Essay Writing: The Basics
Writing the essay
Write a first draft
Write a
first draft to try out the structure and framework of your essay. A draft essay
will help you work out:
- how you will answer the question
- which evidence and examples you will use
- how your argument will be structured.
Once you
have a draft, you can work on writing well. Your first draft will not be your
final essay; think of it as raw material you will refine through editing and
redrafting.
Structure
Structure
your essay in the most effective way to communicate your ideas and answer the
question.
All essays should include the following structure
Essay Paragraphs
A paragraph
is a related group of sentences that develops one main idea.
Each
paragraph in the body of the essay should contain:
A topic
sentence that states the main or controlling idea
|
Supporting
sentences to explain and develop the point you’re making
|
Evidence.
Most of the time, your point should be supported by some form of evidence
from your reading, or by an example drawn from the subject area
|
Analysis.
Don’t just leave the evidence hanging there - analyse and interpret it!
Comment on the implication/significance/impact and finish off the paragraph
with a critical conclusion you have drawn from the evidence.
|
a
concluding sentence that restates your point, analyses the evidence or acts
as a transition to the next paragraph.
|
See The
Learning Centre guide Quoting Paraphrasing & Summarising and Introducing Quotations
& Paraphrases
Tips for Effective Writing
- Start writing early - the earlier the better. Starting cuts down on anxiety, beats procrastination, and gives you time to develop your ideas.
- Don’t try to write an essay from beginning to end (especially not in a single study session). Begin with what you are ready to write - a plan, a sentence. Start with the body and work paragraph by paragraph.
- Write the introduction and conclusion after the body. Once you know what your essay is about, then write the introduction and conclusion.
- Keep the essay question in mind. Don’t lose track of the question or task. Keep it in mind as you draft and edit and work out your argument.
- Revise your first draft extensively. Make sure the entire essay flows and that the paragraphs are in a logical order.
- Put the essay aside for a few days. This allows you to consider your essay with a fresh eye.
- Proof-read your final draft carefully. Check spelling and punctuation.
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