INTRODUCTION TO WRITING AN ESSAY Will Baker BASIC

INTRODUCTION TO WRITING AN ESSAY Will Baker

BASIC ESSAY STRUCTURE ¢ Paragraph l l ¢ main idea supporting example/detail contrasting example/point of view - further detail concluding sentence Essay l l l introductory paragraph body (supporting examples and detail) conclusion

A diagram to show basic essay structure From: Oshima, A and Hogue, A. (1998)

THE USE OF PARAGRAPHS sequencing - indicating where you are and where you are going ¢ referencing - avoiding ambiguity in identifying referents where pronouns such as it or this are concerned ¢ linking - joining ideas or sentences logically ¢

AREAS OF IMPORTANCE IN WRITING ESSAYS Content ¢ Coherence ¢ Cohesion ¢ Writing style ¢ Accuracy ¢ Presentation (Observation of the conventions of academic writing) ¢

CRITICAL ESSAY WRITING SKILLS Critical thinking skills (Adapted from http: //www. bized. co. uk/reference/studyskills/essay. htm)

How to improve your technique: some general principles ¢ ¢ ¢ ¢ Essays need a structure Essays must be a response to a specific title Do not forget the essay title Avoid one-sided essays Demonstrate your depth of knowledge Remember the higher order skills of analysis and evaluation Use appropriate language (Adapted from http: //www. bized. co. uk/reference/studyskills/essay. htm)

The essay plan - a suggested model (Adapted from http: //www. bized. co. uk/reference/studyskills/essay. htm)