Essay Writing Guide

CSE3PE 2011

Essay Writing GuideCSE3PE 2011 This guide can be used as a stand

alone resource for students to use when writing Essays for CSE3PE for students who have reasonable confidence in their essay writing skills.

If you have any queries about the content you are able to email me

You can also attend a workshop- drop in session in week 2 (date and time will be on the subject web page soon )

Or you able to request a 1:1 session with one of the ALL staff by asking your lecturer/tutor to refer you.

Contact detailsMarie Bonne

Academic Language and Learningm.bonne@latrobe.edu.au

Student Services Reception54447565

Index

1. Steps summary table2. Step 1: Analyse the question – includes

example and self-test3. Research and Note-taking4. Step 2: Brainstorm5. Step 3: Group your ideas6. Step 4: Outline your ideas

Make a plan by Block Pattern Make a plan by Point-by-

Point Pattern7. Step 5: Writing8. Relationship between Paragraphs and

Essays Table9. Writing paragraphs10. Using connections11. Introductions12. Conclusions13. References14. Edit and Proofread

PlanningStage

1. Analyse the

question

2. Brainstorm

3. Group ideas into themes

4. Outline

Writing Stage

5. Write

6. Edit

7.Check format & proof-read

Contact detailsMarie Bonne

Academic Language and Learning

m.bonne@latrobe.edu.auStudent Services Reception

54447565

Step 1: Analyse the questionAnalyse the question

Identify the instruction word

Identify the topic

Identify the controlling idea

Look for instruction word,

topic and controlling idea in

the question below.

Does the impact of computer

use in developing

communities create more

problems than it solves?

Discuss, with reference to key

academic studies in the area.

Test yourself:

Look for instruction word,

topic and controlling idea in

the question below.

Do high levels of trust between

IT workers and management

lead to better performance?

Discuss, with reference to key

academic studies in the area.

Research and Note-taking

read the recommended texts

use the reference list of these to find others

conduct a search using the library catalogue

use the library’s electronic data base

Research and NotetakingSkim the reading first to get an

overviewread the abstract,the introduction & conclusionwhat are the headings and

subheadingswhat are the key questions and

findingsis it relevant to your

essay/review/report

RESEARCHRead the text completelyrecord all the publication details take notesdetermine if this is a major or

minor contribution to the discussion

determine where it fits in to your plan

Research and Note-taking

Book

Author – surname and initial

Year of publication

Title of book

City of publication

Publisher

Research and Note-taking

Journal Article

Author – surname and initial

Year of publication

Title of article

Title of journal

Volume and number of journal

page numbers of article

Research and Notetaking

Chapter in a book

Author – surname and initial

Year of publication

Title of chapter

Editor – initial and surname

Title of book, city of publication and publisher

page numbers of chapter

Step 2 BrainstormWrite down all the ideas, points,

arguments, concepts that you think will find a place in the literature review

Do not try to organise things at this point

use any schema that you like mind maps, chart, diagram, list

Step 3 Group your ideasstart to group your ideas

what are the major themes

give your themes headings

Step 4 Outline your ideasdetermine how your ideas link

to each other

determine which comes first, second, etc.

write a detailed plan that includes

an introductionthe body paragraphs - order and headingsa conclusion

Step 4 Make a Plan by Block Pattern Structure1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

Explanation of the issueThesis statement

2.2. BodyBodyBlock 1

A. Summary of other side’s argumentsB. Rebuttal of the first argumentC. Rebuttal of the second argumentD. Rebuttal of the third argument

Block 2E. Your first argumentF. Your second argumentG. Your third argument

3. ConclusionConclusion – may include a summary of your point of view.

Step 4 Make a Plan by Point-by-Point Pattern1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

Explanation of the issue, including a summary of the other side’s argumentsThesis statement

2.2. BodyBodyA. Statement of other side’s first argumentand rebuttal with your own counterargumentB. Statement of other side’s second argumentand rebuttal with your own counterargumentC. Statement of other side’s third argumentand rebuttal with your own counterargument

3. ConclusionConclusion – may include a summary of your point of view.

Step 5 WritingUse the outline to guide your

writing

check that you areanswering the questionthat you are presenting various

viewsthat you have a logical orderthat you are writing in your own

words

The relationship between paragraph & essay structure

Paragraph

Topic sentenceA. SupportB. SupportC. Support

Concluding Sentence

EssayI. IntroductionGeneral

statementsSpecific

statements (thesis)

II. BodyA. Topic

sentence1. Support2. Support3. Support

B. Topic sentence1. Support2. Support3. Support

C. Topic sentence1. Support etc

III. Conclusion

Step 5 Writing – Paragraphs

Make sure your paragraphsMake sure your paragraphsare clearly separated

have a topic sentence (with one main controlling idea)

have connecting words, phrased and sentences within and between

have concluding sentences where necessary

Step 5 Writing - Connections

Ensure that you make use of connecting words, phrases and sentences:furthermore, moreover, in

additionhowever, in contrast, on the

other handnevertheless, despite this, therefore, as a result,

consequentlyIn conclusion, in summaryThis situation may result in a

change of behaviour ………..(leading in to the next paragraph’s topic)

Step 5 Writing - Introduction

The introduction should

provides some background/context

clearly state topic and controlling ideathe central focus for the whole

essay

list the themes and structure of the essay

The relationship between frequency of use solar-powered laptops and an improvement in students’ education standards has been recently studied by education researchers in Namibia. Most of the research emphasized the value of teacher reflection on their students’ laptop use as a strong influence on student performance in later Literacy testing, due to its significant effect on the teachers’ changes in classroom practice (Brayfield & Crockett 2006: 421). Other research since Brayfield and Crockett, by Vroom (2007) , found particular tasks performed using the laptops were more often associated with a positive improvement in critical thinking skills.

Step 5 Writing - IntroductionBackground or contextBackground or context

Fortunately, the research on this topic remains active. The present article will focus on the development of the major views regarding this hypothesis that the use of solar powered laptops in developing communities solves more problems that it creates. First it will review the origin of the hypothesis that ...Secondly, it will briefly examine the start of the series of researches that questioned the validity of this hypothesis. It will then examine the investigations that emerged in the last decade that shed new light on the study. Finally, it will look at possible explanations for the lack of ‘unambiguous and reliable findings’(Fisher 2008: 607)

Step 5 Writing - IntroductionState the topic or thesis statementState the topic or thesis statement and and

controlling ideacontrolling idea . Then introduce the . Then introduce the themesthemes to be covered in the essay. to be covered in the essay.

Step 5 Writing - Conclusion

In conclusion, the consensus about the positive benefits for a developing community of using solar-powered laptops far outweighing the problems that are created by their use is clear and consistent. There is much evidence to suggest a correlation exists between the improved education levels and the use of the laptops. The nature of the relationship could mean that there is a causal effect and therefore a reciprocal effect. Moderating variables, such as the hours per week of the use of laptops and the structure of the teaching program, may however, strengthen or weaken this improvement in education standards. Despite some minor conflicting results, the issue is of such importance that research will continue.

The The conclusionconclusion should restate the topic should restate the topic and controlling ideaand controlling idea, summarize the main , summarize the main points made for each themepoints made for each theme, leave the , leave the reader with a strong final comment or reader with a strong final comment or thought.thought.

Step 5 Writing - REFERENCES

provide in-text referencing wherever you have used ideas or material from another source (even when it is in your own words)

make it clear to the reader when you are quoting - use the exact words from another source - by using quotation marks

ensure that your in-text references can be found in your reference list

only references in your text should be listed in your reference list

Step 5 Writing - References

REFERENCE GUIDE

Use LibSkills – Referencing Tool & Referencing Module or this link.

http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/referencingtool/non-flash/index.phpHarvard referencing for most

types of resources are located on the bottom left side of this page.

Step 6 Edit and Proofread

read your paper again and consider ifthe question has been answeredthe different viewpoints are

coveredthe writing and structure is clear

Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar

Check the format double-spaced, 12 point font size etc.