Essay Writing
Dr. Mark Matthews
Student Learning Development
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Discussion (5 mins)
1. How do you go about completing an
assignment?
2. When do you start?
3. How do you get from the question to a
completed answer?
1 Thing you would like help with today
Writing Stages/Phases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Planning
Thinking
Researching
Writing
Editing
Plan
Think
Write
Planning the assignment
• Understand the question
– Breakdown
– Verbs
• Requirements
– Length, Wording
– Referencing
Planning time frame
• List tasks
– Preliminaries
– Gathering
Information
– Organising
Information
– Rough outline
– Draft 1
– Draft 2
– References
– Proofreading
• Create deadlines
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Brainstorm
ideas
Organise
Key message
planning
What do you
want to say?
Structure
writing
Communicating
your ideas
Thinking
• Brainstorm
– Ideas
– What know
– Try mindmapping
• Preliminary reading
• Refine topic
• Continues throughout process
Questions?
• Who are your readers ?
• Why are they reading?
• What is your goal?
Structure
• Introduction
– outline of essay
• Main section
– Main point A
• details, evidence
– Main point B
• Conclusion
– summary of main points
– personal conclusions
Discuss the contribution of nursing
models to the development of practice
• Key Words?
– Discuss
– Nursing model
– Practice
• Key themes & arguments
– Define model
– Arguments
– Advantages & Disadvantages of using models
Discuss the contribution of nursing
models to the development of practice
Key Message:
The are well-identified weaknesses with the
dominant Nursing model that are
overcome by using the new Vygotsky
model.
Outlining – Level 1
1. Nursing and models
2. History of models
3. The Markov Model: Strengths &
Weaknesses
4. An alternative: Vygotsky
5. Conclusions
Outlining – Level 2
1.
Nursing and models
1.1 Brief history of Nursing practice
1.2 The purpose of a model
2. History of models
2.1 The first model
2.2 Development and timeline.
3. The Markov Model: Strengths & Weaknesses
3.1 What is the model
3.2 Strengths
3.3 Weaknesses
4. An alternative: Vygotsky
4.1 What is Vygotsky Model
4.2 How overcomes weaknesses
5. Conclusions
Outlining – Level 3
1.
Nursing and models
1.1 Brief history of Nursing practice
•
Began formally 1790 (Nightingale)
•
Largely disorganised
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Original mission to heal…
1.2 The purpose of a model
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Because of disorganisation, model.
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Argument for a model.
2. History of models
2.1 The first model
Johnson 1820
2.2 Development and timeline.
Model A
Model B
3. The Markov Model: Strengths & Weaknesses
3.1 What is the model
Multi-team.
3.2 Strengths
3.3 Weaknesses
Level 3
Title: The Hazards of Moviegoing
Introduction
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Introductory statement
Thesis statement: I like watching movies but I prefer watching them at
home.
Body
First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): just getting to the theater presents
difficulties
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•
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bad weather
long drive and limited parking space
long waiting to buy ticket
Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): facing the problems of the theater
itself
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old theater's problems such as smelly carpet, worn-out seat, etc
new theater's problems such as smaller size, noise from next movie theater,
etc
both floors will be rubber-like dirty at the end of the movie
•
Third Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): Some of the patrons are annoying
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bad behavior such as running, talking loud, etc
human noise and disturbance
Conclusion
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Closing statement
Restate thesis: I prefer to watch movies at home where it is
comfortable, clean and safe.
Introduction Outline (5 mins)
1.
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Good health v. imp
Welfare
Economic development
Social development
2. WHO’s goal
• Healthcare for all
• Balanced with countries able to pay for this
3. This report :
• What can be done to change health systems to achieve universal
coverage
• Builds on new research and countries experience
The world health report - Health systems financing: the path to
universal coverage
Good health is essential to human welfare and to sustained economic
and social development.
WHO's Member States have set themselves the target of developing their health
financing systems to ensure that all people can use health services, while being
protected against financial hardship associated with paying for them.
In this report, the World Health Organization maps out what countries can do to
modify their financing systems so they can move more quickly towards this goal;
it builds on new research and lessons learnt from country
experience.
Taken from Executive Summary to WHO report: http://www.who.int/whr/2010/en/index.html
The world health report - Health systems financing: the path to
universal coverage
Good health is essential to human welfare and to sustained economic
and social development. WHO's Member States have set themselves the target
of developing their health financing systems to ensure that all people can use
health services, while being protected against financial hardship associated with
paying for them. In this report, the World Health Organization maps out what
countries can do to modify their financing systems so they can move more
quickly towards this goal; it builds on new research and lessons learnt from
Country experience.
Taken from Executive Summary to WHO report: http://www.who.int/whr/2010/en/index.html
Reading & Researching
• Bring evidence in as witnesses
• Gather information relevant to topic
• Keep good notes
– organise content according to outline
– choose what to include
• Keep references
• Digest and reflect on information
Writing
• Start writing early
– extend outline
– one idea or section at a time
– get something down!
• Write first, rough draft
• Revise & improve draft
• How many drafts?
Develop your argument
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Use source material
Compare and contrast
Show awareness of complexities
Show line of reasoning
– link points
– central guiding line
• Your conclusions - based on evidence
References
Why?
• Credit sources of information & ideas
• Reader can locate for further information if
required
• Demonstrate breadth of reading & knowledge
References
When?
 Direct
quotes
 Paraphrases
 Statistics/Studies
 Theories
 Interpretations
 Facts
Plagiarism
• Using someone’s words or ideas and
presenting them as your own (Marshall &
Rowland, 1998)
• Inappropriate use of ideas from books,
articles, internet, or other students’ work
???
Referencing
• Harvard referencing system
• Endnote
• Library video
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/support/referencing.php
• Cite2Write
http://www.cs.qub.ac.uk/emm/10170987/cite2write/
Sample marking criteria
•
•
•
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Focusing on a topic
Structuring an essay
Content
Formulating
arguments
• Presentation
• Referencing
• Evidence of language
skills
• Use of learning
resources
Editing
• Proof read
– out loud
– time out
– peer
• Write up references
• Final draft
– presentation
Submit!
• Final deadline
• Checklist
• Feedback
Student Learning Development
Visit our website at:
http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Email qs to
student.learning@tcd.ie
Phone us on
01-8961407