M.A. Essay Writing Guide
When answering an essay question, first decide precisely what the question is asking. If a question asks you to compare, do not explain. Verbs commonly used in essay questions include: analyze, compare, contrast, criticize, define, describe, discuss, enumerate, evaluate, examine, explain, illustrate, interpret, list, outline, prove, state and summarize.
Before you write your essay, make a quick outline. There are three reasons for doing this. First, your thoughts will be more organized (making it easier for your teacher to read), and you will be less likely to leave out important facts. Second, you will be able to write faster. Third, if you do not have time to finish your answer, you may earn some points with the outline. Don't forget to leave plenty of space between answers. You can use the extra space to add information if there is time.
When you write, get to the point. Start off by including part of the question in your answer. For example, if you are directed to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of universal health care coverage to both patients and medical professionals, your first sentence might read, "Universal health care will benefit patients in the following ways." Expand your answer with supporting ideas and facts. If you have time, review your answers for grammatical errors, clarity and legibility.
Test preparation is essential if you plan to do well consistently on exams throughout your postsecondary education. The most important thing to remember about studying for tests, however, is that by studying you are ensuring better learning of the material covered.
Essays generally require you to include three main sections:
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
Some longer essays may require the use of headings for Introduction and Conclusion, as well as for sections of the body, whereas shorter essays may not. (Do not use "Body" as a heading; use headings relevant to your own content). Check the specifications for every assignment you are set. Different subject and discipline areas may have different requirements.
Introduction
The introduction should begin with the general issue and narrow down to the specifics of the problem you are discussing in your essay. Use the introduction to provide background information about the broad subject, identify the relevant problem or issue, and take the reader step by step to an understanding of why the specific focus you have chosen is relevant to that subject.
An introduction usually ends with some sort of statement of your focus (a focal statement or purpose statement). This statement tells the reader specifically what point you are going to make in your essay, and if possible how you are going to go about doing that. You may find it helpful to write the introduction last or at least revise it substantially after the main body of the essay has been written.
Body
The body should follow logically from your focal statement and support it consistently. Use section headings where appropriate, if required. Keep referring back to the focal statement with each new piece of information you bring in, to ensure that it is relevant to the point you want to make in your essay.
The body is made up of a series of paragraphs. Paragraphs may be described as packages of information each beginning with a topic sentence. The topic sentence defines the content or topic of the paragraph, just as the focal statement for the essay defines the specific topic of the essay. The topic of the paragraph is then expanded with sentences that may develop the topic by providing examples, details, evidence or analogies.
Make sure the ideas flow clearly from one sentence to the next. Use illustrations and tables where they clarify your text or are more efficient than text. A broader concluding sentence for the paragraph may sometimes be provided to tie the information together and remind the reader how it relates to the focus of the essay.
Conclusion
Information in the conclusion moves from the specific to the general. The conclusion must not simply repeat information given earlier, but must synthesize the ideas in the essay to form a response to the issue raised by the essay topic. Restate the focal statement of the essay. Summarize the main points of the supporting paragraphs as they are relevant to your synthesis. End with a broader concluding statement about how the assignment question relates to the more general issues described in the introduction.
The general rule is that no new information should be brought into the conclusion: Everything in it should follow logically from the information presented to the reader in your essay.
Rules to Remember
- Answer all parts of questions. If you neglect a part of a question, you will fail.
- Define relevant terms in the essay question and your answer.
- Make sure to include concrete examples, cite texts or refer to authors when possible.
- Make an outline.
- If you make incorrect observations, you will fail.
- When studying for comps, read all texts and memorize author names, date of publication and relevant artistic period.
- Books chosen for reading are not there because of whim and caprice. If you understand why a text is part of the list, then you will best be able to analyze it for your exams.
