Study Help - General Study Skills

A Guide to Essay Writing

In this section we will look at:

The Nature of University Essays

Using references and avoiding plagiarism

The Structure of an Analytical Essay

Directive Words in Essay Questions

Useful Books

Points to Remember

The Nature of University Essays

The following discussion on the nature of university essays is adapted from Clanchy and Ballard (1981 pp.4-11) who state that at university level it is expected that your essay will be:

1. clearly focused on the set topic and will deal fully with its central concerns
2. the result of wide and critical thinking
3. a reasoned argument
4. competently presented

(It is also hoped that your essay will be creative and original!)

Understanding the nature of university essays, and what makes a piece of work scholarly, is essential knowledge for students. But you are also required to put your understanding into practice. The above four points can be discussed further in a more practical way.

1. You will be expected to demonstrate the relevance of your essay to the set topic by:
   • recognising the assumptions and implications underlying the actual working of the topic and taking account of them in the course of your essay;
   • handling the topic and its key terms within the limits of the course and discipline being studied;
   • focusing consistently on the key ideas and terms throughout your essay;
   • covering all the parts of the set topic; some topics will include a number of sub-topics or sub-questions related to the main theme.
2. You will be expected to demonstrate wide and critical use of written resources by:
   • reading with a questioning mind - not accepting that something is true simply because it is published and not expecting that there is any single correct answer to complex questions;
   • reading in order to understand both the meaning of each individual sentence and its relationship to the developing structure of the argument;
   • evaluating continuously what you are reading by testing the opinions and judgments of the writer against the evidence she/he provides and against the opinions and judgments of other writers (and maybe against your own experience) and then by deciding whether this material is relevant to the purpose of your essay.
3. You will be expected to demonstrate your ability to present a reasoned argument by:
   • selecting only points which are directly relevant to your topic and your argument, discarding those which may have seemed relevant when your ideas were still developing;
   • structuring the material so that the main ideas are presented logically and coherently, i.e. each idea must fit reasonably with that which precedes it and that which follows, and the ideas taken together must lead consistently to your overall conclusion;
   • ensuring that each section of your argument is internally consistent, with the evidence, examples, and quotations clearly supporting or extending the central idea being developed;
   • taking into account alternative points of view or interpretations of the materials you have used.
4. You will be expected to demonstrate competent presentation skills by:
   • adopting a tone and style which are appropriate to academic writing in general and to the special demands of the discipline in which you are working;
   • using the necessary specialist terminology accurately;
   • using the correct format for quotations;
   • following the form of referencing and bibliographic citation which is standard for the discipline;
   • presenting graphic and numerical data accurately and economically;
   • editing your essay carefully for error in grammar, spelling and punctuation and for precision in choice of words and expression of ideas.

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Using references and avoiding plagiarism

It is usual to read widely when preparing university essays. Be aware that you need to identify the source of every quotation you use and create a list of references at the end of your essay. Failure to do this is regarded as plagiarism.

Murdoch University’s "How to Cite References" provides detailed guidance on referencing conventions.

http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/guides/cite.html

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Essay Structure - Functional Stages

Adapted from "Essay Writing Materials" by Language and Learning Services, Monash University in Marshall, L. 1997, "A Learning Companion" p. 228

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Directive Words

Look at the following list of key words which appear frequently in essay topics. These are outlined in Marshall and Rowland (1998, p.88) to help you work out your approach to the topic.

Terms indicating an argumentive essay
Analyse	Show the essence of something, by breaking it down into its component parts and examining each part in detail
Argue	Present the case for and/or against a particular proposition
Criticise	Give your judgment about the merit of theories or opinions about the truth of facts, and back your judgment by a discussion of the evidence
Critique	See 'Criticise'
Discuss	Investigate or examine by argument, sift and debate, giving reasons for and against
Evaluate	Make an appraisal of the worth of something, in the light of its apparent truth or utility; include your personal opinion
Interpret	Bring out the meaning of, and make clear and explicit; usually also giving your own judgment
Justify	Show adequate grounds for decisions or conclusions
Prove	Demonstrate truth or falsity by presenting evidence
Review	Make a survey of, examining the subject critically
Terms indicating an expository essay
Compare	Look for similarities and differences between propositions
Contrast	Explain differences
Define	Set down the precise meaning of a word or phrase. Show that the distinctions implied in the definition are necessary
Describe	Give a detailed or graphic account of
Enumerate	List or specify and describe
Examine	Present in depth and investigate the implications
Explain	Make plain, interpret, and account for in detail
Illustrate	Explain and make clear by the use of concrete examples, or by the use of a figure or diagram
Outline	Give the main features or general principles of a subject, omitting minor details, and emphasising structure and relationship
Relate	Narrate/show how things are connected to each other, and to what extent they are alike or affect each other
State	Specify fully and clearly
Summarise	Give a concise account of the chief points or substance of a matter, omitting details and examples
Trace	Identify and describe the development or history of a topic from some point or origin

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Useful Books

Further information about and assistance with essay writing can be found in the following publications:

How to cite references, 1996, Murdoch University Library Publications, Murdoch.

"How to cite references" is available from the Library.

Taylor, G. 1989, The Student's Writing Guide for the Arts and Social Sciences, CUP, Cambridge.

Clanchy, J. and Ballard, B. 1981, Essay Writing for Students, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.

Marshall, L. 1997, A learning companion: Your Guide to Practising Independent Learning, 2nd edition, Murdoch University, Murdoch.

You can peruse "A Learning Companion" at the Student Learning Resource Centre in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Murdoch University.

Marshall, L. and Rowland, F. 1998, A Guide to Learning Independently, 3rd edition, Longman, Melbourne.

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Points to Remember

If you have not already looked at the information on plagiarism, please do so now. It is of utmost importance that you know what constitutes plagiarism and collusion and that you avoid any practice of it.