Is it relevant? Look at the abstract/index/keywords to see whether reading it will help you to answer the essay question.
Is it authoritative? Research the author/publisher to see if they are respected in the academic field.
Is it recent? If the book was published a long time ago, you have to consider whether it is still relevant now.
Is it reliable? Consider whether the source can be trusted. This is particularly important in an ‘online age’, when anybody can put anything online in seconds.
3. Create an outline. Once you know what you want to write about, you should create a rough outline. The best way of doing this for shorter essays is to think about the essay on a ‘paragraph by paragraph’ basis. You may even consider writing all of the ‘topic sentences’ (i.e., the first sentence of the paragraph) so that you have a clear understanding of the whole essay.
4. Manage your time efficiently. Throughout the essay writing process, it is important to manage your time well, so that you have enough time for each stage of the process. Some tips for managing your time effectively include:
• •
Measure your progress in terms of what you produce, not how long you spend doing it – focus on quality not quantity.
Work when and where you are most effective – this will help you produce the best quality work.
• Be flexible – change your schedule as you go along; it is not fixed. •
Talk to your friends and colleagues – they are probably facing the same problems as you are.
• Change the task when you start to feel bored – otherwise you will do a bad job.
5. Proofread your essay. When you think you have finished your essay, you should check it to try and identify any mistakes which you have made. Try to understand the kind of errors which are typical for you, and to focus on them in particular. It can sometimes be useful to ask a friend to check your essay as well, as it can be difficult to spot your own mistakes.
Task 8: Put the following essay-writing tasks in the most logical order. Write the numbers 1–8 against the appropriate step.
Write the essay. Check your grammar and language yourself (or ask a friend to do it). Check with other students on your course about the essay title. Do some initial reading, focusing in particular on gaps in your knowledge. Write down things you already know about the topic. Assess the potential sources for your essay. Write notes on your reading, ensuring you clearly identify where the information comes from. Create a good structure for your essay so that you know the main direction you are going in.
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