0% found this document useful (0 votes)
101 views3 pages

Essay Writing 1. Understanding The Task

This document provides guidance on writing an academic essay. It discusses: 1. The different types of essays, including descriptive, argumentative, evaluative, and personal essays. 2. The essay writing process, which involves understanding the task, planning and preparing by researching sources, writing a first draft with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, and then reviewing and finalizing the draft before the deadline. 3. Tips for writing a strong first draft, including presenting a clear thesis, strong arguments supported by evidence, and proper formatting, structure, grammar and referencing.

Uploaded by

sky9213
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
101 views3 pages

Essay Writing 1. Understanding The Task

This document provides guidance on writing an academic essay. It discusses: 1. The different types of essays, including descriptive, argumentative, evaluative, and personal essays. 2. The essay writing process, which involves understanding the task, planning and preparing by researching sources, writing a first draft with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, and then reviewing and finalizing the draft before the deadline. 3. Tips for writing a strong first draft, including presenting a clear thesis, strong arguments supported by evidence, and proper formatting, structure, grammar and referencing.

Uploaded by

sky9213
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

ESSAY WRITING 1.

Understanding the task:


What is an Essay? Types of Essays
a) Descriptive
An essay is a piece of structured writing - Usually specific e.g. Describe a method, Describe what
Usually written in formal academic writing happened, Describe the main features or functions, or
Analysis of the title Summarising the main points of a theory or article
E.g. - Does your house smell like fresh baked chocolate chip
Reason to do extra reading around your subject area cookies?
Way to assess how well you understand a subject
Method to consolidate the information you acquire in b) Argumentative/analytical
lectures, away on placement or in seminars. - What? Why?
- Different opinions; for, against
Writing an Essay: - These need to be supported by examples or evidence (use
Essay writing is a process and needs to be done in various Journals, Internet, Text books, your own views some
stages: departments like to see personal opinion backed by fact)
E.g. - Should everyone go to university?

c) Evaluative (Compare and Contrast)


- Find similar points and show awareness of minor
differences.
Understanding Plan and Write - Using different points, bring out the differences.
the task prepare first draft - A comparison shows how two things are alike.
- A contrast shows how two things are different.
E.g. - Write an essay comparing the weather in London and
Barcelona.
Deadline Write Review First
final draft draft

d) Personal
- These are not usually used as academic writing. It is based - Does the writer give enough evidence?
entirely on personal experiences.
- Involves a description of your personal experience The Conclusion
- Analysis of your experience and its relation to your work, - Is the conclusion clear?
study, a theory etc. - Does the conclusion restate the thesis?
E.g. - How did you find your placement, discuss how it relates - Does the conclusion give the reader closure?
to your field of study.
4. Review the essay:
2. Plan and Prepare:
It is important to research your essay question and prepare a Overall Essay
clear plan of what you are going to cover. - Does the essay follow essay format?

Sources of information to help you plan your essay: Grammar


Internet, textbooks, journals, questionnaires, lab work, - Are there run-ons, fragments, comma splices, endless
lectures, friends, experience sentences, or spelling errors?
- Does the writer have any problems with wordiness?
3. The First Draft: Essay Structures - Does everything sound right?

The Introduction Proof-reading


- Does the essay have a good opening/introductory This is a very important part of writing an essay, because
paragraph? badly structured sentences and incorrect spelling are not
- Is the topic clear? appreciated by the reader (marker)
- Is the thesis statement clear? Do you know where the essay Tips:
is going? - Read it aloud does it make sense?
- Look for typing and spelling errors be aware that some
The Body may not be picked up by spellcheckers e.g. from and form.
- Is the body of the essay orderly? Are ideas in the best - Reading your work backwards can prevent you skim reading
order? through the essay.
- Does the writer present strong arguments/evidence? - Note down mistakes that you make often, then you can use
- Are the writers arguments convincing? this as a checklist for the next time you write an essay, it will
remind you to be more careful about checking for them. e.g. Dont lose yourself in research/reading stay focussed on
its and its what you need
Answer the question
Referencing: Make sure the final result looks good
- Speak to the person who set the essay and find out which
form of referencing they would like you to use.
- Library has some good information on referencing.

4. Review first draft:


Some people may need to rewrite and re-review the essay,
this is perfectly acceptable.

5. Write final draft


Use feedback to help you with your next essay.

6. Deadline:
- Hand it in on time (or even early! dont fiddle with it if its
finished)
- Give yourself a reward for a good piece of work

Summary
Dont leave starting until the last minute
Make an essay plan

You might also like