How to Improve Your
Communication of Ideas in an
Essay
The facts
suggest,
indicate, show
that
It could be
suggested, claimed,
proposed that
Analysis of the
evidence suggests,
undermines,
differs from,
coincides with
Ways to avoid
writing ‘I think that’
Smith supports the
idea, notion, belief
that
Although Smith disagrees,
most writers suggest, claim
that ...
Ways to link paragraphs
The first or last sentence in the paragraph
should contain the essential reason for the
inclusion of that paragraph
The last sentence in a paragraph should serve as
a link between paragraphs, using words
like……………
•In fact
•Above all
•Meanwhile
•Nonetheless
•Firstly/ Secondly
•In addition
•At the same time
•Although
•More specifically
•Following this
•For this reason
•Consequently
•While this is so / Since
this is so
•Whether
•Even if /Even although
•Not only.. but also
•Besides
•Later
definitely
of course
Avoid absolute
words like
totally
always
never
on the other
hand
in spite
of
What
needs to
be noted
in contrast to
Ways to introduce another viewpoint
at the
same time
nevertheless
however
although
More Ways to introduce another viewpoint
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
On closer inspection, it is worth considering that ...
Ultimately, it must be realised that ..
More importantly however ...
More significantly however ...
More to the point is the fact that ...
On the surface, it might seem that .......however
The fundamental question is not however ...
On first sight it might seem plausible to argue that
....however, on closer inspection
• To argue .... is insufficient .... it is necessary to
consider ...
Do
•Start you essay with an
attention-grabbing first
sentence
•Set out the issue clearly in
the introduction
Don’t
•Answer the question in the
introduction
•Just re-phrase the question.
•Just make a list of points you
are going to make
•Give an indication of your line
•Use personal terms like ‘I’ or
of argument in the introduction
‘My’.
•Write a linking sentence at
the end of your introduction to
provide a smooth transition
into the topic sentence of the
second paragraph
Advice on the Introduction from Principal Assessor
If the question were “How important was Bismarck’s
contribution to German unification?” possible approaches
might include:
A
The unification of Germany was achieved after the
victory in the Franco-Prussian War. This essay will look
at Bismarck’s contribution to this achievement, and
compare it with the other factors that helped him.
These included economic change, growing nationalism in
Germany and the wars of the 1860s. It will then reach
a conclusion about how important Bismarck’s part was.
While this approach is acceptable, it often leads to an
essay which lacks analytical depth and quality of
thought. An approach that shows greater confidence on
the part of the candidate, and usually leads to a more
fluent argument, might be the following, which says the
same things but in a way that markers are likely to find
more convincing.
B
The unification of Germany was achieved after the
victory in the Franco-Prussian War. Although it can be
argued that Bismarck’s role was decisive in achieving this
outcome, other factors contributed significantly to the
process of unification. These included economic change,
growing nationalism in Germany and the wars of the
1860s.
A
The unification of Germany
was achieved after the
victory in the FrancoPrussian War. This essay
will look at Bismarck’s
contribution to this
achievement, and compare it
with the other factors that
helped him. These included
economic change, growing
nationalism in Germany and
the wars of the 1860s. It
will then reach a conclusion
about how important
Bismarck’s part was.
(60 words)
B
The unification of Germany
was achieved after the
victory in the FrancoPrussian War. Although it
can be argued that
Bismarck’s role was
decisive in achieving this
outcome, other factors
contributed significantly to
the process of unification.
These included economic
change, growing nationalism
in Germany and the wars
of the 1860s.
(51 words)
Two of the three sentences in version B are
identical to those in version A, but the overall
impact is much stronger, as the candidate shows
awareness of the issue and the fact that several
factors have to be considered. The scene is set and
a likely line of argument indicated naturally, without
making a point of it.
Examiners find that introductions adopting this type
of style tend to lead to better arguments and more
coherent essays. Version B does not state the
intention to reach a conclusion, but it would be most
surprising if one did not appear.
Do
Don’t
•Make sure that your essay has a •Exaggerate claims e.g. ‘This
logical or clear structure
proves that..’
•Check that the first sentence in •Quote overly long chunks from
each paragraph should contain the historians – this is your essay
main idea. This is called the ‘topic being assessed.
sentence’.
•Use slang or abbreviations.
•Follow this up with evidence,
Formal English, please.
details, facts, figures, quotes.
•Use nursery language: ‘The
•Include ‘toolkit’ words which
workers were not happy about..’
ensure that you are arguing,
debating e.g. however, although. •Use two sentences when one
would do.
•Keep sentences simple, direct,
•Miss out parts of the essay –
clear and relevant.
check back to question several
times.
Do
•Answer the question
•Summarise the main points in
your argument
•Check that the conclusion is
based on evidence presented in
the essay.
•Check that the conclusion is in
line with the line of argument
presented in the introduction.
•Refer to words, phrases used
in the essay title e.g. if a
quotation was used.
Don’t
•Introduce new evidence in
the conclusion.
Do
•Read all the questions
•Write on the exam paper
•Put question number in margin
•Underline key words /phrases to
be discussed /defined.
•Write plan on exam script.
Markers may credit this if you
don’t finish.
•Allocate 40 minutes for each
question.
•Check back to the question /plan
during the 40 minutes.
•Write for 80 minutes. You should
have prepared for this!
•Have a conclusion.
Don’t
•Write out the question. Wastes
time.
•Think you can busk your way
through an essay without the
examiner knowing what you have
done. You will be found out.
•Invent facts, details. Again, you
will be caught.
•Try to impress by writing long,
complex sentences. This is no
substitute for clear thinking and
clear writing.
•Memorise an essay and then copy
it out irrespective of the phrasing
of the question.
Essay writing is like Gary Player’s
view on Golf and Success…
“The more I practice, the luckier I
get”