8/12/2019 How to Write an Essay - tips

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Rather than worrying about an essay for weeks, suggest to your child to read through these 10points, get in some early preparation and have the self-belief that they can do it.

1. Read the essay question carefully Highlight key words.

Use the dictionary to check the meaning of any unfamiliar words. dentify the task words that indicate what needs to be done, eg !discuss",

!e#plain", !compare".

dentify the topic words that indicate the particular sub$ect of the essay, eg

the character of !%uliet" in &hakespeare"s Romeo and Juliet, the !causes" of 'orld'ar 1.

dentify any limiting words that restrict the discussion to a particular area, eg

in !(hapters 1-)", during the !nineteenth century".

2. *inish any necessary reading or research asbackground to the essay

+e selective use sources which are relevant and accessible.

'rite notes in your own words.

'rite down uotations that may be particularly useful, but ensure the

source of these uotes is acknowledged if they"re used.

ake note of sources so they can be provided in footnotes and the

bibliography.

3. Brainstorm ideas in response to thequestion

%ot down any relevant points.

/ake note of any relevant evidence or uotes that come to mind.

Use a mind map to help stimulate lateral thinking.

4. Develop a thesis (idea/argument) thatencapsulates the response to the question

he thesis should be a statement that strongly e#presses the overall

response to the uestion.

void a thesis that"s too simplistic show thought has been put into some

of the comple#ities behind the uestion.

he thesis is the backbone of the essay it will be stated in the

introduction. t also needs to be referred to several times in the essay beforerestating it and demonstrating how it has been proven in the conclusion.

. !rite a plan for the response

2rder ideas in a logical seuence.

/ake sure every point in the plan is relevant to the uestion.

fter the plan has been written it should be clear where the essay is going.

". !rite the introduction

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2pen up the discussion.

ntroduce the thesis.

ndicate how the uestions will be answered.

3ame any te#ts to be discussed, if appropriate.

4ngage the reader.

#. !rite the main $ody of the essay 4nsure each point is given a new paragraph.

Use words or phrases at the start of each paragraph that will indicate to the

reader how it relates to the previous paragraph, eg, "however", !in addition",!nevertheless", !moreover".

&tart each paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly links the paragraph

to the rest of the essay, eg 5 striking e#ample of 6ary (rew"s use of light anddarkness imagery to suggest notions of knowledge and ignorance occurs in thescene on the $etty5.

7rovide supporting evidence for each point that you make.

Revisit the thesis, and e#press it in different ways if possible, to emphasise

how the uestion is being addressed.%. !rite the essay conclusion

&ummarise the main ideas.

8emonstrate how you have proven your thesis.

*inish with an interesting or thought-provoking, but relevant, comment.

&. 'dit the draft

(heck for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

8elete any sections that are not particularly relevant.

(hange vocabulary to improve e#pression.

&eek feedback from peers or a teacher before writing the final copy.

1. !rite the final copy

dd any footnotes or bibliography if reuired.

7resent a clean, neat copy.

&ubmit on time.