Thursday--and some excellent essay-writing advice!

Dear year 13,

Just to remind you that today's lesson is reserved for you to be getting on with your coursework, but that I will see you tomorrow as usual to give you feedback, and hopefully collect in a few finished pieces.

Most of you are working fine, but there are a few (you know who you are) who have not yet submitted an appropriate piece--be warned, if you do not hand in coursework, then whatever I have from you will have to be submitted, even if you feel it is not your best work. Why ask your examiner to mark a piece that is 700 words long, when they are expecting something much more substantial? You are losing easy marks here.

Don't miss the opportunity to create a good coursework essay. This is an ideal opportunity for you to improve your grade, and save yourself from any problems later on by underpinning your exam work with a solid coursework grade

Below is some excellent advice if you are having problems in structuring your essay--from Miss Glynn.

First of all, although some people are in the habit of starting an essay without having written a plan first, that isn't good practice. Now is a good time to learn how to write an effective plan! It will enable you to have a detailed overview of the essay before you start writing. Otherwise you may find yourself trying to trawl your way through an essay, whilst scouring the text for useful references, only to find at the end of it that you've totally strayed from the question - NOT a pleasant experience! If you write a detailed plan, you will find the process far more satisfying, I guarantee it. If your argument changes as you progress, you can always adapt your plan.







Introduction:


1) Break the question down into points for discussion.


2) Bullet-point your introduction. This should touch on every point that you plan to cover, and these points should be informed by your essay question.


3) Your introduction should hint towards your stance, but leave room for you to round those ideas off in your conclusion.


4) If you removed the main body of the essay, your introduction and conclusion should stand alone as a clear, linear argument.






Each paragraph should include:


1) A focus on one of the points for discussion raised in your introduction.


2) An exact textual reference - these should be in place before you start writing your essay!


3) Critical reference if appropriate - how does it support or challenge your point?


4) Link to the title - essential in every paragraph!!! This may come through in your analysis*.


5) Reference to the form of the text. How does form influence your argument?


6) Your analysis* of the points raised in the paragraph, as informed by the evidence given.


7) Clear links to the previous and following paragraphs.






Conclusion:






This should round off the points raised in your introduction, giving a clear opinion.


Your opinion should start to form in the introduction, develop paragraph-by-paragraph, and reach a clear conclusion at the end. Your opinion doesn't need to either agree or disagree with the question. A balanced opinion is just as valid, it just needs to have conviction!!


Don't let your conclusion be a lazy add-on to the rest of your essay. It will leave a lasting impression and give justification to the main content of your argument. Similarly, a strong introduction and conclusion cannot support a weak essay, they will only draw attention to half-hearted or confused writing. Make sure the quality of your work is consistent!


To summarise, I suggest that your essay plan should look like this:






Introduction:




Paragraph 1:


All info as suggested above.






Paragraph 2:






Paragraph 3: etc...






Conclusion:




Good luck!!