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1. Planning. Think ahead clearly, before you begin, about how you want to put your essay together, what you want to say, and the nature of the relevant material. Strict deadlines can tempt you to put something on the page as soon as possible, but thorough planning will save you time by making the writing phase that much smoother.

2. Specifications. Are there any particular specs which must be followed? If so the structure of your essay should reflect the demands of the work. Discursive essays, analytical essays, critical reflections and reports each require different approaches.

3. editing. Having completed the necessary reading or other research, you must consider carefully what ‘makes the final cut’. Some material will have emerged as centrally important, some useful in support, and some more or less irrelevant. Decide what is in and what is out.

businessman with a vision4. Logical argumentation. The external material may already fall into clear relationships, but where does your argument fit in, and how does it progress? More analytical essays will require evidence of logical progression of thought that is internally consistent and responsive to the work of others.

5. Development. Much of the structure of your essay will be determined by the source material and the progression of your own arguments, but it can be necessary to organise these further into a common arc. One example would be to begin with a review of classic texts, move onto an analysis of more recent works, then introduce original reflections and identify interesting new trends.

6. Introduction. Your opening section should outline your intended approach, refer directly to the question or title, and define key terms if necessary. This will set the tone for the entire piece and should be seen as an opportunity to demonstrate a proper engagement will the requirements of the work.

7. Body paragraphs. The main bulk of the text, this is where discussions are given full treatment and arguments can be developed. Aim to give each paragraph a particular direction and purpose, each one building substantially from the last.

8. Topic sentences. In each body paragraph you should aim to clarify as early as possible the line of argument or direction of thought. From here you can move on to referencing source material and developing a convincing analysis.

9. Subheadings. Effective use of subheadings can serve not only to clarify expression, but encourage clarity of thought. Generally subheadings should be used only when specified, but when employing them you can typically reduce the amount of exposition and directly address the designated issues.

10. Conclusion. More than just a restatement of your thoughts and findings, a good conclusion should also aim to synthesise the material and tie the piece together. This gives the reader their final impression of your work, and should be accorded due significance. Above all else, make sure you address the question.

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1. Confidence. It can be rather daunting to set about heavily critiquing authoritative texts, and takes some courage to put out fresh ideas of your own. As long as you are comfortable with the basic requirements of essay writing and academic conventions, you should be assured in your intellectual abilities and have the confidence to take a risk.

2. Unusual sources. Everyone’s ideas are informed by the other material out there. Rather than sticking to the basic texts or standard sources, consider following the footnotes to more unusual areas to find challenging new ideas in unexpected places.

3. Often originality will emerge after a long familiarity with central, core source materials and more contemporary and less established texts. In writing your essay, aim to move on quickly from repetitive discussions and cut to the chase. Establish the bulk of your analysis in new and emerging areas of research.

4. Critical perspective. A critical engagement with the available literature is essential for any hope of finding fresh and original ideas. Be on the look out for unwarranted assumptions in the arguments of others, and don’t be afraid to challenge these as you see fit. Disrupt the normal lines of argument to establish an original voice in your work.

5. Academic rigour. Only in mastering the basics can you reasonably hope to move on to more exciting and original substance in your writing. Familiarise yourself with the conventions of writing an academic essay, and with the standard lines of inquiry in your given subject area.

6. Wide reading and research. Originality seldom comes from isolated genius, but from critical exposure to the literature. Read widely and engage at a serious level with the available and relevant research in order to lay the foundations for originality in your essay.

7. Unorthodoxy. By choosing from the outset to adopt an unusual or marginal argumentative position, you set yourself a considerable challenge by aligning yourself against the weight of opinion. However, you will also increase the likelihood of demonstrating original ideas and avenues of inquiry. Be assured that you will be judged not on the position you take, but on the strength of your arguments.

8. Organisation. Often the main thrust of the major paragraphs in your essay will be determined by the material to which you are referring, and the references may well present an obvious set of relationships. Chronological arrangement is common as it represents the development of ideas; consider juxtaposing classic and contemporary sources to provoke new insights.

9. Language. It remains important always to use appropriate linguistic conventions and maintain the academic register throughout. Nevertheless, adopting a slightly more assertive tone can lift the quality of your writing by emphasising your own critical perspective and moving away from tired repetition of familiar discussions.

10. Outside theories. Many academic disciplines treasure a certain corpus of theoretical approaches. Occasionally, however, it is possible to bring in theoretical ideas from other related disciplines to shed a new light on old material. Such a tactic can be very enlightening, but be sure to do so only when your grasp of the outside theory is assured.

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1. Take a stand. As an undergraduate you are not necessarily always required to produce a cool, detached and balanced piece. Often the strong development of a particular thread of argument can be more rewarding, and can be countered later in seminars or group discussions.

2. Balance. The counterpoint to the previous tip, but not its contradiction. Even if you aim to take up a certain position strongly, demonstrate your recognition of the countervailing opinions. Showing that you have considered alternative positions confers a certain credibility.

3. What is it for? Aim to get the most personal educational benefit out of your work by considering why it was set, what you are expected to learn, and how it relates to the rest of your studies. Think about the module you are working towards and its objectives.

4. Be an undergraduate. You have finished school, but have taken only the first step into higher education; you must live up to newer, higher academic standards, but must also be mindful that you have barely scratched the surface of your subject. Don’t assume you know it all.

5. Read widely. Deep engagement with the relevant literature is the single most important prerequisite for high attainment in your essays. Demonstrate wide reading through your work with copious references and involved discussion of appropriate source material. Wide reading also helps you generate your own ideas.essay writing tips

6. Broad knowledge base. Often an undergraduate essay will require the consideration of a topic previously alien to you. It is therefore necessary either to have a broad knowledge base to begin with, or to become comfortable with grasping unfamiliar ideas, which will in turn eventually increase your general knowledge. Don’t be intimidated by the unfamiliar.

7. A variety of sources. Use all of the sources available to you to ensure that you have the most useful material, and as a demonstration of your research skills (much prized in academia). Libraries, academic and clinical journals, research papers, e-journals, newspapers, internet sources, and so on.

8. Sound use of language. Quite apart from the content and substance of your essay, the written document is an exercise in language. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are problems easier to solve than most others, so don’t let little errors slip you by.

9. Strong analysis. In writing undergraduate essays you are expected to increase substantially the level of critical, argumentative and analytical content. Pure description is never enough, and must only be used in support of rigorous analysis and logical argumentation.

10. Plan and structure. Consider each essay to be a substantial and valuable piece of work, and plan ahead to ensure you write it as well as possible. Think in advance about what you want to say, how best to express it, and the material necessary to support it, then synthesis an appropriate plan.

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