Although lots of modern courses require you to submit all sorts of different types of work for assessment, presentations, portfolios, practical pieces, exams, it’s still more than likely that at some point, if not throughout the majority if your degree, that you’ll be writing essays.
Here are a few tips which ought to help you write better essays and get your head around the difference between the standards at school and those at University.
1. Say a lot about a little
This was something a lecturer told me at the very beginning of my degree but it took me until second year to really take it on board.
If you’re presented with a broad essay subject, always try and reduce it down to a narrower topic which you introduce in your opening paragraphs rather than trying to cover all bases.
This means that you’ll be answering the question but within your own terms and it gives you the words you need to fully explore your chosen topic, rather than introducing lots of ideas you don’t have the words to fully develop.
2. Don’t get too stressed about referencing
Yes, referencing is important and is probably the key difference between your school essays and your university ones, but don’t become so bogged down with whether the dot is inside or outside of the brackets or other pedantic details that you forget to concentrate on the content of your essay.
I know different universities have different levels of strictness when it comes to referencing, but a good rule of thumb is that as long as your source is traceable you’ve done okay. So don’t loose any sleep about it and concentrate on writing a good essay.
3. Argue from start to finish
At school essays tended to go “Introduction, for, against, conclusion” and you might get away with submitting an essay like that in first year, but to get the top marks you’ll need to up your game.
In my experience the essays I scored highest on set out my argument in the introduction, argued it throughout, proved why some counter arguments are rubbish, and in the conclusion reiterated that I was correct.
There’s a degree of arrogance in it you might not be used to, but providing you present a sound argument for your case these are the types of essays which will stand out from your classmates and, if done correctly, will get you a higher mark.
4. Don’t waffle
Look at the paragraph you’ve just written, what is the point it’s making? Have you already said that earlier in different words? If the answer is yes, you’re doing it wrong.
It’s best practice to make your words as succinct as possible, so don’t say something in 200 words you could easily say in 100.
It can be tempting if time is running out and you don’t have anything else to say to be as wordy as possible, but it won’t make for the best essay so avoid doing it if possible!
5. Presentation
Even if you’ve finished your essay hours before the deadline and it was fuelled by nothing but red bull and sugar puffs, always put a bit of effort into presentation. Nothing gives you away as doing this hours before it’s due like sloppy presentation.
Make sure your margins are consistent, your header and footer are formatted correctly and your quotes are neatly aligned and you’re half way towards fooling the marker that you’re a conscientious student with a strong work ethic who’s worthy of a good mark.
Although simple, these tips for how to write an essay will help you pass college or uni.