Writing an essay in 12 steps

Writing an essay in 12 steps
Published on Academic Skills and Learning Centre (https://academicskills.anu.edu.au)
Writing an essay in 12 steps
By Kudasai
Created 04/01/2009 - 11:47
Writing an essay in 12 steps
Writing an essay is a messy, complex, often frustrating process that, nevertheless, can be ordered and managed in
several stages. Remember that it is usually a circular rather than a linear process, that your argument will help
develop your writing—and that the process of writing will develop your argument and your use of evidence.
1. Analyse and define the topic or question
While an essay question will always have a topic, your first hurdle is to identify and then explore the underlying
question/debate/problem within that topic that is central to your course. For example, a Political Science question
such as: “What were the causes of the Second World War?” is not asking for a list of causes that you then
describe. It is asking: in what way or to what extent did various factors contribute and how were they interrelated?
Understanding how the task is situated within your discipline/ field/ courses is crucial to developing a
comprehensive answer.
2. Identify some key ideas
Remember that any essay question does not stand alone: its purpose is to assess how well you understand some
key concepts, theories or conflicts in your current course. Consider these concepts, theories or conflicts while you
are preparing your essay. Look at course outlines, lecture notes, seminar readings to identify key themes of the
course.
Use brainstorming or mind-mapping techniques to identify key ideas.
3. The first literature search
Initially it is often difficult to find readings: search library catalogues, abstracts and databases for material (do a
course in the library to learn how). However, when you find sources the amount of reading is often overwhelming.
Ask yourself: what is relevant?; what is more central and what is less important?
Think strategically: who are the key writers in the field?; how can you identify these? Do the course readings
contain useful articles? Start with the key writers in the field that your lecturer recommends, and then progress to
articles, books and journals as you narrow your search for more specific or specialised material.
4. Read
Initially, one of the greatest challenges at university and in essay writing is learning how to read academically.
When you read, read for a specific purpose: what is the writer’s argument (in the research phase)?; how does this
writer refute the position of another writer (later in the research phase)?; are the elements of grammar correct in my
essay (in the later stages of editing)?
Consciously select and apply a reading strategy (see later in the handbook). Read to obtain an overview of what
people are writing on the topic: where are the debates within this topic? What are the key issues of these debates?
Are there any key theorists writing on the topic? What evidence is being used to justify each position or
interpretation of the topic?
Consciously select and apply a note taking strategy (see later in the handbook).
5. Work towards constructing an argument
Try to express your argument or position in one clear sentence. For example “This paper argues...”
Select, from your readings, evidence and ideas that might support your argument.
Next, consider what things you need to do to persuade the reader of your position. Will you need to define key
terms, compare and contrast, critically evaluate the literature, provide background context, analyse a case study,
and so on? Once you have thought of the things you will do, this is called the structure of your argument and it
provides a potential outline of the main sections of the essay.
6. Construct your argument around an outline
The first division of your topic into parts represents your view of what is important in these debates: this is your
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