5 Tips on Writing an Excellent Essay
Writing an Excellent Essay
Writing essays is a huge part of university life. It’s even more so if your course isn’t exam-based (for example, a degree in creative and professional writing). Writing an excellent essay is so important because it has an even more of a bearing on your final grade.
Therefore, assuming you’d like to graduate with a 1st Class Degree, you’ll need to write an excellent essay. The tips below won’t guarantee you a 1st. But they’ll ensure you don’t get marked down for making a foolish mistake.
Some of the advice will seem obvious but some of the most simple things are easily overlooked and can cost you an entire grade.
Read the essay question
You know when I said above some of the advice will seem really obvious? Here’s the first obvious piece of advice – read the essay question.
But when I say ‘read the essay question,’ I mean really read it and not only answer what it’s asking you to answer. But also how it’s asking you to answer it. For example, is it asking you to discuss, analyse or evaluate? Knowing the difference between these terms and answering the essay question accordingly will make a big difference in your grade.
Once you’re sure of what you’ve been asked to do. Make sure you stick to the point and don’t go off on a tangent. No matter how intelligent you think it makes you sound.
Keep within the word count
Assuming you’ve taken notice of the above. And you haven’t rambled on about something that’s nothing to do with what you’ve been asked to write about. You should be able to stick within the word count.
You’re usually allowed 10% either way, so make sure you stick to this. Because you’ll get marked down for handing in an essay that’s too far over or too far under the word count.
If you struggle to reach the word count, don’t be tempted to pad your essay out with irrelevant stuff. Read more around your subject until you’ve got more to say about it. It’s also worth remembering, in formal writing such as an essay, contractions (you’re, won’t, don’t, etc.) are frowned upon. So, using the full words (you are, will not, do not, etc.) won’t just go in your favour. But you’ll reach your word count quicker, too.
Don’t forget the bibliography
This bit is really important – you can be marked down a whole grade for forgetting to add a bibliography, but forgetting to cite your references at the end of your essay is really easy to do (yes, I speak from experience).
Yes, referencing is tedious, time-consuming and boring but it’s got to be done. So, reference widely and don’t forget to do it in the referencing style your university has asked you to.
Get your essay proofread
It’s difficult to see mistakes in our own work, so get another pair of eyes to give your essay the once over. Asking a family member, friend or coursemate in your shared student accommodation to go through your essay doesn’t mean you’re cheating – after all, it’s not like you’re asking them to write the essay for you. But making sure your spelling, punctuation and grammar is perfect will ensure you don’t lose any marks because your apostrophes are in the wrong place.
Hand in your essay on time
This might be the most obvious piece of advice of all. But it’s a really important one with writing an excellent essay. Hand in your essay on time if you don’t want to receive a big fat fail. Most universities won’t take any excuses or even really good reasons for you failing to hand in an assignment on time.
Power cuts, hard drive failures or even the death of a close family member won’t cut any ice with your university if you don’t hand your essay in on time.
How to get a 1st Class Degree
As I said at the beginning, the above advice won’t guarantee you a 1st Class Degree, but paying attention to the details can make all the difference between a 2:1 and a 1st, a 2:2 and a 2:1, or a third and a 2:2.
If you enjoyed this guest post and your younger child has exams coming up, you can find advice here.
