This document provides guidance on writing academic essays at the university level. It discusses key aspects of composing an essay such as developing an argument to answer a question, using an outline to organize ideas, and revising the work. The document also contrasts the expectations for essays in high school, which often use formulas and structured outlines, versus university, where critical thinking and individual analysis are encouraged. Other topics covered include conducting research, writing introductions and conclusions, integrating quotes, and following formatting guidelines.

2.  An essay should have an argument that answer a
question or a few related questions
 Try to prove an hypotesis
 The organization should be clear and persuasive
 Methods of composing a paper:
Start writing with plenty of time
Write the ideas even if they are not in order
Use an “outline” to keep organization
Revise everything once you think it is ready

3. High School Rules University Expectations
•Provides formulas and
rules
•Offers a structure to
follow
•Rewards the knowledge of
the material
•Five-paragraph-structure
•Thesis statement of one
sentence lenght supported
by three points
•Discourages formulas and
encourages critical
thinking
•Provides you freedom to
come up with your own way
•Rewards the analysis
•No specific numbers of
paragraphs
•Not every essay needs a
thesis statement

4.  Note the key terms
 Note which concepts or methods are you going to use
 Ask yourself questions
 Look for controversies
 Formulate a tentative thesis statement

5.  Be sure you understand the assignment
 Have you done enough research?
 Have you done too much research?
 Be sure you have an specific topic
 Looks for guide from your teacher or handsbooks on
how to write in specific disciplines
 Write the introduction quickly and at the end of the
essay
 Try to manage your time properly in order not to get
stressed

7.  Think about the organization of your paper during the
pre-writing stage
 Pay attention to the genre of your paper
 The earlier you begin planning, the better
 Use techniques for integrating note-taking as index
cards, the computer or the circle method
 The structure of your paper should not be determined
by the structure of it source material
 Check the coherence with a reverse outline
 Be aware of the implications of planning too little or
too much

8.  It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to
be explained and supported by further discussion
 It shows the emphasis and indicates the methodology
of your argument
 It shows awareness of difficulties and disagreements

10.  It is not necessary to write the introduction at first
 The size should bear some relationship to the lenght
and complexity of your paper
 Get to the point as soon as posible
 Quote an expert
 Use a brief narrative to explain your choice
 Do not provide dictionary definitions or deep
explanations
 If you uses a thesis, this will appear at the end of the
introduction

11.  Instead of making a summary, involve critical thinking
 Broaden your focus a bit at the end of the essay
 The lenght should reflect the lenght of the essay
 The content of the conclusion changes according to
the kind of paper

12.  A paragraph is a group of sentences that support a
central and unified idea. The main idea is found in the
topic sentence which is accompanied of sentences
related to it.
 To show connections within the paragraph writers turn
to the use of repetition of key words, strategic use of
pronouns and specialized linking words.
 There are various kinds of paragraphs: definition,
clasification, contrast, qualificaiton and process

13. In order not to plagiarize, writers must use quotations
based on MLA or APA rules of references. Quotations
are used to demonstrate that the author have done
enough research.
 Every quotation need an introduction.
 Use ellipsis or square brackets to show modifications
of your source but be sure you respect punctuation.
 Be cautious with the overuse of quotations
 Paraphrasing or summarizing are good techniques if
the ideas ecpressed do not deserve to be quoted.

14. Paraphrase Summary
•Restate someone else´s ideas
into your own language using
your own words.
•You must provide a
reference.
•Make an analysis of what are
you paraphrasing.
•Not all the details of the
original passage have to be on
your writing.
•Reduce the essential points
of someone else´s work into a
shorter form.
•Is shorter than a paraphrase.

16. Revision is an essential stage on your writing as you are
playing the role of your first reader while revising it . It
may mean change shape and reasoning in your paper.
There are steps to follow whn revising and editing:
 Chack wheter you have fulfilled the intention of the
assignment
 Revise the organization of the paper
 Polish and edit your style

17.  Include a cover page
 Number your pages
 Double-space your text
 Use a estandar font in twelve-point size
 Put the reference list or bibliography on a separate
page at the end
 Staple your pages

18.  Cayley, Rachael. (2017)“Writing Advice”. University of
Toronto. http://writing.utoronto.ca/