HOW TO WRITE BEST ESSAYS IN UNIVERSITY

By Professor Zafar University of East Anglia

ESSAY WRITING SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE AT LANGUAGECENTRE.ORG 07438079898
Four Easy Steps
1. analysis of the question asked
2. gathering together the relevant facts, quotations and
references which will form the raw material of your
argument
3. sketching out a plan of the assignment (which may well
include writing out your - provisional - conclusion)
4. writing the assignment
1) Analysing the question asked
One of the first things a tutor will look for in an essay is: to
what extent have you answered the question?
The wording of the essay title, therefore, is absolutely vital.
Your first task is to fully understand the question.
It will probably have been set in such a way as to raise a
complex of issues. Try to separate out the various issues raised
- whether raised explicitly or implicitly - by the question and
then see how these issues fit together. If you don't answer the
question that's being asked, your essay could be a disaster, no
matter how elegantly-written or logically-structured.
Identify the key words of the essay title. It may be worth
rewriting the essay title in your own words if it is at all complex
or confusing. (You might even want to incorporate this into
your essay, defining the terms and drawing out what you
perceive to be the overall meaning of the question in your
introduction).
Think also about any built-in assumptions in the essay title. For
example, 'To what extent did the House of Commons increase

its power in the sixteenth century' almost invites you to agree

with the assumption that the House of Commons did increase
its power. You may think that it didn't. Remember that you can
disagree with such assumptions, or treat them critically. Your
argument will, of course, have to be well supported with
evidence and rational argument.
Our Key Phrases Used in Essay Titles page might come in
useful if you do not understand the title.
In general, the results of your reflections and brainstorming in
this phase should ultimately turn into the introduction to your
assignment.
You should also start to think seriously about your overall
answer to the question: this will become the conclusion to your
assignment. Be absolutely sure that you are answering
the question asked, and not another question which you
would like to have been asked.
2) Gathering the raw material
As you unravel the issues raised by the question, start to note
down different examples (including facets of relevant texts,
particular passages or episodes, quotations, etc.) which might
be pertinent. At this stage of the proceedings do not be afraid
to indulge in a certain amount of free association, allowing
anything concerning the subject to rise up from the depths of
your memory: firstly, it is much better to have too much
material and to be able to reject what you find you do not
need; and secondly, one thing can suggest or recall another
which may turn out to be more useful. Jot down in rough
whatever you want.
3) Drawing Up A Plan
Everyone knows that good ideas can come to us as we write.
However, it is very unwise to rely solely on this when producing
an assignment. An assignment must follow a coherent
argument, set out clearly and logically. It must be structured.
For this reason you should first make a plan, which will:
allow you to write more quickly, and to concentrate on
developing a more fluent style

 focus your thoughts on the essay question

give you a chance to think through and develop your
argument(s)
help you to avoid repetition and confusion
tell you whether you are ready to start writing or not!
Let's start with the conclusion...
Your assignment structure must above all lead to a conclusion.
Ideally you will know at the outset what your conclusion is
going to be - you can even write out the thrust of your
conclusion before you begin. That way you know what you are
aiming at and avoid going off at a tangent. If you find at some
later stage that you want to modify your conclusion in keeping
with the main body of your text, then you are perfectly free to
make the final version different.
Arguments...
The way to begin making a plan is to think of all the
reasons/arguments/aspects of the question which support your
conclusion. Make a list of these arguments.
Consider counter-arguments, (see Critical Thinkingfor help) so
as to show why your reasoning on a particular point is closer to
the truth or more pertinent than other possible ways of
thinking.
Structure...
Having made your list of reasons/arguments/aspects, you can
develop the structure of your essay. Each section of your essay
- and therefore of your plan - can deal with a different
reason/argument/aspect of the question. Gather all the
information relevant to each reason/argument/aspect of the
question into one section or paragraph.
Your structure will appear all the stronger and more convincing
if you give the reader the impression that these
reasons/arguments/aspects of the question have been ordered
in the most logical way. To get the best structure, take your list
of reasons/arguments/aspects of the question and order them

in such a way that reason no. 2 seems to depend on the prior

establishment of reason no. 1, and reason no. 3 on no.'s 1 or 2
or even 1 and 2, etc.
When you come to write the essay, you can easily refer the
reader back, at important moments, to points that you have
already made. Each section of the essay, and each
paragraph of your text, should make the argument move
forward.
Add flesh...
Your reordered list is now the basis of your plan. It is still in
very skeletal form. Begin to add 'flesh' to it by adding to each
section some of the raw material mentioned above - examples,
references, quotations, etc. All of this can obviously be done in
an abbreviated short-hand that you understand.
4) Writing The Essay
Having drawn up a detailed plan, you will find writing much
easier. Many students will now write the final version of the
assignment straight away. There are good reasons, however,
for writing a first draft, reading it through carefully, then
writing an improved final draft. This allows you to improve the
structure and style, to check whether the assignment is too
long or too short, and to correct any mistakes.
A. The First Draft
Work closely from your assignment plan. Your first draft will
test whether your plan works in practice. Don't rush the first
draft or allow it to become a mess. This simply makes more
work for yourself later. Make sure the reader knows why you
are including pieces of information. Be explicit. Try to use the
model of 'Statement, followed by reasons and evidence'. Don't
be afraid to leave something out if it doesn't fit. Make sure
everything you write is relevant to the question, accurate and
clear.
B. The Review
Read through your first draft carefully and ask yourself the
following questions:

 Have you answered the question?

Have you done what the Introduction said you were going
to do?
Is the logical progression of the argument clear for the
reader?
Is there a good balance between discussion and factual
detail?
Are your general arguments supported by evidence?
Are there any errors of grammar and spelling?
Could the writing style be improved?
Has anything important been left out?
Does the Conclusion show how you have answered the
question?
C. The Final Draft
Find out from your department how the assignment is to be
presented. i.e. does it need a cover sheet? What information
has to go on this cover sheet? Do all the pages need
numbering? Please see our How To Reference page for more
information.
Material adapted from the Department of French Studies
Guide to Essay Writing and Study Skills in History