AS/A Level Business
Studies – Essay Writing
Mr. Spicer
What is an essay?
• An essay is usually a short piece of
writing which is quite often written
from an author's personal point of
view.
• A written composition of moderate
length exploring a particular issue
or subject.
• A short literary composition on a
single subject, usually presenting
the personal view of the author.
• A method of examination, or
homework, by which a student
presents his/her knowledge of the
subject by writing a composition.
Essay Writing
Essays remain an important method of assessment
and enable examiners to discriminate between
candidates, while also enabling candidates to display
the skills and abilities which they possess.
The pyramid of skills
• Professor Roy Wilkinson of
Sheffield University has
identified a pyramid of skills
which A level examinations try
to test.
• The bottom two layers are
'Lower-order skills', while the
top four layers are 'Higherorder skills'.
• As there is now less emphasis
on testing the lower order
skills this implies that it is not
possible for candidates to
perform well in the essay
paper by rote learning of
notes.
Command words in essay titles
Examiners report that many candidates underperform because they fail to interpret the key
words of an essay title. Below is a glossary of some of the most frequently used command
words with suggestions for interpretation:
• 'Account for ...'
Explain how a particular event or situation came about, i.e. 'Which factors would have led a
large retailing company to...'
• 'Analyse ...'
Break down an argument or information into component parts and identify ways in which
these parts are related. Always recognise the underlying assumptions.
• 'Analyse the extent to which ...'
Show judgement over the relevant importance of different arguments or events.
• 'Assess ...
'Make some kind of judgement on the relative importance of a particular aspect of Business
Studies, discussing the influence of other factors or events that influence the topic.
• 'Compare ...'
Describe two or more situations and show the difference and similarities between them.
• 'Criticise ...'
Present a view on a particular argument, point of view or theory, based on the evidence
available.
Command words in essay titles continued
• 'Define ...'
A simple statement is not enough. Use appropriate examples or
formulae to illustrate and elaborate on your precise definition of a
concept.
• 'Describe ...'
Usually more than a mere description is expected, instead a critical
review of some particular set of circumstances or events is usually
expected.
• 'Discuss ...'
Consider the arguments for and against the issue raised in the question.
• 'Distinguish ...'
Candidates need to show that they understand the differences between
two (probably frequently confused) concepts. Similarities and
differences need to be discussed and illustrated in distinguishing
between the two concepts.
• 'Do ...' or 'Does ...'
Make a judgement on whether on set of circumstances is preferable to
another.
Command words in essay titles continued
• 'Evaluate ...'
Make reasoned judgements about the validity of a particular argument
or statement, presenting evidence and reasoned argument of all
relevant issues involved.
• 'Examine ...'
Candidates need to unravel the events that led to a particular set of
circumstances or the validity of the reasoning that underlies a particular
point of view. Stress the relative importance of the different arguments
and their relevance to the basic issue under consideration.
• 'Explain ...'
Interpret the meaning of a particular concept with an example to
illustrate understanding.
• 'Outline ...'
Only a brief description is required. Usually there are follow up parts to
this question.
• 'To what extent ...'
This implies there is no definite answer to the question posed. Present
both sides of the argument and exercise judgement by stressing the
strength of some arguments over others.
How to improve your technique:
some general principles
• Essays need a structure
– jot down a simple plan
– make sure you know where the essay is going before you start writing, i.e.
your conclusion
• Essays must be a response to a specific title
– avoid writing everything you know on a given topic, irrelevant material gains
no marks
– respond to the command words in the question
• Do not forget the essay title
– refer back to the question regularly - probably at the end of every paragraph
– every paragraph should answer the question set, aim for one theme per
paragraph
• Avoid one-sided essays
– usually the only questions that A level examiners will set are ones which can
provoke differing viewpoints
– always consider what your argument depends upon, i.e. the factors or
assumptions inherent in your argument
How to improve your technique:
some general principles - continued
• Demonstrate your depth of knowledge
– analyse the question with care to show your understanding of the subject
content
– avoid paragraphs of textbook description
– use appropriate graphs which must be accurate
– use topical examples to back up your points
– make references to other writers if appropriate
• Remember the higher order skills of analysis and evaluation
–
–
–
–
break down the material in a way that helps reveal the issues involved
use relevant business concepts to explore causes and effects
examine arguments critically
state which arguments you believe to be the most important and why
• Try to please the examiners!
–
–
–
–
use appropriate concepts and terminology
avoid slang, e.g. 'The firm will go bust...'
be concise and relevant
leave enough time to write a conclusion
The essay plan - a suggested model
An example essay – ‘Are cats good
pets?’
The essay below demonstrates the principles of writing a basic essay. The different parts of
the essay have been labeled. The thesis statement is in bold, the topic sentences are in
italics, and each main point is underlined. When you write your own essay, of course, you
will not need to mark these parts of the essay. They are marked here just so that you can
more easily identify them.
"A dog is man's best friend." That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not
the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their
best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent housepets as they are
good companions, they are civilized members of the household, and they are easy to care
for.
In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They
will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. Who can resist a purring
cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase
balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy
playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats
can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to
avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch!
An example essay – ‘Are cats good
pets?’
In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats
do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They
generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have "accidents." Mother cats train
their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on.
Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly.
Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a
favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As
a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed.
Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of care. Cats do
not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do
their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also
take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under
ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more particular about personal
cleanliness than people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without
fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are
content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.
Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living quarters or
less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However, many people
who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love the cat
personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal housepet.