Essay Tips

Undisclosed Industries

Structure
Point 1: Basics

The basic structure of the essay should suggest itself from the question.

Writing drafts: normally a waste of day; theyre not marked under normal circumstances. The
exception is for exceedingly complicated and/or exceedingly long assignments.

Essays test what you know (facts) and then, in most cases, arguments (which includes the merits and
criticisms of the arguments) Deal with facts first, then argue.

Structure for persuasive essay: These are the issues, these are the approaches, and, if you are going
to do something, this is the best approach and this is why it is the best approach.
o Must prove
o Be sympathetic, then criticize.

Point 2: The Information Highway

To maintain a logical flow of content while minimizing research/reading time, think in terms of the
information highway. More organic, more dynamic, the information highway introduces procedural
flexibility without compromising the assignments structural integrity.
o When you read relevant information that is coverage. Coverage comprises breadth and
length.
Length of Coverage: the MAIN POINTS (arguments and facts) you need to make.

When you read a variety of sources, the main points will suggest
themselves via repetition.

Think generally, not specifically.

Sequence the points together in your MIND, not on Word. Saves yips of
time.

Divide your main points into your word/page count, either by weight or by
integer.
Breadth of Coverage: expanding the main points with as much relevant information
as can be concisely included within the determined word limit for each point.

Think specifically, not generally.

You do not have to decide the content of the breadth of coverage for each
main point until you come to write it.

These include examples, or case studies, to demonstrate or prove your

Point 3: Default Structure

Google the instructive terms in essays questions (describe, analyse, etc) and follow them exactly.

If a topic is broad, qualify it through examining only a part of it as an example.

The Introduction

The very first sentence says something sexy yet non-contentious, commanding attention without
provoking ire.

The second and sometimes third sentences link the first sentence with the thesis sentence(s).

The thesis constitutes the final sentence(s) of the introduction, unless sentence(s) outlining the
informational progression of the essay are necessary.
o The thesis states briefly on what point the essay will inform and/or persuade the reader. It is
the proposition to be proved or expanded upon.

Things Known as Paragraphs

Dont be afraid to write mini introductions for subsections of the essay, but keep em tight. The para
introduction represents the one and only point of that para; likewise for the main intro in terms of the
entire essay.

Dont forget linking sentences between paras if necessary.

Conclusion

Either a:
o Summary - in which case you restate your essays main points and/or show how you proved
your thesis.
o Summary with Prescription - in which case you make a recommendation based on the points
you proved in addition to the above.

Style
There are different types of sentences. Use them.
o Simple (The cat sat on the mat)
o Compound (The cat sat on the mat, but the dog sat on the chair)
o Complex (While the dog sat on the chair, the cat sat on the mat)
o Short sentences. (The cat sat).
Style variants
o The dash its very cool.
o Start with a Who, What, Where, Why, What start. When Napoleon invaded Russia...
o Adverbs, verbals, and prepositions.
o The semicolon ; This cuts down use of and.
o Alliteration and assonance. Use sparingly. Some solutions were not so easily solicited ...
o Colons. Good for the following: lists, and expounding on the final word in detail before the
colon.
o Use commas and semi colons to convey similar units of information.
o Only use big words where they convey the sense more precisely.
o Write in the active verb form.
o Have something to say and say it as clearly as possible. That is the only secret of style.
o Writing a little bit every day is more effective than writing your essay in one hit.

Sources

Use a broad base.

Objectivity = many sources.

Go for shorter academic works like articles and periodicals. These take less time to read than books.

Quotes: you must show the relationship of the quote with the essay.

Google books and amazon books previews are your friends. So are these pirate websites:
o [Link]
o [Link]
o [Link]
o [Link]
o [Link]
o [Link]
o [Link]

Exam Writing

The sixty second plan

The introduction is preferably only a thesis statement.

It is not how much you write, but what you write that counts. Four A4 pages per hour is fine.

Be specific as possible.

Use subheadings and paragraphs.

Plan your time.

Dont read, study. Studying is reading something 200 times over. So, you need to study only
RELEVANT information.