Writing Skills Writing Assignment

Pre-writing!

Plan your essay - time spent thinking about the question itself, organising the order you want to present your information in and considering the key points you want is still classed as working on your essay. Prepare and save time - jump right in and drown. The prior seems the right option?

Take time to investigate and use that time, you will need it. A hurried essay will nearly always fail.

Question Exploration- what is it actually asking you to do? How many parts is it in? If the question is in 4 minor parts and you only answer 1 of those parts then you can only get a quarter of the available grade points - you are therefore set to achieve only 25%

Break the question down, if it appears to have more than one point then list each as a separate question so that you can (a) make sure you cover each "part" fully, (b) seek out any additional data that you may not have to enhance the essays content and aways record where you obtained that data from.

Data Source and Referencing - This is essential. Books, published papers, Specialist, accurate websites, even minutes of meetings are all reference points. List who, when and where that data came from in a logical order. It will help should you need to recheck later (and you will). The referencing method preferred by most universities is known as the Harvard method.

Essay Structure - All essays have an introduction, middle and end (a conclusion). Your introduction should explain what the essay is about and how you've plan to tackle it. Make sure the main body of the essay is written clearly with evidence of reading. Remember, you are being marked as much on the information you have been able to find and the evidence you are able to present to support your argument as on your own opinions therein.

Finish your essay with a conclusion summarising what you have done and what you have learned - don't just let the essay stop abruptly.

Proofread your essay before handing it in. Don't just glance and check for the typos and spelling but check that you haven't made any claims that are unsupported by reading and evidence. Grammar should be correct as this is equally important.

As you read your work be self-critical. Look at the writing as if you were reading a complete strangers and mark it accordingly; highlight areas where spelling errors are made (in one colour) where grammar is at question (in another colour) where you have made statements and have not referred to any source for that claim in another etc. if you see a claim or statement of fact ask yourself the question "How did I know this? Then add a reference making this clear to the reader('s).

Following this method will allow you to revisit specific areas i.e Spelling - correct all and recheck. Move to the next error colour, check , amend and recheck. etc.

Always use your own Words - it's easy to think that the books and websites you have read say everything in a way that seems much better than your "little" attempt, but your tutor/examiners want to hear/read your work and your opinions . More credits can be gained for expressing things in your own Words, no matter how difficult this may seem when you commence. Using another's Words may look effective but tutors and examiners have read their Words as well and they will note that!

Authenticity - There are many who will write an essay for you, they will charge a fee. This is not your work , its theirs and because you have not created the workpiece yourself you are liable for it and its content. They may have used the same Wording and format for someone else's work who may also have paid for "their" creation. One can only imagine the conversation with an examiner who has 2 or more essays on their desk, all looking practically identical but with differing student names.

In addition; creating your own work will have taught you a lot about the skill of writing essays/reports etc. Should you be required to do this in a formal employment situation then you can/ will respond effectively. Should you not have those skills that you have claimed to have it will soon become very apparent.