uni essay
- Thinking about the question.
- Gathering information and ideas.
- Organising your ideas.
- Getting something on paper.
- Writing a first draft.
- Reviewing in light of feedback or reflection.
- Producing a final draft.
Take a look at our handy quick guide to essay writing (PDF) for useful tips and techniques for you to apply.
Students can access
An in troduction generally does three things. The first part is usually a general comment that shows the reader why the topic is important, gets their interest, and leads them into the topic. It isn’t actually part of your argument. The next part of the introduction is the thesis statement. This is your response to the question; your final answer. It is probably the most important part of the introduction. Finally, the introduction tells the reader what they can expect in the essay body. This is where you briefly outline your arguments .
It’s a chance to add depth to something that is important to you and tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals. Test scores only tell part of your story, and we want to know more than just how well you work. We want to see how you actually think.
The essays can be the most important components of your application.
- An academic essay should answer a question or task.
- It should have a thesis statement (answer to the question) and an argument.
- It should try to present or discuss something: develop a thesis via a set of closely related points by reasoning and evidence.
- An academic essay should include relevant examples, supporting evidence and information from academic texts or credible sources.
An academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence.
The Writing Centre offers one-to-one appointments that are designed to aid all students to improve and develop their academic writing. Each appointment is either a 30 minute in-depth discussion with a qualified tutor, or can be conducted via email. In both cases a sample of the student’s writing is submitted in advance. This service includes specialist appointments for PhD students. When operating in-person appointments, the service is based in the Harry Fairhurst wing of the University Library.
Academic writing is a central element of most degree programmes. It involves a wide range of skills. The resources on this page are designed to help you to explore and develop the skills necessary to succeed and improve when completing academic writing tasks.
An essay is a well researched and logically structured answer to a particular question, or questions, usually presented as an argument. It is a point of view formulated by critically assessing the information or ideas relevant to the essay topic. It is presented in the form of a series of main points which support your direct answer to the question. Each of these points is addressed in a separate paragraph and is supported with evidence, explanation and/or examples. The argument presented in an essay should be supported by referencing authorities in the relevant field. The argument should also form a cohesive whole: this means the paragraphs need to be logically ordered and connections made between the points presented in those paragraphs.
Essays are used as an assessment tool to evaluate your ability to research a topic and construct an argument, as well as your understanding of subject content. This does not mean that essays are a ‘regurgitation’ of everything your lecturer has said throughout the course. Essays are your opportunity to explore in greater depth aspects of the course – theories, issues, texts, etc. – and in some cases relate these aspects to a particular context. It is your opportunity to articulate your ideas, but in a certain way: using formal academic style.
The Academic Skills Centre provides one-to-one help, advice and online resources for University of Leicester undergraduate and masters students.
- Maths and Statistics
- Academic writing
- Dissertations, projects and assignments
- Study skills and preparing for exams
- Researching, finding and evaluating sources
- Referencing
References:
http://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/essay-introduction
http://apply.jhu.edu/application-process/essays-that-worked/
http://student.unsw.edu.au/essay-writing-basics
http://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/skills/writing
http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/essay/1a.html
http://le.ac.uk/library/academic-skills
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Essay