1. From Confusion to Conclusion
How to Write a First-Class Essay
Vlad Mackevic
23rd October 2012
Aston University

2. www.TheLectureRoom.co.uk

3. www.FirstYearCounts.com

4. Objectives
 How to answer essay and exam
questions?
 How to come up with an essay topic?
 How to be critical?
 How to structure your essay?
 How to research efficiently?
 How to become a better writer?

5. School  University

7. Overwhelmed!

8. What Earns You Points?
 Answering the
Question (!)
 Structure
 Style and language
 Research and
Analysis
 References
 Formatting and
Presentation

9. Set Topic vs. Free Topic
!!! ???

10. Set Topic

11. The Assignment Question
1. The Object of the Study
2. The Context of the Study
3. The Method of the Study

12. Modern organisations often
replace the traditional
hierarchical structure with a
more ‘horizontal’ team structure.
Select two motivation theories
from the field of organisational
psychology and discuss how they
can be applied in a team-based
organisation.

13. Action Verbs
Modern organisations often replace
the traditional hierarchical structure
with a more ‘horizontal’ team
structure. Select two motivation
theories from the field of
organisational psychology and
discuss how they can be applied in a
team-based organisation.

14. Object
Modern organisations often replace
the traditional hierarchical structure
with a more ‘horizontal’ team
structure. Select two motivation
theories from the field of
organisational psychology and
discuss how they can be applied in a
team-based organisation.

15. Context
Modern organisations often replace
the traditional hierarchical structure
with a more ‘horizontal’ team
structure. Select two motivation
theories from the field of
organisational psychology and
discuss how they can be applied in a
team-based organisation.

16. Method
Modern organisations often replace
the traditional hierarchical structure
with a more ‘horizontal’ team
structure. Select two motivation
theories from the field of
organisational psychology and
discuss how they can be applied in a
team-based organisation.

17. Discuss
1. It is the case because
 Reason A
 Reason B
 Reason C
2. On the other hand, it is not the case because
 Reason A
 Reason B
 Reason C

18. Do you agree with Hedley Bull’s
comment that the notion of
‘international society has always
been present’ in the world
political system?

19. Object
Do you agree with Hedley Bull’s
comment that the notion of
‘international society has always
been present’ in the world
political system?

20. Context
Do you agree with Hedley Bull’s
comment that the notion of
‘international society has always
been present’ in the world
political system?

21. Method
Do you agree with Hedley Bull’s
comment that the notion of
‘international society has always
been present’ in the world
political system?

22. What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?

23. Object
What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?

24. Context
What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?

25. Method
What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?

26. Reasons
 Internal vs. External
 Levels: individual, organisation,
society, country
 Not universal, but a good start

27. Other ‘Action Words’
 Compare and contrast (similarities
and differences)
 Advantages and disadvantages
(‘Evaluate’)
 Outline (describe the main features)
 Enumerate (‘number’, list something)

28. Always define the object of
your study.
Show your understanding of
the key terms
Sometimes also define the
context

29. What about Exams?

30. Exams are just like
essays, but you’ve got
much less time

32. Exam Tips
 Research
 Practise
 Object, Context, Method
 Prepare an outline
 Manage your time

33. Creating a Free Topic
 Research report
 Essay (2nd year
onwards)
 Dissertation

34. Keep It Simple and Narrow
The rise of the Asian Tigers
(economic power in the East)

35. Taiwan Reasons
Impact Singapore
The rise of the Asian Tigers
(economic power in the East)
International relations Hong Kong
South Korea Consequences
Economic performance

36. What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?

37. What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?
• Not consequences

38. What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?
• Not consequences
• Not Taiwan, Singapore or Hong Kong

39. What were the reasons for the
economic miracle of South Korea
in the second half of the twentieth
century?
• Not consequences;
• Not Taiwan, Singapore or Hong Kong
• Not any other time

40. Structure
Introduction (10-15%)
Main Body (70-80%)
Conclusion (10-15%)

41. Structure
1. Say what you’re going to say;
2. Say it;
3. Say what you’ve just said.

42. Set Topic vs. Free Topic
 Introduction
 Main Body
 Conclusion
 References

43. Set Topic vs. Free Topic
 Introduction  Introduction
 Main Body  Literature
 Conclusion Review
 References  Methodology
 Analysis and
Discussion
 Conclusion
 References

44. Introduction

45. Introduction
 Explain what you are writing
about
 Guide your reader
 Mention the Object, the Context
and the Method

46. Write Your
Introduction at the
End

47. Why?
 It’s hard
 You don’t have all the information yet
 Theory
 Applications of the theory
 Arguments of the essay
 Outline and structure
 Write about your most recent actions

48. Main Body
 Main arguments
 Evidence
 Reading/knowledge
 References

49. The Funnel and the Hourglass

50. Set Topic Free Topic

51. Broad to Narrow

52. The Funnel Principle

53. Link all your
arguments back to the
essay question!

54. Broad to Narrow and Back to Broad

55. The
Hourglass
Principle

56. Copy from one, it’s plagiarism;
copy from two, it’s research.
Wilson Mizner
US screenwriter (1876 - 1933)

57. Assignments
Research-Based vs. Library-Based

58. Research
Primary Secondary

59. Research
 Wikipedia (ONLY for general
knowledge)
 Not to be included in the list of
references
 References on Wikipedia

61. Research
 Textbooks and their chapters
(theory)
 Research articles and conference
papers (application of theory in
practice)

62. http://scholar.google.com

63. Aston Library Smart Search

64. Research
 Websites
 Serious journalism
 Email correspondence

65. Research Tips
 Relevant – answer the question
 Research ethics
 Make notes while you’re reading
 Carefully note down full
references
 BACK IT UP!

66. Literature Review

67. Literature Review
A critical summary of main
research you have found on the
subject

68. Why?
Done your reading
Know your topic
Aware of the weaknesses

69. ‘Passable’ Literature Review
 Main theories
 How they were applied
 Research methods used by
others
 Research design used by others

70. First-Class Literature Review
 Why did you choose these theories?
 How did others obtain their
results?
 Similarities/differences in study
design
 Predict your results
 An original contribution

71. Analysis and Discussion
Insanity: doing the same thing
over and over again and expecting
different results.
Albert Einstein (attributed)

72. Analysis and Discussion
 What has been found?
 Why such results?
 Differences between your
research and that of the others
 Different methods; different
participants

73. Limitations
In the beginner's mind there are
many possibilities, in the expert's
there are few.
Shunryu Suzuki

74. Acknowledge Your Limitations
 Your lecturer will like it
 All researchers do it
 No theory is perfect
 No dataset is perfect
 No research method is perfect

75. Conclusion
 Mention the topic again
 Describe methods, data analysed etc.
 Summarise the findings
 How your findings correspond to the
previous research
 Only write about your data and your
research.

76. Speak confidently about your
own results.
Do not make generalisations
about the world based on your
limited data sample.

77. Referencing

78. Why Reference?
 To avoid failing the module
 Because it’s fair
 To back up your claims
 Evidence of extensive reading

79. Referencing
 Who wrote it?
 What is the book/article called?
 Who published it?
 Where was it published?
 When was it published?

80. http://firstyearcounts.com/free-resources-
for-students/referencing/

81. The Writing Process

82. No Perfect First Draft

83. Never Leave Your Sheet Blank

84. Good Writers Read

85. Always Carry a Notebook

86. Linking Words

87. Do Not Complicate Things

88. Paragraph

89. Speak to Your
Lecturers!

90. Facebook.com/thelectureroom1

91. Facebook.com/First.year.counts

93. Amazon Kindle Applications

94. first.year.counts@gmail.com

95. If you liked the event...
 Feel free to talk about it
 Write me a review

96. Tuesday, 20th November 2012, 6.00 PM
Aston university, Birmingham

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