The document provides guidance on writing effective essays, including how to research a topic, take notes, plan an essay, write an introduction, body, and conclusion, and properly cite references. It discusses selecting a topic, researching sources, organizing notes, creating an outline, structuring paragraphs, and ensuring the essay answers the assigned question. Key aspects of essay writing such as developing arguments, using evidence, and linking paragraphs are also covered.

1. Essay Writing
Isabelle Pottinger
Effective Learning Adviser
Information Services
 451 3062

2. Definition of ‘Essay’
• A short piece of prose writing on a specific
topic.

3. Essay Writing
• Research Topic
• Plan
• Draft
• Review
• Revise
• Edit

4. Getting started
• Clarify the task - seek guidance, if required.
• Clarify the word length and completion date.

5. Researching the Topic
• Make a start on the background reading
required.
• Consider taking bullet point notes of technical
content to reduce the risk of plagiarism.
• Record full references for all the books/
journals/ websites etc. that you use.

6. Note Making
with thanks to James Lamb;
www.leapsonline.org

7. DIFFERENT NOTE MAKING STYLES
Linear notes
with thanks to James Lamb;
www.leapsonline.org

8. DIFFERENT NOTE MAKING STYLES
‘Spray Diagram’ or ‘Spider Diagram’
with thanks to James Lamb;
www.leapsonline.org

9. HOW TO MAKE NOTES EFFECTIVELY
Finding the approach that suits you: mind mapping?
http://www.mindtools.com
with thanks to James Lamb;
www.leapsonline.org

10. HOW TO MAKE NOTES EFFECTIVELY
Grids
with thanks to James Lamb;
www.leapsonline.org

11. Planning the essay
• Plan the whole essay before you begin to
write it.

12. Planning the essay
• Start to arrange your thoughts and ideas in a
logical, sensible order that answers the
question.
• Order and re-order your bullet point notes to
match this essay plan.

13. Planning the essay
• Ask yourself:
– How and where within your essay might you use
the information you have so far collected?
– Are there still gaps in information?
– Is further research necessary?

14. Planning the essay
• You may need to go around this Researching-
and-Planning loop more than once to collect
enough relevant information.

15. Using Library Resources

16. Using Library Resources

17. HWU Library
• Home page:
http://www.hw.ac.uk/is/

18. Using Library Resources

19. Study skills
• Books to help with your
studies
• And e-books too.

20. Subject librarians
• Advice, guidance and
teaching on identifying,
accessing and using
information effectively.
• Enquiry service:
libhelp@hw.ac.uk

21. HWU Library – Subject Librarians
Civil and Structural Engineering:
• Subject librarian: Sarah Kelly
• E-mail: S.Kelly@hw.ac.uk
• Tel: 0131 451 3574

22. References
• Use a suitable referencing system
e.g. the Harvard HWU

23. Reference style - Book
The correct reference for a book includes author,
initials, year of publication, title, edition (if not
first), place of publication, publisher. e.g.
• Sime, J.D. (2005) Safety in the built
environment, London: Spon.

24. - Journal/ Periodical
• The correct reference for a periodical article
includes author’s surname and
initial(s), year of publication, title of
article, periodical title, specific date of
publication, volume and part number and
pages, e.g.
• Stamp, G. (1999) “Clouded
vision”, Architects Journal, 177(9), 25-31.

25. - Website
• The author or editor
• Date of ‘publication’(in brackets)
• Title (in italics or underlined)
• The type of resource (in square brackets)
• The URL
• The date the resource was accessed (in square
brackets)

26. Referencing websites
• University of Bradford (1999) Making the most
of presentations [online], available:
http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/stedev/pres.html
[accessed 12 August 2004].

27. References
• Use a suitable referencing system
e.g. the Harvard HWU:
http://www.hw.ac.uk/is/Harvardguide.pdf

28. Essay Writing
• Now let’s turn our attention to writing the
essay.

29. Essay Writing
• Essay has three main sections:
• Introduction: 5% of length
• Main body: 80% of length
• Conclusion: 15% of length

30. Introduction
• Tells the reader how you will answer the
question
• 5% of length of essay
• Written last

31. Body of Essay
• Answers the question
• In a chain of linked paragraphs that build and
present a case.

32. Each paragraph:
• One big idea
• Introduce
• Define
• Offer Argument
• Offer evidence and discuss
• Make final point

33. Your writing should answer:
• What is this paragraph about?
• What exactly is that?
• What is your argument on this (in relation to
the question)?
• What is your evidence? What does it mean?
• What is the final point (in relation to the
question)?

34. Linking and signposting
• Use link words and phrases
– However; nevertheless; not only…but also
• Signposting
– In short; as we have seen; to summarise
• Paragraphs are part of the signposting
• Vary sentence length (max 40 words)

35. Conclusion = 15% length
• Re-state arguments
• Re-state points
• Show that you have answered the whole
question
• Could make recommendation
• NB: No new evidence introduced

36. Take-home message
• Allow adequate time to research and write the
essay
• Follow the guidelines given
• Write in own words
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Check that you have answered the question

37. Contact Details
• Isabelle Pottinger
• Effective Learning Adviser
• Level 2, Library
• Ext: 3062
• E-mail: I.Pottinger@hw.ac.uk