4. Be creative and original right the way throughAnyone can write an essay using the tips above, but the thing that really makes it ‘perfect’ is your own unique take on the topic you’re discussing. If you’ve noticed something intriguing or unusual in your reading, point it out: if you find it interesting, chances are the examiner will too. Show
Creative writing and essay writing are more closely linked than you might imagine; keep the idea that you’re writing a speech or argument in mind, and you’re guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention. It’s important to set out your line of argument in your introduction, introducing your main points and the general direction your essay will take, but don’t forget to keep something back for the conclusion, too. Yes, you need to summarise your main points, but if you’re just repeating the things you said in your introduction, the essay itself is rendered pointless. Think of your conclusion as the climax of your speech, the bit everything else has been leading up to, rather than the boring plenary at the end of the interesting stuff. To return to Of Mice and Men once more, here is an example of the ideal difference between an introduction and a conclusion: Introduction: In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is portrayed as an ambiguous character. She could be viewed either as a cruel, seductive temptress or a lonely woman who is a victim of her society’s attitudes. Though she does seem to wield a form of sexual power, it is clear that Curley’s wife is largely a victim. This interpretation is supported by Steinbeck’s description of her appearance, other people’s attitudes, her dreams, and her evident loneliness and insecurity. Conclusion: Overall, it is clear that Curley’s wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel, in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other people’s judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curley’s wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity – a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences. Both refer back consistently to the question and summarise the essay’s main points; however, the conclusion adds something new which has been established in the main body of the essay and yet complicates the simple summary which is found in the introduction.
An essay is used to assess the strength of your critical thinking and your ability to put that thinking into an academic written form. This resource covers some key considerations when writing an essay at university. While reading a student’s essay, markers will ask themselves questions such as:
You can use these questions to reflect on your own writing. Here are six top tips to help you address these criteria. 1. Analyse the questionStudent essays are responses to specific questions. As an essay must address the question directly, your first step should be to analyse the question. Make sure you know exactly what is being asked of you. Generally, essay questions contain three component parts:
Examples
2. Define your argumentAs you plan and prepare to write the essay, you must consider what your argument is going to be. This means taking an informed position or point of view on the topic presented in the question, then defining and presenting a specific argument. Consider these two argument statements: The architectural use of light in Gothic cathedrals physically embodied the significance of light in medieval theology. Or: In the Gothic cathedral of Cologne, light served to accentuate the authority and ritual centrality of the priest. Statements like these define an essay’s argument. They give coherence by providing an overarching theme and position towards which the entire essay is directed. 3. Use evidence, reasoning and scholarshipTo convince your audience of your argument, you must use evidence and reasoning, which involves referring to and evaluating relevant scholarship.
4. Organise a coherent essayAn essay has three basic components - introduction, body and conclusion.
5. Write clearlyAn essay that makes good, evidence-supported points will only receive a high grade if it is written clearly. Clarity is produced through careful revision and editing, which can turn a good essay into an excellent one. When you edit your essay, try to view it with fresh eyes – almost as if someone else had written it. Ask yourself the following questions: Overall structure
Paragraphs
Sentences
See more about editing on our editing your writing page. 6. Cite sources and evidenceFinally, check your citations to make sure that they are accurate and complete. Some faculties require you to use a specific citation style (e.g. APA) while others may allow you to choose a preferred one. Whatever style you use, you must follow its guidelines correctly and consistently. You can use Recite, the University of Melbourne style guide, to check your citations. Further resources
* Example introduction and conclusion adapted from a student paper. Explore all resources
Get tailored advice from an Academic Skills adviser by booking an individual appointment, or get quick advice from one of our Academic Writing Tutors in our online drop-in sessions. Get one-on-one advice |