughly first.
Re-reading and improving
鈥� Introduction 鈥揹oes it address the title, and introduce the structure?
鈥� Is each section relevant? Does it answer the question?
鈥� Do the sections follow each other in a clear way? Is structure clear?
鈥� Have you used evidence, and given references?
鈥� Is there a clear conclusion?
Things to improve
鈥� Check for 鈥榝low鈥� 鈥� link sections with 鈥榮ignpost鈥� sentences to show how
one section follows another.
鈥� Referencing 鈥� check the method outlined in the module handbook.
鈥� Reference list or bibliography at the end 鈥� check the format is right.
