October 1, 2008

Essay Writing

An essay is a piece of writing on a particular subject or topic, often written by students for assessment as part of a course of study. Types of writing vary greatly across different disciplinary fields and areas of study. However, in most types of essays students are expected to develop an argument and write with a clear structure and evidence that supports the argument.

1. Getting started and keeping going
Keeping a notebook or a journal
Writing a double-entry journal
Activity: Speaking and writing
Mapping your ideas
Developing realistic strategies for reading and writing
Going back and forth between your reading and writing
Finding your focus in a draft
Narrowing (or broadening) your topic


2. Giving your writing structure and purpose
Analysing the essay title and addressing the question
Key words
Key elements of university writing
Developing your argument
Situation – Problem – Solution – Evaluation


3. Making your writing coherent
What does 'coherence' mean?
Writing your introduction
Writing your conclusion


4. Making your writing fit together (Cohesion)
What does cohesion mean?
Connecting ideas to make a section
Connecting ideas to make a paragraph
Connecting ideas at word level
Using linking words
Activity: Three linking phrases


5. Writing in your own words and avoiding plagiarism
Writing in your own words
Citing sources
Paraphrasing and summarising
Referencing
Avoiding Plagiarism
Activity: Defining plagiarism
Understanding abbreviations
Understanding words in foreign languages
Using abbreviations
Activity: Abbreviations
Using abbreviations of names and titles
Using technical words and words in foreign languages


6. Reading your own and other’s work
Thinking about your audience
Editing your own and other's work
Activity: Checking for development of an argument

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