Hi,i`m doing an open university course and i`m finding it quite hard going as i haven`t studied or wrote essays since i left school,i didnt do well in school and i`m trying to do something worthwhile now.
I was just wondering if there`s any good tips on writing essays as i`m totally crap at trying to get things down on paper but i dont want to give up the course as i am enjoying it.
It isnt a big essay just 1000 words but like i`ve said i`ve never really written a proper one before and just wanting a few helpful hints to get me started,any help really appreciated,thanx.
2006-11-24 03:39:03 · 10 answers · asked by onlyme 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Ask yourself this: What do you want to say? Why? What proof or examples do you have? What are possible arguments or hindrances to what you are saying? What solutions are there to those? Then summarize.
2006-11-24 04:14:11 · answer #1 · answered by fancyname 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't stress out, essays are usually hard for everyone.. sufficient research and lots of drafts are what make a good essay. I am an English major in college and there are times I have 6 or 7 drafts before I pick a final draft. If you know anyone who is good with grammer and puctuation; have them proofread it for you. Most mistakes in essays are not the writer's skills, it is their grammatical and puctuation errors. To get started: write down key points that you want to make in the essay and do your research on those keypoints. The rest should be easy. Use a Thesaurus and dictionary!!
2006-11-24 03:51:55 · answer #2 · answered by amber 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A beginning, a middle and an end are always useful! Read the question VERY carefully to decide exactly what your lecturer really wants you to say. Work out your arguments, in three paragraph form (as the first sentence here), and substantiate your arguments, using appropriate passages from your textbooks (and elsewhere, if you've used other sources). Finally, make sure you reference all your source material, to show the depth of research you have done to write your brilliant essay. The very best of luck to you!
2006-11-24 03:50:07 · answer #3 · answered by Roxy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the OU Course in writing essays or read the books that they publish. Speak to your tutor and get extra help with this if you can.
Try logging on to the open.ac.uk sites for students and talk to other people that are in second or third years as they'll have experience with this. Stick with it and congrats for trying something that some people are more scared to even try doing than you obviously were, be proud of yourself.
2006-11-24 04:16:01 · answer #4 · answered by Jez 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are giving your thoughts on something based on the materials you have been reading so back up some of your statements with references to the course work to prove you've been reading it and its not just your own knowledge. If you bought the Good Study Guide, have a browse through that - it really is good for tips on writing.
2006-11-24 03:49:43 · answer #5 · answered by Lost and found 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was given a peice of advice by a professor:
Write an essay with a beginning (introduction), a middle and an end (conclusion).
This basically means that you lay out your argument, then you carry out the argument, with examples and in a logical fashion, then you say what the point of the argument was, i.e. come down on one side of the other with a brief reason why.
2006-11-24 03:49:14 · answer #6 · answered by SilverSongster 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A teacher at my old school used to tell a tale of a aged yokel farmer who kept winning the essay competitions in the local paper. When questioned by a reporter, asking "How come, someone who doesn't speak perfect Queens English, you keep winning the essay competition?"
The farmer looked at him and said...
"First I tellz 'em what I'm gonna tellz 'em"
"Then I tellz 'em"
"Then I tellz 'em what I tellz 'em"
Moral... A beginning, middle and an end... Introduction, the story and a conclusion.
Attrib. Bill Grey - Old Odd Socks! (HPGS)
2006-11-24 03:49:09 · answer #7 · answered by Boring Old Fart 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
surf the words" writing essays tips " and you will come up with good sites, i've checked for. and don't worry i have had the same problem and my tutor helped me write better essays.
2006-11-24 03:43:56 · answer #8 · answered by shadow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cyber Essays
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Guide to Writing a Basic Essay Guide to Writing a Basic Essay "An essay can have many purposes, but the basic structure is the same no matter what. You may be ...
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With a list of abbreviations, details on citing electronic sources, creating bibliographies, tips for writing an essay, and more. From the James A. Gibson Library.
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Learning Resources: Essay Writing
... you to the process of essay writing - from analysing the question through to ... Study Skills Online: Essay Writing: Introduction ...www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/essay
2006-11-24 03:41:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
wright down on a piece ov paper or 2 any ideas you get even if there completley stupid den put um 2 geva
2006-11-24 03:50:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋