Paper Writing Guide

Chapter 3 -- ESSAYS

Essay Checklist

Use the following list to do a self-check of your essay before submission. The order of the main components of this checklist is the order in which these components should be presented.

Tick this column

COMPONENTS OF AN ESSAY

Assignment Cover Sheet(This is the standard Faculty submission form.)

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Course, assignment and student details

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Signed 'Statement of own work'.

Title page

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Explanatory title for the essay

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Assignment, course and student details (repeated)

Synopsis / Abstract

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Brief summary (see Course Profile for recommended length)

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Complete summary of the essay content

Table of Contents (if appropriate)

Introduction

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Introduces the reader to the content of the essay

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Aims of essay are established & key terms are defined

Main Body

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Only contains material relevant to the topic (focused)

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Material is presented logically (flow)

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A clear argument, theme or discussion is developed

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Claims are supported with evidence and/or argument (citations)

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Reading has been utilised critically, integrated and blended

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Material has not been used selectively - argument is balanced

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Direct quoting has been used discerningly and acknowledged

Conclusion

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Clearly and concisely pulls together main points

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Presents no new material

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Follows logically from content in the body of the essay

Reference List / Bibliography

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Displays evidence of wide reading (quantity, quality and variety)

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Uses Author-date referencing system (as discussed in Chapter 2 of this guide)

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All sources are acknowledged - only sources cited in the essay are listed in a reference list

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Sources are listed in alphabetical order

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Reference List is appropriately formatted (e.g. entries are not numbered)

Appendix Items (if appropriate)

General Stylistic Issues (Hint: ask someone to proof-read the essay for you)

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Correct grammar and spelling (sentences, paragraphs, no abbreviations)

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Clarity of expression (no slang, colloquial expression and/or sexist language)

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Balance between research and own views

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Essay is appropriate length as per assignment expectations

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Figures, diagrams, tables, are appropriately labelled and sourced

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Essay is appropriately presented (double-line spaced, good margin, typed)

ESSAY CHECKLIST

The synopsis or abstract

THE SYNOPSIS OR ABSTRACT

Statement of content not intent

In some courses students will be required to include a synopsis or abstract as part of the written paper. The synopsis or abstract provides the reader with a summary of the paper, its main arguments, conclusions and, where appropriate, recommendations. The synopsis or abstract is usually around 100-150 words in length, and it is generally accepted that these words are not included in the word count for the essay assignment. Importantly, the synopsis or abstract is a summary of the paper. It should not be confused with the plan developed for writing the paper, nor should it be confused with the Introduction to the paper. In other words, the synopsis or abstract provides an overview of the entire paper. It does not merely tell the reader what the structure of the paper will be. Equally, it does not merely introduce the paper. The synopsis or abstract is best written after the paper has been completed when the author is able to step back and state (in the suggested 100-150 words) what the paper is all about. The synopsis or abstract is a common feature in most professional journal articles and it would be helpful if you check some of the journals in your discipline areas to see how authors have written the synopsis or abstract for their paper. The primary purpose of the synopsis or abstract is to inform the reader if the paper is likely to contain information relevant to their information gathering purposes.

Structurally, the synopsis or abstract should immediately follow the title page of the essay paper, before the table of contents (if one has been used in the paper), and before the main body of the essay that itself will commence with the introduction.

The characteristics of a good essay

THE CHARACTERISTICS