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1. |
Careful
consideration must
be given to the precise
meaning and intention
of the essay question,
as expressed in
the words used.
It is usually advisable
to explain your
interpretation
of the question,
and the approach
you are adopting,
at the beginning
of the essay. Terms
may also need to
be defined. |
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2. |
Sketch
out a preliminary
plan of
how you are going
to tackle the topic
and what this means
in terms of reading
plan. |
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3. |
There
is always a two-way
flow between the
evolving essay
plan and your reading.
You may find that
you modify your
approach to the
topic several times
during reading.
When you take notes
do not forget to record
the source of
the material, and
page numbers, if
you find something
important enough
to quote word for
word. It is frustrating
and time consuming
to have to back
track through the
literature for
page numbers and
other bibliographic
details during
writing up. |
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4. |
There
are no hard and fast
principles regarding
the scope of reading.
This will depend
on the length of
the essay and the
kinds of topics.
Use your essay plan
as a guide. Concentrate
on gaps in your material
until you can cover
the points in your
plan. |
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5. |
Begin
your essay with an
introduction which
sets out the aims
of your investigation,
the major ideas
to be examined,
and the argument
or approach used
in the essay. The
introduction should
act as a focus
for the essay as
a whole. |
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6. |
The
essay must be written
in paragraphs. A
paragraph is really
a unit of your
own thinking -
a block of your
ideas and supporting
material. The first
sentence of a paragraph
should state the
main point; the
rest of the paragraph
should be used
to amplify this
point. |
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7. |
It
is often a good
idea to use sub-headings to
guide the reader
through the major
sections of the
essay. |
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8. |
It
is always useful
to present (briefly) real
world examples to
illustrate any
principles or generalisations
you make, but take
care not to get
bogged down in
the complexities
of the example
at the expense
of your general
argument. |
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9. |
Tables,
maps or diagrams will
often help your
argument. These
should be given
headings and numbered
consecutively and
integrated into
the main body of
the essay. |
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10. |
You
should take care
to ensure that
all the material
presented in your
essay is directly
relevant to
the question in
hand. Non-relevant
material should
be ruthlessly pruned. |
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11. |
The
final section of
an essay should
always be a
conclusion. This
should briefly
restate your main
findings (although
you do not have
to repeat all the
lines of argument
used) and attempt
some evaluation
of the material
dealt with. It
is also well worth
pointing to any
things you found
surprising, questions
that remain unanswered,
or new questions
raised by your
own essay. |
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12. |
Always
include a
bibliography which
lists in alphabetical
order by author
all references
cited in the text
(or footnotes if
you use them) and
all references
consulted in researching
the essay topic. |
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13. |
Referencing your
sources is essential
in all assignments.
The rules on referencing
are straightforward:
always tell us
the source of any
direct quotations
from the work of
another author,
and the direct
use of another
person's words
must be indicated
in the text by
quotation marks.
Essays in which
direct quotation
is discovered without
referencing in
this way (i.e.
plagiarism) will
automatically be
penalised and may
be failed, regardless
of the standard.
In addition to
these sorts of
references, you
should give a reference
in the text (or
footnote) in places
where you have
summarised or paraphrased
the work or ideas
of other people. |
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|
There
is no need to employ
large numbers of direct
quotations.
Use them only when
you think the reader
really benefits
from the quotation.
Usually the reader
will be more interested
in your own words,
especially in a
short essay. |
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14. |
A consistent
system of referencing must
be used. One good
method is the so
called end-paper
method, where a
brief reference
to the source is
given in the main
text (e.g. Wilson,
1981, 6). Full
bibliographical
details of all
sources cited are
listed, in alphabetical
order by author,
at the end of the
essay, using a
layout similar
to that used in
the reading lists
in this unit. |
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|
For
a book give: author(s),
title (underlined
or in italics), publisher,
place of publication,
and year of publication. |
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|
e.g.
Wilson, M.G.A., Population
and Change, Sorrett,
Melbourne, 1981. |
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|
For
a journal article
give: author(s),
article title, journal
name (underlined
or in italics), volume
number, year, and
pages. |
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|
e.g.
Hugo, G., "Australia's
population growth,
composition and distribution:
emerging research
needs", Journal
of the Australian
Population Association ,
11(1), 1994, pp.55-81. |
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15. |
Give
yourself time
to do more than
one draft of
the essay. Carefully
proofread the final
draft to eliminate
spelling errors
and poor grammar
and wording. Mistakes
of this nature
left in the essay
inevitably detract
from the quality
of your argument
and will lead to
a lower grade for
the essay. |
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16. |
If
possible submit
the essay in typed
form. If
you cannot have
the essay typed
ensure your handwriting
is neat and legible.
Poor handwriting
detracts considerably
from the presentation
and makes it difficult
for the quality
of the argument
to come through
and get full credit.
Particularly poor
handwriting may
be returned unmarked. |
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17. |
Keep
a copy of your essay. |
