How-to-write-an-Essay

["Bibliography Dorothea Brande, Becoming a Writer (London: Macmillan, 1984). Even profes- sional writers admit they are indebted to this book for its help in freeing their most creative insights. Tony Buzan, Use Your Head (London: BBC, 1979). One of the \ufb01rst to popularise pattern notes, or \u2018mind maps\u2019. Stuart Chase, Guides to Straight Thinking (New York: Harper, 1956). Stella Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook (Basingstoke: Macmillan \u2013 now Palgrave, 1999). Edward de Bono, Parallel Thinking (London: Penguin, 1994). Edward de Bono, Serious Creativity (London: HarperCollins, 1995). Manya and Eric De Leeuw, Read Better, Read Faster (Harmondsworth: Pelican, 1973). Jean M. Fredette (ed.), Handbook of Magazine Article Writing (Cincinnati: Writer\u2019s Digest Books, 1990). Learn from the professionals \u2013 this is full of sound practical advice from professional writers. Bruno Furst, The Practical Way to a Better Memory (Marple: Heap, 1977). One of the most renowned books on concentration and memory training. Harry Maddox, How to Study (London: Pan, 1967). John Peck, and Martin Coyle, The Student\u2019s Guide to Writing (Basingstoke: Macmillan \u2013 Palgrave, 1999). William Strunk, and E. B. White, The Elements of Style (New York: Macmillan, 1979). Once known as \u2018the little book\u2019, this sold over two million copies in its \ufb01rst edition \u2013 learn how to write clearly and concisely. Robert H. Thouless, Straight and Crooked Thinking (London: Pan, 1958). John Wilson, Thinking with Concepts (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1963). 280","Index abilities thought provoking, 197\u2013202, range of, 8, 56\u20139, 61\u20135, 178\u201381 265\u20136 unlocking, ix\u2013x, 51\u2013 4, 55, 63, 125\u20136, 132, 177\u201381, 258\u201360 con\ufb01dence, 42 see also patterns of study; creativity thinking skills keeping the editor at bay, 176\u20137, active voice, 218\u201320, 271\u20132 255, 258\u201361 analysis staking your claim, 43 getting started, 16\u201321 see also brainstorming; ideas; need for, 9\u201314, 22\u20133, 278 three-step technique, 27\u201341 pattern notes appearance, 275\u20136 criticism and evaluation authorities challenging them, 61\u20133, 278\u20139 four-step technique, 110\u201317 effects of being tied to, 66\u20138, how to, 108\u201317 118, 121\u20133, 177\u20138, 192\u20135, devil\u2019s advocate, 110\u201317, 178\u201381 237\u20138 discussion bibliographies, see referencing in essays, 177\u201381, 197\u20138 books in seminars, 53\u2013 4, 108\u20139, 119\u201320, using them effectively, 78\u201381 127\u20138, 162\u20133 brainstorming, 42\u201353 economy, 215\u201324 importance of, 43\u2013 4, 54\u20135 see also simplicity; style; writing clich\u00e9s, 213\u201314 editing see also jargon; words; writing the essay, see revising the essay cognitive skills, 63\u2013 4, 178\u201381, the plan, 142, 151\u20139 192\u20135, 228 essays see also thinking skills irrelevance, see relevance concentration, 109\u201310, 125\u20136, learning from them, 1\u20132, 278\u20139 structure, 9\u201314, 143\u20134, 151\u20132, 128\u20139 182\u20135, 187\u20139, 230\u20131, 263\u20136, concepts 278 analysis of, 9\u201314, 22\u20133, 27\u201341, evaluation, see criticism and 278 evaluation forming, 27\u201335 evidence open and closed, 15\u201316 improving use of, 195\u20136, 225\u201332, testing, 36\u201341 264\u20135 conclusions overstating and understating, and taut, cohesive essays, 198, 225\u20138, 230\u20131, 264\u20135 and paragraphs, 195\u20136 265\u20136 relevant and speci\ufb01c, 264\u20135 281","282 Index selective use of, see thesis learning statements active, 83\u20134, 125\u20136, 162\u20133, 238 importance of needs, 69, 162 showing rather than telling, passive, 61\u20132, 66\u20138, 83, 108\u201310, 230\u20131, 264\u20135 192\u20134 processing, 83\u201395, 132\u20138; deep too much of, 230\u20131, 264\u20135 level, 76, 83\u20134, 125\u20139; surface types, 226\u20138 level, 76, 83, 109\u201310, 118, see also readers 127\u20138, 162, 193\u20134 examinations assessing abilities, 56\u201365, 192\u20135 linear notes, 52\u20133, 94\u2013100 avoiding panic, 166\u201370 advantages of, 145\u201350 examination technique, 160\u20135, examples of, 90\u20132, 96\u20139, 146\u20139, 153\u20136, 191\u20132 168\u201370 revision for, 1\u20132, 66\u20137, 95, 101\u20137, logical indicators effective use of, 208, 222\u20134, 264 122\u20133, 160\u20138 losing the reader, 207\u20138, 189\u201391 examiners, 144 marks see also marks earning the highest, 14, 39, 42, 169, 184, 226\u20137 fallacies, 84\u20135, 110, 114, 179 \ufb02exibility, 51\u20135, 67, 78\u201380, 94, 106, memory improving, 83, 85\u20136, 96, 99, 118 101\u20137, 125\u20138, 160\u201370 \ufb02uency, 117, 160\u20131, 176\u20137, 187\u20138, trusting, 103\u20134 see also learning \u2013 active 222\u20134, 255\u20136, 258\u201360, 262\u20133, 274\u20135 mind reading aloud, 262\u20133, 274\u20135 helping it self-organise, 85\u20136, 92, see also ordering ideas; topic 104, 119\u201322, 127\u20138, 133\u20135, sentences; transitions 161\u20133, 258\u201360 ideas mnemonics, 164\u20135 helping them develop, 2\u20133, 54\u20135, 279 needs, see learning using your own, 7, 22\u20133, 31, notebook, 54\u20135, 121, 222, 279 42\u201355, 108\u20139, 118\u201323, 258\u201360, notes 278 see also creativity; pattern notes; abbreviations, 102\u20133 thinking skills the appropriate strategy, 94\u20135 clear structures, 66\u20137, 76, 85, imagination, 53, 177\u20138 see also brainstorming 94\u2013100, 193 consolidating, 106 index card system, 122\u20133, 152, of criticism and evaluation, 246\u20137 108\u201317 instructional verbs, 56\u201360 knowing what to leave out, 7, 55, interpretation of questions, see 66\u20137, 101\u20134 questions recalling them, 76, 94\u2013109 introductions, 143\u20134, 176\u201386, 263 record of your own thinking, 76, essay structure, 183\u20135, 263 103\u20134 interpretation of the question, verbatim, 66\u20137, 108\u20139 see also linear notes; pattern 182\u20133 simple formula, 182, 185\u20136 notes irrelevance, see relevance opinion jargon, 211\u201312 and conclusions, 197\u20138 see also clich\u00e9s; words; writing journal, 121\u20132, 279","Index 283 substitute for evaluation, 195 indicators; topic sentences; suspending judgement, 177\u201381 transitions too much, 195, 197\u20138, 225\u20138 processing, see learning see also evidence project box, 123 ordering ideas, 142, 152\u20139 punctuation organisation, 77 creating rhythms of speech, notes, see notes 205\u20138, 214 retrieval system, see retrieval questions system incomplete answers, 10\u201314, time, see time; timetable 145 interpreting, 7\u20138, 108\u20139, 182\u20133 paragraphs see also analysis; brainstorming development, 192\u20135, 264 range of abilities, see evidence, 195\u20136, 264\u20135 instructional verbs and introductions, 187\u20138 structure, 7\u20138, 9\u201314, 16\u201317, 42 see also introductions typical, 166\u20138 length, 188\u20139 linking, see logical indicators; readability, 215\u201317, 225, 230, topic sentences; transitions 268\u201372 a simple formula, 188\u201396 reading passive voice, see active voice an aid to writing, 203 pattern notes, 94\u20135, 145\u20136 for analysis, 83\u20135, 94\u2013100 authors hijacking your thinking, advantages, 52\u20134 43\u2013 4 examples of, 19, 34, 46\u20139, 115\u2013 for comprehension, 84 for criticism, 84\u20135, 108\u201317 16 inef\ufb01cient reading, 67, 78\u201382, more creative work, 52\u2013 4 105\u20136, 108\u20139, 125\u20139, 133\u20135 see also creativity previewing, 7, 43\u2013 4, 108\u20139 patterns of study purposefully, 75\u20136, 78\u201382 developing the right abilities, scanning, 51, 80\u20132 skimming, 80\u20132 61\u20135 slow, 67 integrating new skills, x, 69 need to change, 51, 59\u201360, 62\u20133, readers empathetic responses, 225, 230 66\u201371, 118, 124\u201331 losing their trust, 267 see also \ufb02exibility losing them, 9, 42\u2013 4, 143\u2013 4, plagiarism 151\u20132, 160\u20131, 182\u20134, 187\u20138, avoiding, 2, 44, 67\u20139, 105, 108\u20139, 205\u20138, 222\u20134, 263\u20135, 269 thinking for themselves, 177, 201, 122\u20133, 193, 234\u20139 216, 230 causes, 234, 237\u20138 see also evidence de\ufb01nition, 233 recycling opinion, 67\u20139, 233\u2013 4 referencing, 240\u201351 six-point code, 236\u20137 acknowledging uncited sources, planning 245\u20136 for examinations, 142, 160\u20137 bibliographies and reference lists, in examinations, 160\u20131, 168\u201370 246\u201351 how to, 143\u201359 endnotes, 242 importance of, 141\u20135 footnotes, 241\u20132 rehearsing the arguments, 141\u20132, impressing the examiner, 68 in-text, 243\u20135 145\u201350, 158\u20139 strengthens weaker points, 144 for taut, cohesive essays, 183\u20135, 187\u201392, 263\u20136 see also introductions; logical","284 Index reasons for, 240 study, how to, see patterns of study systems for citing, 240\u201351 style, 203\u201332, 268\u201372, 274\u20137 relaxing, 128\u20139, 133, 136 relevance, 9, 42\u201350, 52\u20133, 78\u20139, and clear thinking, 206, 211\u201312, 215\u201317 143\u20134, 151\u20132, 182\u20135, 187\u20138, 192\u20136 seven practical rules, 217\u201332 see also questions see also economy; simplicity; retrieval system organising it, 54\u20135, 106, 118\u201323, writing 279 synthesis, 42\u201350 and your own insights, 54\u20135, 118\u201320 see also brainstorming; ideas; revising the essay thinking skills checklists, 265\u20136, 268, 272, 275 by ear, 262\u20133, 274\u20135 thesis statements, 177\u201381 \ufb01ve-stage strategy, 262\u201377 selective use of evidence, 178\u201380 preserving your best ideas, suspending your judgement, 258\u201361 177\u201381 purposeful, 260\u20131 using all your abilities, 177\u201381 separating editor and writer, see also thinking skills 176\u20137, 217, 231, 255, 258\u201361, 278\u20139 thinking skills style, 268\u201375 creative thinking, 118\u201323, 177\u201381 unnecessary material, 268\u20139 inconsistent arguments, 84\u20135, see also appearance; readability; 110\u201317, 189\u201391, 195 sentences; words using more of them, 56, 61\u201371, revising for the exam, see 124\u201338 examinations see also learning rhythm, see punctuation right answers, 63\u20139, 177, 192\u20135 time routines \ufb01nding more, 75\u20136, 127\u20138 taking stress out of studying, length of each study session, 124\u20135, 127\u20139, 133, 135\u20136, 135\u20136 167 organising, 124\u201338 working at the right time, 125\u20136, Parkinson\u2019s Law, 127\u20138, 133, 133\u20135 135 when you work best, 124\u20136, Semmelweis, Ignaz, 24, 27, 36 132\u20135 sentences see also ideas; learning; relaxing; routines; stages of essay clearer, 205\u20138, 215\u201322, 267\u201372, writing 274\u20135 timetable long sentences, 205\u20137, 269 need for, 124\u201331, 237\u20138 losing the reader, see readers planning it, 132\u20138 varying length, 206\u20137 separating the stages, 134\u20135 see also writing be speci\ufb01c, 135\u20136 simplicity, 203\u201314 variety, 134\u20135 see also economy; style; writing stages of essay writing topic sentences, 143\u2013 4, 187\u201392, separating them, 2\u20133, 133\u20135, 255, 264 258\u201361 transitions, 187\u201392, 222\u20133, 264 stress, see routines understanding, 1\u20132 universities compared with schools, 59\u201365 vocabulary, 211\u201314, 217\u201318, 220\u20132","words Index 285 choosing the right ones, 211\u201314, 217\u201324, 269\u201371 grammar, 267 rely on nouns and verbs, 220\u20131, heavy unreadable prose, 203\u201324, 270\u20131 replace prepositional phrases, 268\u201372, 274\u20135; see also 222 readability unnecessary words, 215\u201317, improving style, see style 220\u20132, 268\u201372 jargon, see jargon see also clich\u00e9s; jargon; writing more interesting prose, 119\u201323, 177, 198\u2013202, 225, 230\u20131, writing 258\u201360 adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, making it clearer, 145, 151\u20132, 220\u20132, 270\u20131 160\u20131, 203\u20138, 211\u201324, 262\u201372, avoiding the passive reader, 177, 274\u20135 188, 201, 216\u201322, 225, 230\u20131, paragraphs, length, see 264\u20135, 268; see also readers paragraphs clearer sentences, see sentences plagiarism, see plagiarism clich\u00e9s, see clich\u00e9s putting it into your own words, confusing words and phrases, see plagiarism 205\u20138, 211\u201314, 216\u201317, 268\u201372; rhythm and punctuation, see see also economy punctuation more creative writing, 255, talk in print, 176\u20137, 204\u20138, 258\u201360 211\u201314, 262\u20133, 274\u20135 \ufb02uent prose, see \ufb02uency; ordering thesis statements, see thesis ideas; topic sentences; statements transitions unnecessary words, see words words \u2013 choosing the right ones, see words"]