How to write Good Essays

1. Answer the question
The most important thing about an essay is that you must answer the question. Even if your essay is interesting and well-written, you will not be given any credit for your efforts unless it answers the question. Your argument must be relevant to what you have been asked to discuss.

The essay must deal with the subject or the topic(s) posed in the original question. Your answer should demonstrate that you have understood what the question is asking for, that you have grasped its key terms, and that you have followed all of its instructions.

2. Create clear structure
A good essay is like a piece of architecture. It should be built on firm foundations to carefully made plans. The points of your argument should be arranged in some order which is logical and persuasive.

If you are dealing with a number of issues, the relation between them should be clearly explained. The connections between each stage of your argument and the original question should be made clear throughout the essay.

3. Use an appropriate style
For an academic essay the third person ('he', 'she', or 'it') is a more preferable style, rather than the first person ('I'). Occasional use of 'I' may be acceptable if your personal opinion has been specifically requested in the question.

You should keep your audience in mind. Try to imagine that you are addressing someone who is intelligent and reasonably, but not necessarily well-informed on the subject. Remember that your writing should be grammatically accurate. Sloppy punctuation and weak sentence construction will create a bad impression. Mixed tenses and metaphors should be avoided. Spelling mistakes should be corrected.

4. Support your arguments with evidence
Essays shouldn't be just a series of bald statements. You need to provide evidence to support any assertions you make. This evidence should be factual details, practical examples, your own reasoning, or the arguments of other people.

When you quote other people's work, you should always acknowledge the fact that you are using someone else's ideas. Provide evidence of this by using a system of footnotes or endnotes and accurate referencing. Never try to pass off other people's written words as your own. This is called plagiarism, which is severely frowned upon in academic circles.

5. Express yourself clearly
One of the hallmarks of a good essay is that it demonstrates clarity of thought. You should identify topics and discuss them in a simple, logical manner. The stages of your argument should be organised in a clear straightforward sequence.

You should make clear distinctions between one topic and another.If in doubt, write in short, clear sentences. This may not come easily at first, but with practice it should be possible to gain greater clarity through discipline, selection, and planning.

6. Give evidence of reading and understanding
Essays are often set to encourage and direct your reading in a subject. If you show that you have read widely and thoroughly understood the subject you are discussing, you will be demonstrating your competence.

The best essays are often produced by people who have taken the trouble to acquaint themselves both with the principal 'set books' and with secondary works of commentary and criticism as well. They will often show evidence of intellectual curiosity which has taken them beyond the bounds of what has been prescribed as a minimum.

However, the highest grades are often given to essays which display something extra or special. This might be an original idea or an unusual, imaginative approach. Such essays usually stand out because of their freshness and the sense of intellectual excitement they convey. But remember, you are not usually required to be original. Your tutor(s) will be perfectly satisfied if you simply answer their essay questions in a sensible and competent manner.

8. Presentation of your work
Any essay will be more attractive and persuasive if it is well presented. You might even gain extra marks! There are a few simple steps you can take, and every one of them will improve the appearance of your work.

Use wide margins on the sides, top, and bottom of your pages. Choose a serif font, such as Times Roman, and use twelve point font size. Select one and a half or double line spacing. Put the question in bold. Insert double spaces between paragraphs.

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