Study skills
Current students
Here’s what a Deakin lecturer had to say about good essays:
The basis of a good essay is that it answers the question set.
It should also develop an argument logically – so that one point follows from another – and coherently – in that it holds together and is consistent.
You should also indicate the evidence on which your argument and individual points are based and acknowledge the sources of your information. You should paraphrase and summarise the writers you read – don’t just use direct quotes.
A good essay will also conform to the word limits and other directions set by the lecturer and be as concise as possible. Avoid irrelevant or extraneous information that distracts from the main argument.
Some students will have a better command of language and a wider vocabulary than others – but that is less important than the ability to get your message across clearly. Use words that you understand and are comfortable with. It is far better to say what you have to say simply than to attempt to dress up your information in flowery prose.
Finally, be sure to edit your work for spelling and typographical mistakes before you hand it in. Sloppy work at this stage detracts from what might otherwise be a good essay.
These are relatively simple rules. Follow them and almost certainly you will produce a good essay.
Let’s summarise what he said…
A good essay will:So, how do we write a ‘good’ essay? Like most things we do, essay writing is best thought of as a process, which is made up of stages that need to be worked through. There is no point in stressing yourself about the finished essay if you haven’t even completed an analysis of the question.
Next try asking what, when, why, where, who, how, to what extent, how significant-type questions about the topic and its various parts. Write these down. This will help you break down the essay question. Consider all of this in light of your lectures, readings and other study materials.
The Deakin University Library online tutorial ‘Understanding your topic’ provides practice in analysing essay questions and identifying key requirements. You can also take a quiz to determine how well you have understood the essential requirements of a number of sample topics. To find out more go to Useful resources.
Below you can see what an essay should look like structurally.
The above diagram shows you what the finished essay should look like. However, you do not have to compose your essay in this order. Some people write the body and conclusion first, then add the introduction last. This is a personal preference. What is important is that all of the parts are linked and work together as a whole.
When you have completed your draft essay put it aside for a day or so. Then go over it two or more times looking for different things each time. Look for overall structural coherence first, e.g. an argument which develops logically from one idea to another. In a second edit look for things like spelling, sentence construction, proper referencing and so on. Our resource Editing explains these processes in more detail.
For referencing requirements, check your unit guide and use the referencing system recommended. For Academic Skills resources on referencing systems go to Useful resources.
It is also important to keep a copy of your completed essay, either on disk or a photocopy.
If you follow these guidelines the task of writing university essays will be more organised and hopefully will get easier.
Farrugia, D, Lee R, Gilchrist, R, Kumar, M & Broadstock, H 2001, Essay writing: understanding the process, 2nd edn, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic.
