How to Write Essays & Assignments

By Kathleen McMillan & Jonathan Weyers
January 2010
Pearson Education
Distrubuted by Trans-Atlantic Publications Inc.
ISBN: 9780273726951
246 pages
$26.50 Paper Original

How to write great essays covers everything a student is likely to need to research, plan and write
academic essays and assignments that will get you great marks.

 

Features

This book will provide all the tips and techniques needed to ensure students of all disciplines get the most from the essay-writing process. It supports students in preparing and crafting their essay through consideration of:

  • How to get started
  • How to read and take notes effectively
  • How to plan your essay and write to a deadline
  • How to improve your academic writing style and use of conventions and vocabulary
  • How to shape your essay and avoid common grammatical and structural pitfalls
  • How to cite references and avoid plagiarism
  • How to review, proof-read and present your essay for maximum impact & results
 

 

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Introduction

1. Why expressing yourself well in writing is important  - how to develop your writing skills

What markers are looking for

2. What markers are looking for in your essays and assignments - how to identify the key elements required to meet markers' expectations

Getting started

3. Tackling writing assignments - How to get started

Researching your topic

4. Effective academic reading - How to read efficiently and with understanding

5. The library as a resource - How to make the best use of the facilities

6. Note-making from texts - How to create effective notes for later reference

7. Thinking critically - How to develop a logical approach to analysis, synthesis and evaluation

Writing a first draft

8. Academic writing formats - How to organise your writing within a standard framework

9. Planning writing assignments - How to respond to the task

Writing technique

10. Academic writing style - How to adopt appropriate language conventions

11. Shaping your text - how to create effective sentences and paragraphs

12. Improving your grammar - How to avoid some common errors

13. Better punctuation - How to use punctuation marks appropriately

14. Better spelling - How to spell competently

15. Enhancing your vocabulary - How to increase your word power

Editing & Revision

16. Reviewing, editing and proof-reading - how to make sure your writing is concise and correct

Plagiarism and referencing

17. Plagiarism and copyright infringement - how to avoid being accused of ‘stealing’ the ideas & work of others

18. Citing and listing references - how to refer appropriately to the work of others

Presentation

19. Presentation of assignments - how to follow the appropriate academic conventions

Improving your marks

20. Exploiting feedback - how to understand and learn from what lecturers write on your work

21. Essay writing in exams - how to improve your marks 

 

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