Understanding the nature of university essays

• Choose and analyse essay question carefully, refer back to maintain relevance


• read and assess other essays to understand what is expected in essay writing


• write down your own ideas in your own words before and during research, use these notes to stimulate and clarify your thinking

(From the Guide:) Choosing and analysing a topic

1. What is the question about?
   - examine the exact wording
   - note key terms and concepts
   - any underpinning assumptions


2. What do I already know about the topic?


3. What might my thesis or theme be?
   - thesis (argumentative essay), theme (expository essay)


4. How much breadth or depth can this essay have?
   - a broad overview, or one or two facets in depth?
   - limit to what is most significant from your research


5. What are the possible main points?
   - based on level of interest or importance, either from the question itself or your background knowledge


6. How might I structure my answer to the question?
   - directive or process verbs in the question
   - argumentative or expository
   - how many parts to the essay


7. What role might my personal opinions play in this assignment?
   - identify and question your biases, preconceptions

Directive Verbs

• 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


• Compare
  Look for similarities and differences between propositions


• Contrast
  Explain differences


• Criticise/critique
  Give your judgement about the merit of theories or opinions about the truth of facts, and back your judgement by a discussion of the evidence


• 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


• Discuss
  Investigate or examine by argument, sift and debate, giving reasons for and against


• Enumerate
  List or specify and describe


• Evaluate
  Appraise and judge different perspectives; include your opinion


• Examine
  Present in depth and present 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


• Interpret
  Bring out the meaning, and make clear and explicit; usually also giving your judgement


• Justify
  Show adequate grounds for decisions or conclusions


• Outline
  Give the main features or general principals of a subject, omitting minor details and emphasising structure and relationship


• Prove
  Demonstrate truth or falsity by presenting evidence


• Relate
  Narrate/show how things are connected to each another, and to what extent they are alike or affect each other


• Review
  Make a survey, examining the subject critically


• State
  Specify fully and clearly


• Summarise
  Give a concise account of the chief points of substance of a matter, omitting details and examples


• Trace
  Identify and describe the development or history of a topic from some point or origin

Your initial working definition. Write down:

• Your objectives and aims of unit materials, your teacher


• Exact full question you will research


• Your responses to questions under these headings:
  - directive verbs in the topic
  - assumptions that seem to underpin the topic
  - key concepts of the topic
  - ways of limiting the scope of the assignment
  - possible main points
  - possible thesis or theme