Writing and Punctuation / Organising your writing / Organising an essay 2 - discuss some of the problems that students face when writing an academic essay

Organising an academic essay

Introduction

This often includes:

• Background information about the topic / theme

• A historical perspective to the topic / theme

• Why it is an important topic to discuss

• Definitions of the theme

• A thesis statement

Thesis statement

• The thesis statement gives the reader a ‘road map’ of what the essay will be about.

• It may indicate the pattern of organisation of the essay or list subdivisions of the essay.

• It is usually the last sentence of the introduction.

Topic sentences

• Topic sentences introduce the theme of the paragraph to make it easy for the reader to follow.

• It is usually the first sentence of a paragraph.

Paragraphs

• Each paragraph contains a central idea, with details, examples and supporting evidence (referenced)

Conclusion

• The conclusion makes a logical conclusion from what you have already said.

• Sometimes it is good to make some kind of conclusions about what the implications in the future are for your topic

E xample Essay

Discuss some of the problems faced by students when writing an academic assignment.

W riting an academic assignment is extremely important for students. This will be one of the main criteria that is used to assess their knowledge, which in turn is reflected in the final grade. As Roberts (2009, p 22) puts it, “A student’s ability to write dictates a huge amount in university”. However, for many people, both native and non-native speakers, it is a daunting task and one that raises several challenges particularly in the areas of organisation, style and grammar.

One area that many students find difficult is organising their thoughts into a set of coherent flowing ideas, which follow logically from one another. One reason for this is often because of a lack of planning in the pre-drafting stage. According to Brown (2008, 86) “Writing without a plan is a recipe for disaster, and is like trying to drive around an unknown city without a map”.

Another problem area that students face is that of style. This is particularly the case for students who have not had much exposure to academic language and are unfamiliar with the conventions and vocabulary associated with academic writing. Macfarlane (2008) suggests that the more academic practice and reading a student does, the more they become aware of style. In addition, feedback from lecturers, peers or Student Learning Support will also assist in raising awareness with regard to appropriacy.

The third challenge for students is in terms of their grammar. One of the most important things in an essay is that the reader can understand it, and poor grammar can often prevent the reader from following the ideas easily. One reason for this is when the writer tries to use complex grammar above their language level; the meaning can become hidden as the reader struggles to understand. In this case, it is important for students to not be over-ambitious or try to use unfamiliar grammar or vocabulary that they are not sure how to use, especially if it is taken from a dictionary. Poor grammar can also manifest itself in terms of spelling, tense or agreement, which are often easily corrected in the proof reading stage and can cost valuable unnecessary marks.

I n conclusion, although there are several challenges for students writing academic essays, these are not unsurmountable. Like any skill, it is something that can be learnt and developed. Lecturers, peers and Student Learning Support are all valuable sources of assistance and help.