Assignment writing
is hard work! It is more than just writing; it
also involves researching, reading, analysing,
judging and editing. Here are some tips to lead
you along the path to good essay writing.
Basic Steps in Writing an
Assignment
In no strict order . . .
Analyse the question and define key terms
Establish your argument/point
of view
Research the topic
Take notes from your readings
Write your plan and organise
your ideas
Write your first draft to
include your introduction, body and conclusion
Set the draft aside for
a day or two, then read it through and make changes
Edit and redraft your essay
Have a friend/parent/colleague
read it
Complete your references
and bibliography
Final draft completed — hand
it in
Basic Essay Structure
Before attempting to write your essay, you need to organise
your ideas and draw up an outline (an essay plan). The
basic structure of your essay should have three main parts:
Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
The INTRODUCTION should clearly express the main ideas
of the question and give an indication of how you are
going to develop your ideas and arguments.
The BODY should logically develop ideas in a direct
and concise manner. Each paragraph should include one
main idea, supported by evidence to reinforce it.
The CONCLUSION should draw together all the points which
have been made in the body of the essay and provide a
summary of your arguments.
The Redraft
You will need to write at least two drafts of your essay.
The purpose of the first draft is primarily for you to
sort out what you want to say. The main aim is to get
your ideas flowing and to write them down on paper. Once
you have done the first draft, you are over the hardest
part of the writing process. The redraft will enable you
to look at your essay more objectively and involves looking
at the style, as well as the flow of arguments and ideas.
Make sure you check at this time the correctness of spelling,
grammar, punctuation and paragraphs. Note down as well
all your references in your footnotes for the bibliography.
The length of your essay also needs to be checked to make
sure that it corresponds closely with the specified word
length. Once this has been done, read your essay out aloud.
If it reads smoothly and deals with the question/topic
competently and successfully, then you have produced a
'well-crafted' essay.
Referencing
Referencing is essential in any essay where sources have
been consulted and cited. Material 'lifted' from the work
of others without acknowledgement is plagiarism. Two forms
of references are used in an essay: Footnotes/Notes and
Bibliography.
Presentation
The presentation of your essay is important. Essays which
are well presented, well set out and well typed will please
markers! The following basic requirements of presentation
should be incorporated into your essays and assignments.
Your name should be on your work, as well as the full
title of your essay.
If possible type your essay with double spacing on
one side of A4 paper, or else write legibly.
