This document provides guidance on writing an informative or argumentative essay, including how to choose a topic, plan and structure the essay, locate and organize relevant information from multiple sources, take effective notes, and avoid plagiarism. It recommends starting with background research on possible topics, creating a mind map to develop the main argument or question, gathering information from a variety of up-to-date and reliable sources, taking notes on how sources relate to the argument, and properly citing all sources. The document also stresses organizing notes, reviewing information and one's own opinion to support the argument, getting feedback, and meeting deadlines.

1. Writing for Information Doon Academy Library

2. Which type of essay? Discursive/Argumentative Both sides of argument Informative/Persuasive Explaining a topic

3. Planning 1 Before you start Think about possible topics Avoid the obvious ones – too boring Watch the news Do background reading

4. Locating information Library catalogue Issues series English page Discursive links Newspapers websites Statistics sites Use a range of sources

5. Planning 2 Decide on your problem or question Start a mind map Try Mindomo or Mindmeister or Bubbl.us Make up an essay plan

7. Locating information 2 Up to date Reliable Unbiased Authoritative

8. Note-taking Skim and scan for facts to back up your argument Record them In your jotter In a visual way, making a timeline, a web or a diagram By making lists, columns, or outlines By highlighting text Do not copy and paste

9. Note-taking 2 How does this fit with what I have already read? What doesn’t make sense? Which side does this evidence support? What are the characteristics of this source? What do I still need to find out?

10. Getting organised You work hard to find information so look after it! Only print what you need Keep your notes on a mind-map or word doc. Keep your work in a folder or inside your jotter. Note your sources as you go along.

11. Getting organised 2 Note details of resources you use: URL, Author, title, date, publisher, page numbers. The work will be copyright. This applies to web pages and CD-ROMs as well as books

12. Academic honesty Copyright means you must not copy! Copy and pasting is passing of other people’s work as your own SQA can cancel all your exam entries Universities expel students caught copying

13. What is Plagiarism? Using a choice phrase or sentence that you have come across. C opying word-for-word directly from a text. Paraphrasing the words from a text very closely. Using text downloaded from the internet. Borrowing statistics or assembled facts from another person or source. Copying or downloading figures, photographs, pictures or diagrams without acknowledging your sources. Source: Open University What constitutes plagiarism or cheating?

14. Self-evaluation 1 Review your information Support your argument with evidence Give your own opinion Finish with a summary and a conclusion

15. Self-evaluation 2 Make sure you are happy with how your work looks. Use the spelling and grammar checker Ask someone else to read it over Hand it in on time! Have a look at Check your sources for more help