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Discover ABEL's expert tips for mastering essay writing and securing top grades. Learn how to organise your thoughts, demonstrate critical thinking, improve your writing style, and edit your work effectively.
A well-organised essay is more than a collection of coherent paragraphs; it is a well-structured argument that guides the reader seamlessly from introduction to conclusion.
Make sure that there is a logical flow of information, based around your main argument or theme.
Start with an attention-grabbing, concise introduction, followed by the main body of the essay. Use clear paragraphs that are built on solid supporting evidence.
Finish with a conclusion that reinforces the key points to show that the essay is not just informative but is also a great piece of writing that ticks all the boxes required to get the best marks.
BE careful! Even an essay that presents some exceptional ideas but is poorly structured will lose valuable marks.
Any university-level essay is a platform for showcasing your ability to think critically. Question everything! Beyond presenting information, the essay should reflect a depth of engagement with the topic.
A critical thinker evaluates the relevance and reliability of the information they encounter during their research, considering diverse perspectives.
Exceptional essays acknowledge the complexity of issues and present a balanced discussion by incorporating various viewpoints, including potential counterarguments.
This not only enriches your narrative but also shows that you understand the broader issues around the topic.
Critical thinking involves going beyond surface-level analysis. Rather than offering a superficial overview of the topic, to hit the top bands of the assessor’s rubric, you need to delve into the underlying assumptions, implications, and consequences of your research.
Try to add to the academic conversation, not just reiterate the information you have found.
To clearly show critical thinking in your essay, you need to show that you have used the ideas identified in your research. Show that you can connect different concepts and synthesise them into a cohesive argument.
This synthesis showcases a deeper understanding rather than a mere regurgitation of information.
The quality of your writing style significantly influences the impact of an essay. Essays that contain outstanding ideas can be marked down because of issues with grammar, syntax, and punctuation.
Strive for clarity and precision in your language choice, using concise and specific wording to convey your ideas effectively. Don’t use unnecessary jargon or overly complex language that can confuse your reader and make it difficult to understand your meaning.
Mix up your sentence structures and don’t rely too much on one or two phases (we see so many “on the other hand…. for example”).
Use a mix of short and long sentences to add rhythm and flow to your writing.
Importantly, maintain a formal and scholarly tone throughout your essay. This means sticking to academic writing conventions and showing a high standard of writing. So avoid colloquial language, slang, or overly casual expressions, unless they are part of a quote.
The importance of this stage cannot be overstated. It is immediately obvious to reviewers when a piece of writing has not been thoroughly checked.
First, read it out loud. Pretend that you're explaining your ideas to a friend. Does it make sense? Does it flow smoothly? Revise any confusing bits so they can follow your train of thought.
Seek out a critical friend, submit a formative version of your essay, and always think about the feedback you receive.
After so long spent crafting a piece of writing, it often helps to take a break before you start revising your work. Sometimes, your brain needs a nap to see things clearly. Do something active then edit your essay with fresh eyes to catch any sneaky mistakes.
Through practice you will be able to proofread like a hawk. Because spelling, punctuation, formatting, and even the smallest errors can reduce your marks, double-check everything before you submit.
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