Tips for writing a well-organised essay
Use structure, organisation, evidence and a clear line of reasoning - without these you will get very few marks for content.
Remember: every essay should have an introduction (in which you demonstrate understanding of the question, and briefly indicate how you are going to answer it). It should have a set of paragraphs which discuss the main issues critically and go together to form an argument, and it should have a conclusion which pulls together the main strands of the argument and hints at further implications of the issues discussed.
If you have trouble linking paragraphs and ideas when writing the essay, even when referring to your plan, then leave space to come back afterwards and put in the links.
You can often think more clearly once the bulk of the essay is written and you have time to make sure you have presented an argument which answers the question.
Read each question through at least twice.
Work out what is expected, in general, for each question. Which part of the course does it refer to? Towards which issues is the question directing you?
Think about how the question is worded very carefully - a slight difference in wording might require a very different answer.
Highlight key words in the title. Notice how many parts there are to the question - think again at this stage about what angle the question is taking on the issues it raises. It is very important that you respond to the specificities of the question - if you do not question, but rather just put down everything you know about the subject - your marks will plummet rapidly.
At any time, jot down ideas you have about the questions.
