Essay writing
Academic essays should be written in a formal style. Avoid:
- clichés (“the flaws in this argument stand out like a sore thumb”)
- contractions (“don’t”, “aren’t”, “it’s”)
- phrases that sound like speech (“well, this bit is really fascinating”)
- subjective descriptions (“this beautiful sculpture”)
Be cautious about using the first person “I”. It should be used where the alternative would be inappropriate (e.g. when writing up your own experience or professional case study).essay writting service In other cases, you might choose to use the third person, for example “It can be argued” instead of “I would argue”. It’s worth checking with your marker how they feel about you using the first person – for instance, it may be more appropriate in a humanities essay than a science one.
Use plain language – you don’t have to search for a more “academic-sounding” word when a simple one will do. Markers are looking for clear and accurate expression of ideas, not jargon or confusing language. Shorter sentences are usually clearer than long complex ones, but make sure it is a whole sentence and not just a clause or phrase.
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Clear communication and proof reading (video)Watch this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
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Clear communication and proof reading (transcript)Read along while watching the video tutorial.
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Academic PhrasebankExample phrases for academic writing.
Your argument is your reasoned answer to the essay question, supported by evidence. The books, articles, and other research material that you read for your essay provide this evidence to back up your points. The way in which you select and interpret the evidence, and explain why it answers the question, is where you demonstrate your own thinking.
Important: every time you use an idea which you got from your reading, you MUST include a reference to where you found the material. This is the case whether you quote directly, or write it in your own words.
For each point that you make in your essay, you need to support it with evidence. There are many different kinds of evidence, and the type you use will depend on what is suitable for your subject and what the essay question is asking you to do.
For example, you might back up a point using a theory (one kind of evidence) then show how this theory applies to a specific example in real life (another kind of evidence).
A model for a paragraph that includes evidence and your own ideas: - Introduce your point (your own words)
- Add the evidence to support your point (quoted, paraphrased or cited evidence that must be referenced)
- Explain how and why this evidence supports your point and what you think of it (your own interpretation and critical thinking)
- Explain how the point helps answer the question (your own argument)
As you get more experienced with essay writing, you will want to adapt this model to suit the structure and shape of your ideas.
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Targeted reading and use of evidence (video)Watch this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
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Targeted reading and use of evidence (transcript)Read along while watching the video tutorial.
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Academic PhrasebankExample phrases for academic writing.