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STEPS TO WRITE AN ESSAY

Successful essay writers begin [step one] by carefully analysing the


essay brief or question to make sure that they are clear about what
is required. The second step is that they develop a thesis
statement, which is a sentence that concisely expresses the essays
big idea or focus. With this thesis statement in mind, they read and
make notes [step three]. Step four, they take these notes and
they organise them and select from them to develop the points they
will use to support the thesis statement. Step five, they turn these
notes and points into paragraphs, the middle paragraphs, to support
the thesis statement. Step six, they write the introductory
paragraph and the concluding paragraph. These form a frame
around the main part of the essay. And last but not least [step
seven], they edit and proofread the draft before they submit it.
So, these seven steps are the steps that successful essay writers
follow. And if you follow them, youll be well on the way to writing
your own successful essays.
STEP 1: Analyse the brief
Underline and define key words
Make sure you understand exactly what is required in the essay.
Identify the key words and underline them. If there are any words
you are unfamiliar with or whose precise meaning you are unclear
about, look them up in a dictionary (never just guess at a words
meaning).
Underline directive verbs
Directive verbs are those that give instructions about what you are
required to do in the essay. Make sure you understand these words.
Below is a list of the more common directive verbs used in essay
briefs.
Identify key issues
Always read the essay brief with the following factors in mind: the
unit outline, its desired learning outcomes, what you have heard in
lectures or read in prescribed texts; direct and indirect indications
from your lecturer about which aspects, themes, or topics are most
important in the unit. Keep focused on the key issues.
Clarify in your mind what the lecturer is looking for
As well as focusing on the key issues, its useful to think of the essay
in terms of why the lecturer set this particular essay brief and what
they will be looking for in your completed essay. Think about how
you can most convincingly demonstrate to them that you have
satisfactorily transformed information into your own knowledge and
that the learning process has been successful.

Note the number of words required


The number of words specified in the essay brief is a good guide to
the depth and level of complexity and detail required in your essay.
Given the tight assignment schedules in most courses, it is useful to
develop a sense of how much research and note making is required
for different lengths of essay. Making enough detailed notes for a
10,000-word essay when you are required to write only a 1,000word essay is not economical use of your time. Its also more
difficult to manage large quantities of detailed notes, so keep the
level of note-making appropriate to the length of essay. As a general
guide, academic paragraphs are 100 200 words. Therefore a 500word essay should be no longer than 5 paragraphs, while a 1000word essay could be between 5 and 10 paragraphs.
Analyze the marking guide
Many lecturers provide a marking guide allocating marks to
individual components of the essay according to what they consider
to be the most important aspects of the assignment. The marking
guide is the basis of evaluation of the assignment and corrective
feedback to the student.
STEP 2: Formulate a provisional thesis statement
The thesis statement is positioned as the last sentence in the first
paragraph. The preceding sentences prepare the reader to consider
the thesis statement, which is the most important sentence in the
entire essay. If you were asked to summarize your 500-word or
10,000-word essay in one sentence, that sentence would be the
thesis statement.
In an expository or descriptive essay, the thesis statement should
group together the various aspects of the topic that you will be
describing; in an analytical essay, it should state your findings; and
in an argumentative essay, it should express the position youre
taking on an issue.
The following points are important to remember when youre
formulating your thesis statement:
The thesis statement is a sentence that says clearly, precisely,
and concisely what the essay is all about.
(The thesis statement is the essays big idea.)
The thesis statement must be explained, supported, or
defended in the paragraphs that make up the body of the
essay.
(Everything relates back to the thesis.)
The thesis statement needs to be both arguable (it sets out a
hypothesis, position, or perspective not just the facts - and
supportable (there must be adequate evidence or points of

argument to convince the reader of the validity of the thesis).


The thesis statement needs to be concise.
As they read through the essay, the reader needs to remember the
thesis being supported.

In this example, theres no one right answer there are many


important characteristics from which to choose but you will have
to justify your choice and convince your reader of its validity.

As we saw in the Directive Verbs section, discuss means that you


have to examine, giving the details and the points for and against
and that you must develop a logical argument backed by sound
evidence. Usually the essay topic is complex and therefore cannot
be addressed by a simple for or against argument; there will
always be both points for and points against, and all these points
need to be acknowledged.
However, to write an effective argumentative essay, you will need to
begin by taking a definite position on your topic, and expressing
your position in a clear, arguable thesis statement, which you then
defend with evidence and logic. In Model Essay Two, you have to
take a position either for or against the validity of essay writing as
a component of student assessment. As you read and research, you
may want to modify your thesis statement or even take the opposite
position from the one you started with this is why we call the
thesis statement that you start with the provisional thesis
statement.
A provisional thesis statement for Model Essay Two might be:

Setting essay assignments as a component of student


assessment at university is a valid practice.
Setting essay assignments as a component of student
assessment at university is not a valid practice.
STEP 3: Collect data (read and make notes)
1. Preview the text
Note the title, writers name, date and place of publication.
Read the abstract.
Read sub-headings and first sentences of paragraphs.
Read any summaries within or at end of the text.
Pick up main ideas, key words (words that tell you who, what,
when, where, how many, and how much).
Check that the text is relevant to your thesis statement.
Be clear about the purpose of your reading (background
reading for overview or context, close reading for detail, and
so on).
2. Ask questions of the text
Turn the title, headings, sub headings into questions:
What is the authors thesis or big idea?
What does the author have to say that I can use in supporting
my thesis?
What connections and relationships does the author
identify/develop?
How does the author structure and develop their
ideas/support of their thesis?
Are there any words, expressions, technical terms that I dont
understand?

3. Make notes
Always record bibliographical details of the text from which
you are taking notes (keep a record of all texts you consult).
Focus on understanding sections (or individual paragraphs) of
the text before you start making notes.
Highlight sections which seem important to you and take
down notes of important details.
Be selective; dont overload on data large quantities of
information can be hard to organise and process.
Use headings, subheadings, diagrams, and/or mind-maps in
your notes.
Leave space for later comments and cross-referencing on the
points noted.
Identify, underline, colour code main ideas and supporting

points.
Number points where applicable.
Paraphrase rather than copy verbatim (except for quotable
quotes, which must be copied meticulously).
Keep notes brief but full enough to make sense to you when
you read them later.
Record page numbers for all notes (helps you to refer back to
original if necessary).
Consider making notes directly on to your PC.

4. Summarize what you have read

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