Writing Essays Tamara OConnor Sylvia Mooney Student Learning

Writing Essays Tamara O’Connor & Sylvia Mooney Student Learning Development Student Counselling Service 896 -1407 student. learning@tcd. ie http: //student-learning. tcd. ie

Writing Stages/Phases 4 Planning 4 Thinking 4 Researching Plan Think 4 Writing 4 Editing Write

Planning the assignment 4 Understand the question – Breakdown – Verbs 4 Requirements – Length, Wording – Referencing 4 Establish Time Frame

Planning time frame 4 List tasks – Preliminaries – Gathering Information – Organising Information – Rough outline – Draft 1 – Draft 2 – References – Proofreading 4 Create deadlines – _____________ – _____________ – _______

Thinking 4 Brainstorm – Ideas – What know – Try mindmapping 4 Preliminary reading 4 Refine topic 4 Continues throughout process

Discuss the contribution of nursing models to the development of practice 4 Key Words? – Discuss – Nursing model – Practice 4 Key themes & arguments – Define model – Arguments – Advantages & Disadvantages of using models

Structure 4 Introduction – outline of essay 4 Main section – Main point A • details, evidence – Main point B 4 Conclusion – summary of main points – personal conclusions

Researching 4 Rough outline 4 Gather information relevant to topic 4 Keep good notes – organise content according to outline – choose what to include 4 Keep references 4 Digest and reflect on information

Writing 4 Start writing early – extend outline – one idea or section at a time – get something down! 4 Write first, rough draft 4 Revise & improve draft 4 How many drafts?

Develop your argument 4 Use source material 4 Compare and contrast 4 Show awareness of complexities 4 Show line of reasoning – link points – central guiding line 4 Your conclusions - based on evidence

References Why? 4 Credit sources of information & ideas 4 Reader can locate for further information if required 4 Demonstrate breadth of reading & knowledge

References When? u Direct quotes u Paraphrases u Statistics/Studies u Theories u Interpretations u Facts

Plagiarism 4 Using someone’s words or ideas and presenting them as your own (Marshall & Rowland, 1998) 4 Inappropriate use of ideas from books, articles, internet, or other students’ work ? ? ?

References 4 How? – Reference system e. g. Harvard – Record sources – Take careful notes – Reference list – In-text citing or referencing

Sample marking criteria 4 Focusing on a topic 4 Presentation 4 Structuring an essay 4 Referencing 4 Content 4 Evidence of language 4 Formulating arguments skills 4 Use of learning resources

Editing 4 Proof read – out loud – time out – peer 4 Write up references 4 Final draft – presentation

Submit! 4 Final deadline 4 Checklist 4 Feedback