CILT MFL research training 2006

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CILT MFL research training 2006

• Prof Naomi Segal
• Institute of Germanic Romance Studies
• how to write

2
writing an essay or chapter

• an essay/chapter has a form
• UK they tend to flow
• French highly structured
• intro thesis antithesis conclusion
• something between the two is best

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Who will read you?

• a supervisor/tutor who knows the field and your
  way of thinking?
• an unknown virtual reader?
• someone likely to be hostile uninformed
  easily impressed, etc

4
take them with you

• no one knows whats in your head
• lay out the facts and ideas clearly
• Think where you want the essay/chapter to go
• and take the reader there by stages
• please them they will attribute it to your
  skill

5
an essay/chapter should have

• a beginning, middle and end
• an introduction
• a number of reasoned paragraphs
• a conclusion that adds something
• (and so should a thesis)

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the introduction

• dont just show what you know
• the question/topic define key terms
• lay out the assumptions of your argument
• set out what the essay/chapter will do

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each paragraph should (i)

• begin incisively
• carry an identifiable point
• explicitly contribute to your overall argument

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each paragraph should (ii)

• use identifiable key-words (from the title)
• ensure each point carries (or is introduced by)
  an illustration
• keep the thread of the argument running

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the conclusion

• should round off and lead out
• summarise the main point
• but also give a closing twist
• end on a question?