ESSAY WRITING: MAKE ESSAY SHINE

1. ESSAY WRITING
PRESENTATION 8

2. GOOD WORDS TO USE
• Here are some good words to start using in your essays:
• Demeaning, persuasive, contradiction, justified, compatible, masterly,
dignified, affluent, vivid, contempt, nationalism, demonstrated,
crucially.

3. TIPS FOR HISTORY ESSAYS
• Use some of the following sorts of phrases in your essay to emphasise
some of your points:
It is clear that…, It appears that…, The suggestion that…, As this essay argued…,
The point remains that…, What seems obvious…, What seems apparent was
that…, This essay suggests that…, As this essay has demonstrated…, This essay will
examine the…
• Staying on topic is extremely important.
• Writing an essay plan is the best aid to help you stay on topic: repeating
useful phrases from the question can also help.

4. WRITING AN EXAM ESSAY
• The first significant difference is that you do not have much time, so
you need to be condensed in your approach to planning your essay.
• Make every paragraph and example count.
• The second major difference is that you want to advance as quickly as
possible into writing the body of the essay.
• For exams, you want to rapidly begin notching up marks, and you win
the most marks by what you compose in the body paragraphs.
• Long introductions do not win examination marks.
• Well-evidenced, interesting body paragraphs win marks.

5. ESSAY WRITING CHECKLIST
• Write a plan.
• In the introduction, clearly state the argument.
• One main point per paragraph.
• The point of each paragraph is very clear.
• Use detailed examples to support each point.
• Make paragraphs the correct length, not too short or too long.
• Make sentences 20 words or less.
• Use a variety of evidence.
• Use short quotes, no more than 10 words.
• Use a variety of styles in writing sentences.

6. ESSAY WRITING CHECKLIST cont.
• Use good words to express yourself.
• Your conclusion states the main points and give some thoughtful
comments.
• Proofread for spelling mistakes.
• Read the essay with fresh eyes.
• Give your essay a title and write your name on it.