Planning and Writing Essays
Planning an essay can often feel like a circular process. You need to think about the question, plan research, collect materials, think again, and so on. This is a guide to some of the key stages and activities involved.
Key points
Start thinking about the essay early on.
Keep going back to the title 鈥� be clear what is being asked.
Ask basic questions to get yourself started.
Organise your time from the start, in a way that suits your routines.
It helps to make a time-plan that works back from the deadline. Decide where you need to be each week. You need time for enough thinking and researching, and also time for re-reading and redrafting.
Tackling the question
Be clear what the essay title is about 鈥� check key terms.
Clarify main areas of the subject you need to address.
Question 鈥� what do I already know/think about this?
Make rough notes to help break down the title and think about aspects.
Planning and carrying out research
Think of questions to guide your research: Where can I find info on x?
What evidence can I find? Where?
Materials can include books, journals, articles, websites and more.
Take notes where needed 鈥� keep details for referencing later.
Keep asking: Do I need this? How will I use it?
Check word limit 鈥� how much information can you use?
Reflect
Go back to the question 鈥� check you have relevant material.
Have your views/ideas changed?
Do you need to find more or other material?
Plan the structure
It helps to think about the word count.
Map out the main sections you will have 鈥�.order, prioritise.
Think about main topics for each section: points, examples and references.
Allow roughly 10% of word count for intro, and same for conclusion.
