Tips and techniques
Content
01 Introduction
02 Tip one: See essay-writing as a craft
03 Tip two: Develop your critical and analytical thinking
04 Tip three: Develop a critical and objective eye
- 01 Introduction
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Consider:
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Do you have a clear understanding of the marks you received for the essays you submitted last term/previously? What do those marks mean?
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Do you understand why you received the marks that you did? What were the strengths and weaknesses of each essay?
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Do you agree with the marks? Are they a fair assessment of your work?
If you are unclear about any of these considerations:
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Look again at the comments on your marked essays;
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Speak to your class teacher and/or course supervisor;
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Assess your essays and compare your marks with the criteria set out in the departmental marking scale in the Graduate Handbook, if this information is available;
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Assess your essays against the minimum requirements for MA essays in the Graduate Handbook and the course objectives set out in the course syllabus, if this information is available;
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Visit a Study Strategies Tutor (if you are in receipt of a Disabled Student's Allowance) from Student Support or a Study Skills Tutor if your department has one;
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Compare and discuss your work with other students.
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- 02 Tip one: See essay-writing as a craft
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Think of essay-writing as a craft and focus on improving your skills. Understand and respond to the question asked. Plan and structure your essay so as to respond to the question in the most appropriate and effective manner. Organise your material. Write a strong introduction. Write a first draft. Review and revise in the light of the question asked and comments obtained from teachers. Conclude the essay. Write a final draft. Polish.
[Back to top] - 03 Tip two: Develop your critical and analytical thinking
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Develop your conceptual and critical thinking. MA essays are all about critical analysis and evaluation of conceptual/theoretical and empirical material.
To achieve top marks you must show understanding and analytical skills, and some originality in approach and ideas. This cannot be done without a good command of some of the basic literature in the field, the basic theoretical/conceptual issues raised by the question, and broader theoretical contexts.
[Back to top] - 04 Tip three: Develop a critical and objective eye
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Develop a critical eye for your own work. Use marking scales and criteria, comments on marked essays, and checklists to assess your work at each stage: planning, first draft, final draft, etc. Assess your argument, structure, evidence, conceptual/theoretical analysis, critical evaluation of theories, arguments and perspectives, and your originality.
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Three essentials