Sometimes a good example of what you are trying to achieve is worth a 1000 words of advice! When you are asked to write an essay, try to find some samples (models) of similar writing and learn to observe the craft of the writer. You can use the samples as a basis for working out how to write in the correct style.
About sample essays
Most books on essay writing will supply you with a number of model essays—collect some of these as they are great teachers! No matter what the topic is, you will see similarities between your writing tasks and these model essays. This is because many features of writing are common across subject areas. In some subjects (e.g. Law, Economics, Psychology and others), it is very useful to find subject-specific essay models as you can use these to work out the ‘peculiarities’ of writing for that subject area.
Read an academic essay
The following five paragraph essay has paragraph labels to show the parts of an academic essay. (Note: This essay does not contain authentic references and has been written specifically to use for this teaching task.)
Question
Introduction
Body paragraph 1
Body paragraph 2
Using assignment essays for assessment supports student learning better than the traditional examination system. It is considered that course-work assignment essays can lessen the extreme stress experienced by some students over ‘sudden-death’ end of semester examinations:
If we insist that all students write about everything they have learned in their study courses at the same time and in the same place (e.g. in examinations), we are not giving all of our students equal opportunities. Some students are not daunted by the exam experience while others suffer ‘exam nerves’ and perform at the lowest level of their capabilities. (Wonderland University, 2006, p. 4)
Additionally, Jones et al. (2004, pp. 36-37) propose that assignment essays can be used to assess student learning mid-course and so provide them with helpful feedback before they are subjected to the exam experience. Exams only provide students with a mark rather than specific feedback on their progress. Therefore, setting assignment essays for a substantial part of student assessment is a much fairer approach than one-off examination testing.
Body paragraph 3
Conclusion
References
Bloggs, J. (2003). Linking teaching, learning and succeeding in higher education. London: Bookworld.
Jinx, J.M. (2004). Student essay writing. Journal of Research in University Education, 9(2), 114-125.
Jones, J., Smith, P.L., Brown, K., Zong J., Thompson, K., & Fung, P.A. (2004). Helpline: Essays and the university student. Tokyo: Courtyard Printers.
Sankey, J.M., & Liger, T.U. (2003). Learning to write essays [CD-ROM]. Sydney: Wonderland University.
Taylor, G. (1989). The student’s writing guide for the arts and social sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wonderland University. (2006). Attributes of a university graduate. doi:10.1098/063-112
Yang, S., & Baker, O.E. (2005). Essay writing and the tertiary student. Melbourne: Diamond Press.
Zapper, Y. (2006). Learning essay writing. In F.T. Fax & Y. Phoney (Eds.), Learning Experiences at University (pp. 55-70). Calcutta: Academic Scholar Press.
Analyse an academic essay
Most students really appreciate seeing a finished product. If you are to really benefit from model essays, you need to learn how to read the ‘techniques of the writer’. The following exercise helps you to get started with developing your ‘read the writer’ skills.
The following questions relate to the essay above.
1. The introduction paragraph
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
Correct!
2. Body paragraph 1
Correct!
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
3. Body paragraph 2
incorrect.
Correct!
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
4. Body paragraph 3
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
Correct!
incorrect.
5. The conclusion paragraph
incorrect.
incorrect.
Correct!
incorrect.
incorrect.
6. The reference list
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
incorrect.
Correct!
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