Selected pages from The night before essay planner (Hall, 2007) - WRITE

7/30/2019 Selected pages from The night before essay planner (Hall, 2007) - WRITE

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Developing your argumentBuild your essayTHE KEY AT THIS POINT IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS is to clearly identi fy what you wantto argue (if your essay requires you to take a stand) or evaluate, sometimes called your "line ofargument."

Developing your argument is not always straightforward, so this often becomes the stagewhere many of us decide it is all too hard, and skip the planning altogether. But developing theargument of your essay is not as difficu lt as it may seem, particularly if you follow the promptsset out in the following section.Your aim in developing your argument is to write down the main points or top ic areas youthink you will use to support the main theme of your essay. At this stage you are organising yourideas into loose groupings, so it doesn't have to be perfect. Play around with the ideas you have,and start to think of your individual or random ideas as parts of the essay as a whole.

If your essay is an evaluation or a compare and contras t, the same general principles applysince you will usua lly be taking some kind of a stand regardless of the essay type.

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Ask yourself the following questions1. What is the basic point of my essay? What is my overall point of view on this topic? What is my perspective or position on the essay question? What do I want to argue?Your answer to these questions wi ll become the main theme of your essay. Using a single word orone sentence, write your main theme in the large central circle on the mind map on the followingpage. If you are still unsure of your main theme, or you sti ll don't care (!) you might need to readsome more material, or read more deeply and critically before you start this section.2.What information do I need to include that supports my main theme? What are the broad ge neral topics I want to develop in my essay? What topics give the stronges t support to my argument?Your answers to these questions will create the topic of each paragraph in your essay. Generally,each paragraph shou ld address a new topic. Using a sing le word or one sentence, fill in theparagraph topic circles that branch from the main theme circle on the following page. Add orsubtract circles as you need to (check the Quantity Guide in this book for an indication of thenumber of paragraphs you should plan for your essay length).3. What evidence do I need to explain and support the topic of each paragraph? What information do I need to use to demonstrate my point of view to the reader? Th is mayinclude sta tis tics, poignant quotes, facts, or theories. How wi ll I link this information together to logica lly support the point of each paragraph andmy overa ll argument?Your answers to these questions will become the supporting information you use to prove thepoint raised in each paragraph. Ident ify each piece of supporting informa tion on the branchesthat lead from the paragraph topic circles on the fo llow ing page.


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Topic sentenceBODY FIRST PARAGRAPHLinking sentence.'

Topic sentence .BODY SECOND PARAGRAPH

Linking sentence

"-.. Topic sentence"\\ :. ,.BODY THIRD PARAGRAPH

)'_ . . -.. .. - , , Link ing sentence. '

CONCLUSIONFrom specific to general statements

End with punch!

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Constructing the introductionand conclusionTHIS SECTION PROVIDES A DETAILED EXPLANATION of the requirements of anintroduction and conclusion. Check out www.theresearchd en.com. au for examp les of goodintroductions and conclusions.The purpose of an introductionT he introduction launches yo ur essay. It should present the main theme of the essay and alsoestablish the main po in ts that will be raised in the body of the paper.The introduction is a qu icksketch of what's to come, so don't try and get too fancy with an introdu ction, just get to the point.Opening sentenceIn the introdu ction the reader gets to hear what you are going to say for th e first time. Yo ur aim inan introduction is to catch the reader's attention from the beginning and clearly set the scene forthe discussion that wi ll follow. The first sentence can entice the reader, or lose them comp letely.Some writers like to use a ca tchy qu ote, a statistic, or an anecdote that d rama tically int roduces thetopi c, but regardless of how yo u start it , keep in mind that writing has shape : begin with moregeneral material, and get specific and focused on yo ur central theme as you near the end of thein troduc tion.State your position and tell the reader what to expectThe in trodu ction should make it clear where you are heading with your argument by statingyour main theme and the major poin ts of your essay. It is also necessary to briefly defin e a ny keyconcepts. T his is your first chance to say what you think. In one paragraph you want to be ve ryclear about your position on the topic. The reader should know exactly what yo ur pe rspective isafter reading the introduction.

Writing the introduction firstT here is no reason to begin writing your introdu ction first i f you find it di fficu lt. In fact, manypeople leave it until last or la ter in the writing process. Even with the most d etailed plan, yo uressay may change direc tion once yo u begin writing, so if you do write the in trodu ction first , makesure you check th at the content is s ti ll va lid and accurate in relation to the res t of your essaybefore you hand it in.The purpose of a conclusionIn your conclusion yo u reiterate your major points. You don't have to th ink up fancy new wordsor ways of explaining what yo u have already stated in the body of your essay, but yo u don't wantto repeat yoursel f either. Your goal is to rein force and sum up your main po in ts, tying your essayargument together.104


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Do not introduce new material or ideas in the conclusionThe biggest mistake you can make is to introduce new material in the conclusion. You want toleave the reader with a sense of completion and a clear understanding of your position, not givethem new questions to think about. The conclusion wraps up your argument and you shou ldconclude decisive ly with a punch, rather than trailing off on a new thought.Observe how published authors conclude their workAs you look back over the readings you have done, pay attention to the way the authors haveintroduced and concluded their papers.This is a great.way to learn the ar t of a tight introductionand conclusion.Keep an eye on the length of your introduction and conclusionThe length of your introduct ion and conclusion will depend on the length of your essay, so checkthe Quantity Gu ide (page 18) in this book to see how long your introdu ction and conclusionshould be.

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Constructing the bodyTHE BODY OF YOUR ESSAY is everything between the introduction and conclusion. Here, youdevelop and build your argument by using the supporting in formation you have gathered andanalysed during your research.

T he following section provides a detailed explanation of the requirements of the body of youressay, and a blank outline is provided for you to determine what you want to include here.Develop your argumentThe information you want to include in yo ur essay should now be spread out on the mind mapin the previous section. With your mind map yo u have developed your main theme and sortedyour paragraph topics and supporting information.

Now you need to decide how you will logically present th is informat ion in the body of youressay in order to clearly develop your argument. Ask yourself: in what order wi ll I present myinform ation so it makes the most sense and builds the strongest and clearest argument?

Many students have good th ings to say in their essays, bu t don't present the in form ation ina clear or logical way. I f yo u want to get good marks, you have to spend time putting together asolid line of argumen tThink logicallyUsing your mind map as a guide, begin to sort your in form ation in to a logical structure. Thisinvo lves reshuffling the in form ation from your mind map to present it in a logical way (i.e.deciding which paragraph will be first, which will be second, third etc). Each paragraph shou ldlog ica lly lead into the next. Play around with the flow of your argument until it makes the mostsense.Organisation:paragraphs and topic sentencesAs a general ru le, each paragraph shou ld address a new point: thus, it should be clearly apparentto the reader when you are moving on to new inform ation. In essay writing, we do this by using"introductor y" or "topic sentences" at the beginning of each paragraph. Th is is a sentence thattells the reader what will be discussed nex t.Be flexibleCreating an outline of your essay will give yo u a focus to start writing. Once yo u actually startwriting, you may find that your plan requires a little ad justing, so don't be too fussy about ge ttingthis plan perfect. W hile it is important to be comprehensive, yo ur st ructure is ultimately just aguide, a plan of attack, subj ect to alterations.

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Know the length of your essayThe required length of your essay will dictate approximately how many paragraphs you needto include. Check the Q uantity Guide (page 18) in this book to get an idea of the number ofparagraphs you will need to ensure you write an essay with in the word limit.Spend time planning the outline of the bodyT he body is the main part of your essay, so it is important to think about how you want topresent your argu ment to best convince the reader of yo ur point of view. Well-written andpersuasive essays follow a simple, clearly defined path or structu re. Use the ou tline on thefollowing pages to determine your argument. Remember to plan the number of paragraphs youneed according to the required length of your essay. There is enough space in this planner tocreate a structu re for essays up to 5000 word s.

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I. INTRODUCTIONA. Catchy opening sentenceB. Elaboration of topic moving from more general to specific statements. Indicate main points of

discussion the essay will address1. First main point2. Second main point3. Th ird main point4. Etc

C. State the main theme or po int of your essay at (or near) the end of the introductionII. BODY OF ESSAYA. First paragraph: typically the strongest or second strongest point of your argument or

evaluation1.Star t with a topic sentence introducing this particular p oint2. Elaborate with supporting argument3 .Second supporting point4. Third supporting po int, etc5. End with a linking sentence to the next paragraph's topic sentence

B. Second paragraph : next strongest point in your argument or evaluation1. Topic sentence2. Elaborate with supporting argument3. Second supporting point4. Third supporting po int, etc5. End with a linking sentence to the next paragraph's topic sentence

C. Third paragraph: format as aboveD. Subsequent paragraphs: as above, continu ing in this format unt il you've covered the main

points of your argument or discussionE. Final paragraph of the body before the conclusion: save your strongest or second strongest

argument or point for this paragraph1. Topic sentence2. Supporting points3. Linking sentence to the conclusion

III. CONCLUSIONA. Start with a re-stating of your main theme or point (in different words from your

introdu ction)B. Move from specific statements reiterating your main points to more general observations

without introducing new materialC. End with punch, a strong sta tement backing up or reinforcing yo ur argument or analys is

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Outline of the essayI. INTRODUCTIONA.B.

1.2.3.4.

c. Main themeII. BODY OF ESSAYA. Topic sentence

1.2.3.4.S. Linking sentence

B. 1.2.3.4.s.

c.1.2.3.4.s.

D.1.2.3.4.s.


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E.1.2.3.4.B.

F.1.2.3.4.B

G.1.2.3.4.B.

H.1.2.3.4.B.

III. CONCLUSIONA.B.

1.2.3.4.

c.


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INTRODUCTIONHave you: started with a catchy sentence, interesting quote, or relevant n d o t stated the central theme of your essay? defined any major term s? let the reader know your position? set a clear direction for the essay? started with more general statements and ended with a strong statement on your central

theme?BODYHave you: used topic (introdu ctory) sentences in each paragraph? written clear, to-the-point paragraphs? kept a log ica l flow? constructed a logical argument? regularly drawn links to your central theme? properly referenced your material? linked paragraphs together with connecting sentences?CONCLUSIONHave you: summar ised your ma in theme? reitera ted (in different words) how your evidence supports your theme? left the reader with a sense of completion? in trod uced no new material?


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Writing the essayWriting tipsYOU HAVE COMPLETED THE RESEARCH AND PLANN ING! Now all you have to do iswrite the essay. Sounds easy, but it can be really hard to stay foc used and motivated throughoutthe writing process. Luckily, a ll the information you need to write your essay is here in this bookbecause you have done the hard wo rk. You can attack the writing of your essay with confidence.And, just in case you lose focus, the tips in the fo llow ing section have been designed to he lp youmove beyond any doubtful moments.Reread the question/essay assignmentBefore you begin wri ting, reread the question aloud and reassure yourself that you understand allaspects of the question. It is difficult and frustrating to start writing when you're not completelyclear on wha t is required by the qu estion.Free writingFree writing is where you write without stopp ing for a specified amo unt of time, say five or tenminutes. Free writing do es n't have to make sense and it doesn't even have to be on the topic ofyour essay; it's just a tr ick to get you warmed up and over the hurdle of starting your essay. If youare still un sure of what you want to argue, it can help immensely to begin wri ting in th is way andexplore the top ic as you wr ite.Writing from beginning to endYou don't have to write your essay from beginn ing to end. You can start with the body or eventhe co nclusion and wr ite the introduction las t. Write whichever way works best for you, keep ingyour previously developed ideas in mind. Many writers draft the body first , as it can make theintroduction considerably easier to wr ite af ter you organise your argument.

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Writer's blockWriter's block is a well-known phenomenon. If you have trouble wr iting, try no t to pan ic, at somepoint every writer faces the obstacle of hav ing nothing to say. You've probably heard all the usualadvice to allev iate writers block: read over your resea rch notes, exercise, brainstorm again, take abreak, eat chocolate, etc. While these methods do help, two of the better techniques to help youget moving with your essay are :1. Essay writing needs to be about rewards, not deprivation. If you tell yourself that you have to

sit at yo ur desk for days on end and not see your fr iends, obviously you will resent the task athand and your mind will cramp up. Be nice to you rself; don't make essay writing an exercise intorturous deprivation. Focus on getting your work done in segments and reward yourself at theend of each session. Basica lly, you have to dangle your own reward.

2. just start writing so mething, anything! Often, the hardest par t is making yourself sit downat the computer. O nce you actually get there, even if the first few paragraphs you wr ite soundterrible, don't worry, you wi ll get on a roll if you persevere, and your writing will improve.

ProcrastinationProcrastination is a problem that plagues us all when we plan to study or write. One of the bestways to deal with it is to eliminate distractions. Turn your phone off, turn the TV off, in fact youshou ld th ink about throwing it out the window! Block ou t any noises or stimulation that willtake your attent ion away from your essay. How can you focus and digest information if your mindis preoccupied wa tching television or waiting for a friend to call? Un for tunately, your tu tor won'tbuy procrastina tion as an excuse if you are struggling with your essay at the last minu te.Save a copyDon't learn the benefits of saving a separate copy of you r work the hard way. Even i f you aretyping on your own computer, back up your essay every ten to fifteen minu tes and save a separatehard copy during and at the end of every writing session. Most st udents can tell you a heartbreaking story about losing their essay on a computer and having to start from the beg inning.Don't let that be you.


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A note on the use of "I"1n your essayIT CAN BE FRU STRATING AND CONFUSING when your tu tor asks for your opinion on atopic but in the same breath tells you that you cannot use the word "I" in your essay W hat arethey talking about? The best way to avoid the word "I" is to understand how it fu nctions andsounds in an academic essaySome disciplines allow you to write in the first person. Even so, by limiting the use of "1': youressay will sound more authoritative and professional. Remember, you don't always need to say "I"because the reader knows you are presenting the info rmation, so it is intuitive that you suppor tthe perspective and views presented. If your essay is littered with statements beginn ing with "I feel.. ." and "I think ..." then you are wa tering down the power of your language. It's easy to state youropinion in this way, but there are far stronge r, more effective ways to ge t your point across.

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The first personUsing "I" in an essay is known as writing (or spea king) in the first person, from a personalperspective. In university- level essay writing you genera lly start the essay wi th limited knowledgeon the top ic, and the more you read, the more you learn . It is by reading that you begin togain knowledge, understanding and eventually an opinion. You form your perspective, in part,through other published au thors' views. Thus, your perspective is not based exclusively on yourpersonal experience. In academic essay writing, we need to rely on expert opinion to suppor t ourarguments and while there's nothing wrong with personal insight, it has to be backed by specific,expert sources.Replace "I"Use the fo llowing ideas to replace "I" in your writing. To begin with, it may be easier to startwriting using "I" because you have probably had the most practice wri ting in this way. T hen,once you have yo ur ideas down on paper, go through your essay and replace or de lete the "I"statements. As you get more comfortable with essay writing, yo u will naturally develop a writingstyle that doesn't rely on the use of T

Using "I" Replace it with

I believe ... It is clear that ...

After consideration of both views, I think the foundations After consideration of both views, it is apparent that theof structural feminism are based on . foundations of structural feminism are based on ...

It appears to me hat ...

I can't understand ... why postmodernism didn'tchange society.

In conclusion, I hink that structural feminism ...

Therefore, I think feminism ...

It is evident that ...

It remains unclear ... why postmodernism failed toinspire social change.In conclusion, the evidence presented in this essaysuggests that structural feminism .. .Therefore, feminism ...

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First draftCONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE NOW READYTO START W RITING !The first time you si tdown to wr ite, you will create your first draft. There is no such th ing as a good first draft in essaywriting. In fact, your first draft is supposed to be messy. You don't have to complete the entireessay the first time yo u sit down to write it, because a first dra ft is simply getting down yourinitial thoughts on the subj ect . Don't pressure yourself to get it perfect the first time. Loosen up.Generally when we sit down to write it takes a while to warm-up and to say anything that soundsgood or makes complete sense.

After th is first draft, your essay should , if you have the time, go through more drafts or stagesuntil it is complete.You will go over and over some sections of yo ur essay, wh ile others wi ll comeout sounding okay the first time you write them .Th is is a natural part of the writing process.In fact, the real stages of essay writing are : plan, research, write and rewrite. And rewrite somemore. If you have the time to rework your essay through several drafts, you wi ll notice the areas ofyour essay that need help, allowing you to write at yo ur own pace and producing a polished fina lverswn .The fo llowing pages have a blank outline for you to write your first draft. Some people prefer

to write straight onto the computer, so use whichever method wo rks for you.

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Introduction


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----- - - - - - - - - - - - - -The body

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Conclusion

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Selected pages from The night before essay planner (Hall, 2007) - WRITE