‘HOW TO’ GUIDES
HOW TO WRITE ESSAYS & REPORTS
POWER THROUGH YOUR ESSAY - some tips to help you think through the writing process.
COURSEWORK ESSAYS
Consider what exactly the title is asking:
-Identify the broad topic by highlighting the main “content” words or themes.
-Identify which particular aspect of the topic the essay question is focusing on.
-Underline the instruction word(s) eg. discuss/compare/evaluate.
-If there are different sections to the question, work out what proportion should be devoted to each.
Plan
Mindmap what you already know. Decide which particular aspects will be relevant for answering the essay question.
Select the reading you need to do. Be guided by any gaps in your knowledge. Take notes and develop your ideas,
keeping a record of your sources.
Organise
Start with core texts to consolidate your understanding, then move onto wider reading using the bibliographies as a
starting point to find further sources. Discard any material that is not totally relevant to answering your question. Be
very strict.
Create an outline for your essay. Organise your ideas into a logical structure and make brief notes on each paragraph.
Try printing them off and cutting them up so you can easily rearrange them into a more suitable order.
•In your introduction you should:
-Explain how you intend to address the question and organise your essay.
-Refer briefly to the context or background to the topic.
-Clearly define any ambiguity in the question and justify your choice.
•In the main body of text, for each paragraph, you should: PIECE it together -
Write
Point
State your main point/point of view in relation to the question asked.
Integrate
Discuss how your point links to the title, previous paragraphs and argument that you are making.
Does each paragraph lead naturally into the next? Is your signposting adequate?
Evidence
What are your reasons for making this point and what evidence is there to back it up? (e.g. examples, statistics,
facts, reasoning by respected academics in the field).
Critique
Do others agree with your point of view/the evidence? What are the reasons/evidence for other views?
Evaluate
What are the strengths and weaknesses of these different perspectives? Why is your point of view convincing?
Show that you have interacted with the information; examined and weighed its value and relevance.
Evaluate if you have presented your points in the most logical and fluent order. Have you included everything
you need? Is there adequate support for your ideas? Are your examples well-chosen?
•In your conclusion you should:
-Draw together the main ideas and give (or reiterate) a firm or tentative answer to the question.
-Suggest the implications of your findings and potential further study or future trends.
Is there anything that could be left out of the essay? Are there any unnecessary explanations or repetitions? Does
everything focus on the question that has been asked? Check: grammar/spelling, your overall organisation, that your
paragraphs link fluidy, that you have not plagiarised and your bibliography is complete.
Edit
After a break (a few days is ideal) read your essay again. Is your style consistent?
Reread
Is any of the language too emotive? Are there colloquialisms or clichés? Have you used abbreviations anywhere?
Does the style sound too chatty and informal? Does the style sound natural? Is this your voice?
Make a second draft, checking through the PIECE process.
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Take note of the tips mentioned overleaf when writing a report, but remember also
the following conventions required of a scientific report. This involves structuring your
report in the following way:
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Title
This should provide a succinct statement of the core purpose of the research.
Abstract
A brief summary of the most important information in the report:
- what the research involved.
- what the key results were.
- which hypotheses were tested and whether these were supported.
Most readers will use the abstract to decide whether the report is relevant
and worth reading so it must be concise and accurate.
Introduction
This provides:
- the background and general context of the topic.
- the theories and relevant research that relate to the background.
- introduction to the specific hypotheses to be examined.
Methods
This should:
- be an accurate and concise report of the procedures used to collect data.
- provide all the necessary information needed for the reader to replicate
your research.
“It’s easier
to write the
abstract
after you
have finished
the report.
Check you
have included
everything
using your
subheadings”
“In the
methods,
it’s really
handy to use
numbered
bullet points
instead of
long written
paragraphs”
Results
This should:
- be an accurate and concise description of the results with supporting evidence from statistical analysis.
- give an outline of the basic strategies used to analyse the data.
- use tables and figures to illustrate and support your data.
Discussion
This should:
- report on your research findings and their significance, relating them to the
existing literature.
- involve critical appraisal and a balanced interpretation of the experimental outcomes (i.e. the ability to make links between your study and previous
research, pick out the most relevant points and relate them to the hypothesis
tested).
- outline the limitations of your study.
- include implications of your outcomes for the field as a whole.
Conclusion
This draws together the key points of the discussion in a succinct way and
makes recommendations for future research.
References
The references section provides information about the source of all the
research which has been referred to in the report. It should be formatted correctly, in the style required by your department.
How to…
This section is used for any supplementary material too large to incorporate in
the Method or Results sections and not essential for the report to make sense.
Read effectively
Appendix
Have you seen the
other Guides in
this series?
Manage your time
Write essays & reports
Reference & avoid
plagiarism
Manage exams
Give presentations
Manage groupwork
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