1. INTRODUCTION HINTSDon’t write your introduction until you have finished the rest of the essay. The intro provides readers with a map of your essay. RESOURCES a) Introduce the topic in a very general way. Use key words from the assignment topic in this part of the introduction. What is your essay about?Write a few sentences to put the task in context. Introductions http://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/essay-introduction.php b) Outline the MAIN points/sections in your essay. Give an overview of the main sections/points in your essay. Re-read your topic sentences from the body paragraphs to help you summarise the main points in your essay. Consider using transition words to list key points/sections e.g. This essay/paper/report will discuss/argue/consider ……. Firstly, ……………...Also,……………… In addition……………..Finally Transition words http://www.studygs.net/trans/index.htm c) Include your thesis statement. (This is your point of view/argument written into one sentence.) Don’t use the words I, me, my, we, us, our anywhere in your essay unless your lecturer has asked you to write it from the first person perspective. Academic writing tends to be written from third person perspective (they/them/their/nurses). Check your thesis statement. Does it answer the question and make your point of view absolutely clear?Your entire essay will be based on this one sentence. (You may swap the order of (b) and (c) if it suits your essay better.) Thesis statements http://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/essay-thesis-statement.php First, second, third person http://owll.massey.ac.nz/academic-writing/1st-vs-3rd-person.php 2. BODY HINTS – Follow this pattern for each body paragraph RESOURCES a) Say it (Topic sentence) The topic sentence is the first sentence of the paragraph.It should be short and general and not contain any details or explanation. It makes the main point of the paragraph in just one sentence. Everything else in this paragraph should explain and support what you have just said in this topic sentence. Topic sentences http://englishforuniversity.com/academic-writing/topic-sentence/ Transition words Signpost words and phrases b) Explain it. Explain in more detail what you have just said in the topic sentence. This could be one sentence or a few. (Imagine someone doesn’t understand what you said in the topic sentence and you need to explain it to them.) c) Prove it Bring in some quotes (either direct or indirect) to support what you have just said. Remember to include the citation details in brackets (author/date). See the CQU Harvard referencing guide, pages 1-2, for details on how to include in-text references. You would usually be expected to include more than one in-text citation per paragraph. Quoting http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/m2/m2u3/index.htm Reporting evidence http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/m2/m2u4/m2u4s4/m2u4s4_1_1.htm d) Discuss it. So what? Now you must discuss the quotes. How do they relate to your topic sentence/overall argument?This means …… If necessary, repeat steps (c) and (d). e) Clinch it Finish the paragraph with one general sentence that relates to the topic sentence or mentions something that will lead into the next paragraph. Concluding sentences http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/m3/m3u2/m3u2s5/m3u2s5_2.htm 3. CONCLUSION HINTS RESOURCES a) Re-state your thesis. In conclusion,… You may want to change the wording slightly, but keep the idea the same. Conclusion guidelines http://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/essay-conclusion.php b) Sum up your main points. It is not usual to add any more quotes or new material in the conclusion. Re-read your topic sentences then summarise them. c) Finish with a final thought/thought for the future. What are the implications? 4. REFERENCES – Harvard style a) Insert your references. Follow the style guidelines in the CQU Harvard referencing guide. • Start on a new page. • Alphabetical order (Include the A, An in titles but ignore it when alphabetising the list). • Check whether to use minimal or maximal capitalisation (pp. 7-8). • Check when to use italics, commas, full stops (see chart in the CQU guide). • Appendices – after the reference list. Each goes on a separate page – lettered not numbered (e.g. Appendix A, Appendix B). About Sources http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/m2/m2u1/index.htm (This website is generally quite useful but make sure you use the CQU Harvard Guide for formatting your references.) CQU Referencing Guide – Harvard (Author/date) http://www.cqu.edu.au/about-us/service-and-facilities/referencing/which-referencing-style-do-i-use