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Proper referencing is vital to avoid plagiarism and maintain academic integrity. The article outlines six essential steps for writing effective essays. It also stresses the need for a well-crafted conclusion. Finally, students are advised to revise their essays, proofread it and make necessary adjustments before submitting the final draft.
6 Essentials steps when writing Essays
Any good essay begins with understanding the question. When it comes to writing university essays, students often need help to fully comprehend what is required of them, which is where they end up losing vital marks. If you are unsure of where to start, begin by carefully reading through the question, and pinpoint the keyword used in the question - most of the time, words such as “discuss,” “evaluate,” “analyse,” or “compare” will be used as singular prompts however, two keywords can be used in parallel. So, what do these keywords actually mean?
Discuss - Discussions require the student to make a case for or against the topic of the essay, by pointing out the possible advantages and disadvantages.
Evaluate - The main purpose of this type of essay is to provide an in-depth overview of a topic, concept or idea, without making it biassed. As such, ‘evaluate’ essays should stay as impartial as possible.
Analyse - An essay which prompts students to analyse is, essentially, requesting the careful selection of evidence that argues for, or against, a topic, which will help students arrive at a single, well-constructed argument.
Compare - Comparing often prompts students to identify similarities and differences between two objects, concepts or ideas. Including what similarities and differences are more important than others can bring higher points.
Contrast - Identify possible similarities and differences.
Justify - Although slightly harder than some of the aforementioned prompts, justifying a topic, concept or idea requires a statement of why the student thinks something is so, followed by a balanced argument.
Make sure that you check all Learning Outcomes stated by the brief, and then you should cover each of them in your essay.
Should you find yourself unable to understand the question posed, don’t forget that your lecturers are always available for consultation!
No essay is ever truly perfect without some research and planning. Although the extent to which the research has to be carried out will vary depending on the length of the topic, and the available information on it, being prepared will help students build much-needed confidence on the topic. So, where do we start?
Begin your research by analysing the topic through textbooks, and gradually narrow it down through journal articles, books, and reliable online resources. It is important to remember that points are often awarded for a varying selection of sources, which means that including at least 3 books and 5 academic journals should be a minimum when writing a higher-education essay. Students unsure of where and how to find reliable sources of information can explore our Academic Resources guide here.
Finish off your preparation with an essay plan. Outlining the topics you will cover, and the order in which they will be presented, is important as it will act as a step-by-step guide for students when writing the essay, ensuring that they do not miss out on key ideas or arguments. Furthermore, outlining allows the writer not only to survey the information they are presenting but also to plan how he or she will communicate with the audience, and the tone that the essay will take on. This is particularly helpful in cases where students should make a note of different types of essay styles, such as more formal ones, like reports, or informal ones, such as self-evaluation. Ideally, an outline should always include, at minimum, the following points:
- Introduction
- Main Body
- Conclusion
- References
Writing an essay that is both compelling and successful starts with developing a solid thesis. Instead of just summarising sources, students ought to interact critically with the content. This entails not only summarising the opinions of academics but also dissecting their reasoning, challenging presumptions, and assessing the reliability of the data they offer. Students who use critical thinking can make connections between many sources, point out areas where the study is lacking, and provide their interpretations, leading to higher points.
For essays, originality is crucial; students should develop their position on the subject and back it up with reliable data. Just citing a source in support of your argument is insufficient; you also need to explain how it fits into the larger discussion and why it is for or against it. Furthermore, addressing the opposite argument can further strengthen your essay. No matter the side of the argument you’ve taken, by considering the advantages or disadvantages of the opposite argument, you are showing critical thinking and impartiality.
Writing your conclusion is simply repeating the information from the essay in a very brief and simple way. Sentences such as: in our essay we covered this and that. Or As we discussed in the essay…. These are typical approaches, however you can always come up with something authentic. So be creative!
Precise referencing is essential for maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. When it comes to using in-text citations, bibliographies, and footnotes, common referencing styles like Harvard, APA, MLA, and Chicago have their distinct guidelines which you need to be aware of. Therefore, students must adhere to the style specified by their department, which is most commonly the Harvard referencing style. Furthermore, consistent referencing not only acknowledges the original authors but also makes it easier for readers, mainly your tutors and lecturers, to locate sources, thereby increasing the essay's credibility.
Whether deliberate or inadvertent, plagiarism can have negative effects on a student’s academic record, ranging from point loss to more serious sanctions. Therefore, you should ensure that all sources are credited correctly, even when paraphrasing arguments, to prevent problems from arising. If you are unsure how to check for plagiarism, you can try using plagiarism detectors which can help you find any inadvertent errors before turning in the essay.
Perfection takes practice; and time. As such, students should always ensure that they complete their first draft, check it, and make the appropriate changes needed, before giving it in. Proofreading can include things such as spellchecking, checking for clarity, coherence, and argument structure or even adding or removing existing arguments. To achieve the best results, students should take breaks between drafts to ensure that they are reading their work with a fresh eye!
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