Hello! So I’ve just finished my first semester of my second year at University, and this was the first time where I had more essays than exams (5 essays, 1 exam). As a result, I would like to share some tips regarding essays and I hope these can help!
-Disclaimer: I study Politics and International Relations, so some of the advice I give may not be suitable for your discipline/subject of study, so please bear that in mind.
-Look at the questions at the beginning of the semester! If you are able to access a syllabus or course guide they should be listed! It gives you an idea as to what to expect from your lectures and seminars and can allow you to relate the content you learn back to the question.
-If you have chosen a question you want to answer, start preparing once the corresponding lecture and seminars have taken place. This can be through additional readings, looking over your notes so you can make a plan. Preparing early was one of the things that stopped me from having burnout when I was writing up my assignments.
-Talk to both your lecturer and seminar leader. I can’t stress enough how important this is!! They are there because they want to help you, and are open to answering anything you may have to ask, especially if you aren’t confident enough to ask questions in lectures! For my second International Politics essay, I was able to discuss both a plan and determine what I wanted to study for my final year dissertation. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
-Make a plan. Some tips I learnt in order to make a good plan was to ensure that every point I covered had a sentence at the end that relates back to the question you are answering. Also, the plan should be brief and quickly go over your arguments. In addition, you should have a rough introduction and conclusion that states your thesis and how your essay intends to prove this.
-Additional Readings. I was privileged in the sense that for the modules I was taking, there were tons of additional readings available to me each week in the syllabi, which helps immensely regarding both exams and essays. So, if you also are lucky, look through the lists! Most of the time, you don’t need to look further for scholarly sources to cite in your assessment. However, if this isn’t the case for you, you should look at your required readings and see who the scholars have cited, which has also provided useful for me. Also, consult your library for help on any databases or search engines that might be useful for your discipline/subject of study.
-Write your conclusion first. It always helps to know how your essay should end. Being able to reflect on what your arguments should achieve allows you to remind yourself of your thesis. It stops you from losing focus on the question you are answering.
-Your introduction should be a roadmap of your essay. By this, I mean clearly state your thesis and the arguments that will be discussed in the essay.
-Write out your argument on paper first, then type it up. This by far became the most important thing for me when writing out my essays. What I did was state the argument at the top of a piece of paper, and went through the details using bullet points. With a different coloured pen, I would add the necessary citations underneath the bullet points. This helps you to understand what you’re trying to say before actually saying it, and can stop you from looking at the computer screen for a while without typing anything.
-Remember that to think critically, you need to establish a dialogue between you and the scholars. Whether you agree or disagree with what they are saying, their inclusion should mean that there is something important that supports your thesis. Question what the scholars say: what are their underlying arguments for a particular point? Do they subscribe to a particular ideology/theory? This can all impact on your thesis and its strength.
Proofread: no explanation necessary.
Reference and cite the scholars correctly: I use a reference manager called Mendeley, which has a Microsoft Office extension that generates the bibliography for me!
Make sure you organise your time correctly: Writing little and often was my preferred method because I was able to write my arguments at a comfortable pace without feeling pressured.
When you get your results back, talk to your lecturer/seminar leader: This applies regardless of whether your mark is good or bad. Talking in person helps you make sense of what went right and what went wrong.
Don’t pressure yourself: Most of the time this is easier said than done but it really matters. Write for 30 minutes, take a 5-10 minute break, and repeat. Eat healthy snacks, listen to good music and take a deep breath.
Thank you for reading and good luck!🌙
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