Step

Advice

1

Getting started: Essays will almost always ask you to answer a question. The question (or "essay topic") will contain a key word or process word which is a guide to the way in which you should set about answering the question.

You should also check what type of writing / writing genre is required.

2

Explore your topic: think about what you know about the subject. Write it down in some way. Develop your ideas into a preliminary plan.

3

Use the Preliminary Plan to guide you in Finding the Information You Need

4

When you have a basic understanding of the reading, prepare a working plan.

5

Use your Working Plan to prepare a first draft of the body of the essay and writing good paragraphs . Make sure you use an academic writing style. Avoiding Plagiarism by careful use of other writers' ideas and words is essential; in the text of your essay, try to use a variety of reporting verbs to refer to other writers' work. This will help you develop a critical writing style.

6

Draft an introduction and a conclusion

7

Prepare the references list . For Oxford and Harvard systems in particular, see referencing systems. You might also like to have a look at the VU library resources on referencing. After a break, revise and proofread , using the essay checklist.