Hints and Tips on Writing Essays

1
Hints and Tips on Writing Essays

• There are no marks allocated for correct use of
  English. BUT poor prose can obscure good ideas.
  For example, a poorly phrased paper can cause
  confusion and hinder the flow of argument.
• Fuzzy language obscures reality and inhibits
  action. For example, phrases like 'structural
  adjustments' or 'market corrections' allow
  economists and politicians to overlook the
  miseries of bankruptcies and unemployment. Clear
  writing reflects clear thinking.
• The paper will practically write itself with an
  outline. The best organisational tool is to
  draft a good detailed outline of the paper
  before you begin to write. An outline will help
  you to structure your paper and will ensure that
  you cover all of the points necessary.

2

• Read your paper out loud. If your work sounds
  awkward, disjointed or rambling when you read
  it out loud, then it will read that way too.
• Elements of a Good Essay
• Introduction It helps to break down the
  essay into defined parts. It states what it is
  that the writer is setting out to discuss and the
  structure of the discussion.
• Body of the Text The body of the text
  sets out the analysis and evidence of the essay
  based on the structure defined in the
  introduction. It usually consists of
  well-defined divisions such as sections, headings
  or chapters.
• Conclusion The conclusion usually
  begins by reiterating the thesis and then brings
  all of the ideas together into a finalised
  discussion of the topic.

3

• The Bibliography
• Definition of a Bibliography an
  alphabetical list of the works cited in a paper
  and an alphabetical list of works found useful
  in preparing the paper
• Format of a Bibliography use a
  separate page at the end of your paper with the
  heading Bibliography centred on the page
• list the works alphabetically by the
  author's or editor's surname after the text
  which relates to the citation include author(s)
  last name, date example (Code 1996)
• web references need full URL and the
  date they were accessed as well as the authors
  name if available

4

• Plagiarism
• is basically passing other peoples work off as
  your own
• we do catch it and we do punish it -see
  pp.134-136 of your student handbook
• if you copy or cut and paste from anywhere then
  acknowledge it
• basically, if its not your own thought or its
  not expressed in your own words then it needs to
  be credited
• sticking the odd word of your own in a long
  paragraph doesnt avoid an offence