BACK

Before you start writing

-Make sure you understand the question, particularly what type of essay you are being asked to write. For example you will commonly find phrases like

Compare and Contrast

Discuss

To what extent do you agree or disagree...

Each of these has a subtle influence on the type of essay you need to write.

Compare and Contrast (refer two or more texts or ideas to each other looking for where they are the same or different )

Discuss (Argue a point)

To what extent do you agree or disagree. (Look at both sides of the argument and work out which you favour)

-The second thing you need to do is assemble your evidence. This means do whatever research is indicated to support your arguments.

As you Write

You should follow a basic structure with each academic paper.

Introduction- This is a paragraph that sets out your argument. This should be in the form of a "thesis" or statement.

First Paragraph- This should be the first point of your argument, discuss it and use evidence to support your assertions. Your evidence should be referred to in the form of a quotation or paraphrase.

Second Paragraph- Should be the second portion of your argument.

Third, Fourth, Fifth- Should contain the succeeding parts of your argument.

Conclusion- A conclusion is not always necessary, only write a concluding paragraph if you need to tie together portions of your argument.

Quotations

Please set these out as follows.

"...Enough for a house', he told Martha"

( Palmer 1977 p87 )

Bibliography

Include one with each essay so that I can check your references. Set it out as follows

Alphabetically

Author Title Editor Publisher Year Pages

Aristophanes Lysistrata Radice B Penguin 1984 193-350

(Italicize or underline titles both in references and the text of your essay)