Monday 27th September 2010
By Jennifer Keith
ESSAY WRITING + TIPS
=
SUCCESS!
Is this you????
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You don’t answer the question – you use a one-size-fits-all essay and pretend that it answers the
question, or you just waffle on about anything vaguely related to the topic.
You have a ‘good understanding’ of the subject – but you still can’t write an essay.
You write ‘too little’ – what you write is good, but how can you be given top marks if you don’t
say half as much as another student?
You keep repeating yourself instead of developing your ideas further - you’ve got nothing more
to say, you’re wasting paper and ink!
You have poor expression and use language badly – if you don’t understand it then who will…
You all write the same answer – a bit of originality or imagination wouldn’t go astray, in English
at least!
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Ever had feedback from a teacher that sounded like any of the above in bold? Ever seen the word
‘ESSAY’ in the exam question and freaked out?
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Then this tutorial is for YOU!!!!!!
What is an essay?
 “An essay is a sustained argument developing
or weighing the evidence about an idea or
question, and creating a full and satisfying
conclusion.”
- McLaren, Excel: HSC Essay Writing Made Easy
(1995)
 “One darned thing after another…” - Aldous Huxley
Why write in 4, 5, 6, 7 or even
8 pages, what can be said in a
few paragraphs???
 The process of writing an essay is NOT about
‘padding’ things out or stretching them for
unnecessary writing.
 Did you know that The Essay is actually a
structure that is used for writing speeches or
feature articles, to name a couple?
 An essay without an argument and an
organised structure is a ‘pile of junk’. SORRY!
 The Essay is nothing more than ideas,
supported by evidence.
• An essay can have many purposes, but the basic
structure is the same no matter what. You may
be writing an essay to argue for a particular point
of view or to explain the steps necessary to
complete a task. Either way, your essay will have
the same basic format. If you follow a few simple
steps, you will find that the essay almost writes
itself. You will be responsible only for supplying
ideas, which are the important part of the essay
anyway.
Don't let the thought of putting pen to
paper scare you. Get started!
 The purpose of an essay is to establish a ‘case’
and prove it as fully and convincingly as
possible.
The Essay Stucture...
 What exactly is involved in the structure of an
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essay?
INTRODUCTION
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPHS
-1
-2
-3
-4
CONCLUSION
DON’T START YET!!!!!
 Step 1: PLAN YOUR ESSAY
 You: “But I need all the time I have to get my
ideas onto paper!”
 Me: “WRONG!”
 Underline the important or keywords in the
question.
Key words
Analyse: Divide the subject into its parts, discuss the
relation of these parts, look at causes and relations.
Argue: Present a discussion for or against a proposition.
Assess: Measure something; its worth, importance,
magnitude, etc.
Comment: An open-ended task, but focus on whatever
you’re asked to comment on or about.
Compare: Discuss the items, usually starting with their
similarities, but also considering differences.
Consider: Take into account. Often this word is giving you a
‘hint’!
Contrast: similar to ‘compare’, but emphasise the differences.
Define: Give a clear meaning for a concept or topic.
Describe: Give an overall picture. Try to relate this to the
question as a whole.
Discuss: Provide details and argue a point of view about this
topic.
Explain: Give reasons for or about an event or idea.
Outline: similar to ‘summarise’, but emphasise the overall
picture.
Relate: Make connections between points.
State: Set out your ideas or reasons.
Summarise: give the broad picture and essential facts; don’t tell
the story or get too detailed.
 Analyse how the experiences of the journey
are brought to life by the writer.(3)
 Discuss ONE way in which this reflection
offers a perspective on journeys. (2)
 Compare and contrast the representations of
journey in any TWO of these texts.
In your discussion, comment on the form and
features of both texts. (5)
Create a mind-map
Step 2: Write an Outline
 Begin your outline by writing your topic at the top
of the page.
 Next, write the Roman numerals I, II, and III, spread
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down the left side of the page.
Next to each Roman numeral, write ‘introduction’,
‘body of essay’ and ‘conclusion’
Within each part, use A, B and C as sub-points to
help you.
For the ‘body of essay’, each A, B and C will have
numbers to help you
(refer to handout)
Step 3 in Planning: P.I.E.
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Ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is the basic Point of my essay?
What is my overall point of view on this topic?
What is my perspective or position on the essay question? Do I agree or
disagree?
What do I want to argue?
2. What Information do I need to include that supports my main theme?
What are the broad general topics I want to develop in my essay?
What topics give the strongest support to my argument?
3. What Evidence do I need to explain and support the topic of each paragraph?
What information do I need to demonstrate my point of view to the reader? This
may include statistics, quotes, facts or theories.
How will I link this information together to logically support the point of each
paragraph and my overall argument?
Now you are ready to begin!
 WARNING: Avoid the use of ‘I’ in your essay.
Eg, ‘I think’, ‘I believe’, etc
 Your essay is your point of view!
Composing an Intoduction
 The introduction tells the reader what the
essay will be about, and what point you, the
author, will be making.
 Re-look at your outline. What do the main
ideas and supporting evidence that you listed
say about your topic?
 The introduction will have two parts:
 The first part states the topic.
 The second part states the point of the essay.
Once you have established an introduction that
fits this pattern and with which you are
comfortable, you are ready to continue...
Writing the Body Paragraphs
 This is where your essay and all that
preparation comes to fruition! The topic you
are writing about must now be explained,
described, or argued.
 If you had 3 or 4 main ideas, you will have 3 or
4 body paragraphs.
 Each body paragraph will have the same
basic structure.
Tips for paragraph structure...
It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
 Guess what? What am I trying to say,
establish, describe or prove? This is stated in a
topic sentence.
 Prove it! How can I back it up?
 So what? Try to ‘make something of it’.
Relate this to your main argument, or ‘cap
off’ the point you’re making here.
Practicing paragraph structure
exercises
1. Energy conservation is an environmental issue
with implications for everyday life. 2. In their
own homes, people have the choice to reduce
their energy consumption by various means: by
cutting down on unnecessary energy
consumption, by installing insulation, by
designing energy-efficient homes such as ‘solar
passive’, and by using ‘green’ energy sources
such as solar energy. 3. Not to conserve energy
in the household is to choose not to care about
the environment.
Now try this...
The poems of Bruce Dawe are preoccupied with the suburban life
of Australia. In particular, ‘Enter without so much as knocking’,
‘Homo Suburbiensis’, ‘Life cycle’ and ‘And a Good Friday was
had by all’, treat various aspects of suburban life, such as
corrupting influence of consumerism, the meaningless chatter
of the commercial media, and the snatches of trivial
conversation. Not all is lost, however: in ‘Homo Suburbiensis’
the gardener has found in his suburban patch an oasis of quiet
in which to contemplate the timeless issues of ‘pain, love,
hate, age, war, death, laughter, fever.’
Copy the above paragraph down and label the 1. Guess what?, 2.
Prove it! and 3. So what? sections like the sample paragraph.
Answers:
1. The poems of Bruce Dawe are preoccupied with the
suburban life of Australia. 2. In particular, ‘Enter without
so much as knocking’, ‘Homo Suburbiensis’, ‘Life cycle’
and ‘And a Good Friday was had by all’, treat various
aspects of suburban life, such as corrupting influence of
consumerism, the meaningless chatter of the
commercial media, and the snatches of trivial
conversation. 3. Not all is lost, however: in ‘Homo
Suburbiensis’ the gardener has found in his suburban
patch an oasis of quiet in which to contemplate the
timeless issues of ‘pain, love, hate, age, war, death,
laughter, fever.’
This one might be tricky...
 This essay will outline some of the areas that have benefited
from changing values and norms in relation to the family,
focusing on Australian families. Firstly I will look at the
functions performed by the family, and how the structure of
the family has evolved from an extended kin family to an
isolated nuclear family. Then I will look at the changes for
reasons for marriage and the reasons for staying married,
showing that now romantic love is the motivation for
marriage, as opposed to economic benefit. Finally I will outline
how many of the changes in values and norms in relation to
the family have benefited women and children.
 Repeat the same process for the last exercise.
Answers:
 1. This essay will outline some of the areas that have
benefited from changing values and norms in relation to
the family, focusing on Australian families. 2. Firstly I will
look at the functions performed by the family, and how
the structure of the family has evolved from an extended
kin family to an isolated nuclear family. Then I will look at
the changes for reasons for marriage and the reasons for
staying married, showing that now romantic love is the
motivation for marriage, as opposed to economic
benefit. Finally I will outline how many of the changes in
values and norms in relation to the family have benefited
women and children.
How did you go???
 Now let’s practice writing our own topic
paragraphs!
 Using the 1-2-3 pattern attempt to put the
following into cohesive and logical structure:
a.) It is essential for students to wear school
uniform.
b.) It was a perfect day.
Linking words + phrases
 Ok, so now you’re able to write paragraphs that
explain, describe, or argue towards the main
point of your essay...
............................BUT..................................
...how do you LINK your ideas together to help
make your essay stronger???
LINKING WORDS and PHRASES are what ‘welds’
your essay together and helps the ‘judge’ gain a
better understanding of where you are going
with your point.
Linking Words:
Linking Phrases:
Also
Afterwards
Consequently
Yet
Moreover
However
Although
Subsequently
Therefore
Meanwhile
Thus
As a result of this
Some time later
A more significant factor
A fourth concern
For example
Linking between paragraphs:
Numbering: ‘Firstly we must consider the question of...Secondly, we
must look at...’
Chronological (sequence of events): ‘Some time after the first eruption
of violence, policy changes began to be considered...’
Contrast: ‘an even more important factor is...’, ‘The opposite viewpoint
is discussed by Adam Smith, who claims that...’
Cause/effect: ‘Because of this, the following changes were soon
implemented...’
Adding: ‘Another example of this phenomenon is...’
Comparing: ‘A similar event was the case of Hutchinson Bros., a firm
which...’
Summarising: ‘Therefore, the characterisation in this novel is very
shallow.’
Just one
more
thing...
The Conclusion!
An impressive conclusion can sometimes make
the difference between an average essay and
a very good one.
Do you think that the conclusion is “basically a
summary” and that’s all???
WRONG! It’s soooo much more!
1. Re-read the essay question.
2. Re-read the introduction.
3. Summarise your argument and main points.
4. Cap off your argument.
Although a conclusion will usually start with a summary, the best
essays go beyond this.
You must refer back to the introduction to remind yourself of
what you set out to ‘discover’, ‘compare’, or ‘describe’. So you
will generally use the key words here (See, all that timewasting planning stuff came in handy afterall!)
Your conclusion can make further assessments BUT it will NOT
introduce new evidence or ideas!!!
Problems with exam essays.
 You can’t research them. (That is why your study
must be as well organised as possible before you
go in!)
 There is a strict time limit (and, although you are
not marked according to the length of your
essay, a detailed, complete essay does impress!)
 You don’t have time to polish (edit) a rough draft.
 Planning of essays is essential, because you
don’t have time to ‘experiment’ with or ‘garble’ a
rough draft.
Exam strategies for essay
writing:
 Read the entire paper quickly. Start to think about which
questions you’ll do, and how you can answer them.
 It can be an excellent strategy to do a quick essay plan for
each question before starting to write any in full.
Sometimes, forgotten information or ‘inspiration’ will
‘click into place’ when you come back to that question.
It’s as if the unconscious mind works on auto pilot!
 If you get stuck in one essay (or one question for that
matter), go on to the others before coming back to it.
 Make sure you read ALL instructions and follow them
exactly (it’s easy to overlook something important).
 Know in advance how much time is allowed for each
question, and stick to it. It may be tempting to write
extra on one question but the gains you could make will
be minimal compared to the marks you lose in the next
question.
 Make doubly sure that you are answering the question,
and all of the question. If the question makes two or
more demands, answer all of them.
 Try to leave a minute or so to check back over each essay
and question, fixing up any obvious omissions or errors.
On that note...
Marking a pile of essays can be rather hard work, and it is
always appreciated when a zestful, original piece comes
onto the desk! Like most things in life, you only get out of
writing what you put into it. By now you should realise
that essay writing is a skill that asks you for many inputs:
your study, your writing, your understanding of the essay
structure, and your ability to express yourself clearly
through language.
So I hope that through practice and confidence you’ll be
able to see the word ESSAY on the exam paper and
remain calm with sweat-free palms!
GOODLUCK!
The training run: the 5paragraph essay!
“It’s wrong to say that essay writing skills are important;
they are essential!”
Agree or disagree with the statement above.
(5 minutes)
Plan: Brainstorm in a mind-map all the
benefits/problems with essay writing skills.
Selecting main ideas: Choose 3 main points you will
use as the main body paragraphs. Ensure you have
evidence to support these points – you might want
to go through your notes from the tutorial)
(20-25 mins)
A. Draft your 1st paragraph (INTRODUCTION). This paragraph
must:
i. State your argument.
ii. List the 3 points that support it.
(Do not fail to do this! This makes you plan ahead from the very
start.)
B. 2nd paragraph: Discuss your main, first, point in full, giving
details, and relating it your argument.
REMEMBER: Guess what? Prove it! So what?
C. 3rd paragraph: Do the same for the second point you raise.
D. 4th paragraph: Same as for the third point.
E. 5th paragraph: Summarise the previous discussion and try to
cap it off somehow.
(5 mins)
Re-read your min-essay.
Does it make sense to you? Will someone else
understand it?
Have you used linking words and phrases to make
it read more cohesively?
Well Done!
You have mastered the
basic essay
structure!!!!