How to write essays painlessly (or a little less painfully)

What make a good essay?

Step 1 – Brainstorm/Mindmap/Spider Diagram Fact Quote Idea 2 Idea 3 Who was the real Christopher Columbus? Fact Statistic Idea 1 Idea 5 Idea 4 Linked argument Statistic Quote Fact

Step 2 – Paragraph Planning Introduction Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Logical Flow Main Body Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 Paragraph 5 Conclusion

How should you write an introduction? Put the question into the right context; the right time and place. E.g. “Christopher Columbus is famous as the heroic European explorer who supposedly ‘discovered’ America in 1492.” Make it clear that you understand the question being asked and why it is important. This may mean you define some words from the question clearly. E.g. “The popular story of his voyage is one of the most enduring myths in the history of America.” Give a brief summary of your argument E.g. “In this essay, it will argued that the reality of Columbus’s voyages is very different from the myth. He was certainly a courageous explorer, but his treatment of the land he ‘discovered’ was far from heroic.”

Example 2 – Do you believe that America was right to invade Iraq? Put the question into the right context; the right time and place. E.g. “In February 2003, the coalition of the willing, led by America, invaded Iraq with the stated intention of destroying weapons of mass destruction and removing Sadam Hussein.” Make it clear that you understand the question being asked and why it is important. This may mean you define some words from the question clearly. E.g. “The motivations and justifications for this invasion have been debated hotly ever since. Many are convinced that Bush and his allies lied to their respective peoples about the true intent behind their actions.” Give a brief summary of your argument E.g. “In this essay, it will argued that America was/was not right to invade Iraq because…”

Example 2 – Do you believe that convicted murderers should receive the death penalty? Put the question into the right context; the right time and place. E.g. “The death penalty for murderers is not legal in Canada currently, but is still carried out in a few western countries, including certain states in America.” Make it clear that you understand the question being asked and why it is important. This may mean you define some words from the question clearly. E.g. “Public opinion polls consistently support the death penalty today in Canada. When a particularly awful murder is covered in the press this issue rises to the top of the political agenda again. But the issue is complex and murder is a complex crime. Give a brief summary of your argument E.g. “In this essay, it will argued that we should/should not reintroduce the death penalty …

The Main Body of the Essay Logical Flow Structure The order of your paragraphs may be determined by: The importance of each idea The timing of each idea Whether the idea supports one side or the other of your argument Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3 Paragraph 4 Paragraph 5 Each paragraph should have one main argumentative point. The rest of the paragraph should give support for this one central point

A paragraph has… One central argument. It is often clearer for the reader if this is stated in the fist sentence of the paragraph (a topic sentence). Supporting evidence for this main idea. This may take the form of: Facts Statistics Quotations Anecdotes Linked (or subsidiary) arguments Arguments by leading historians

How should you write an conclusion? Summarize your argument again briefly E.g. “It is clear, therefore, that Christopher Columbus was a complex historical character whom it is possible to both admire and strongly criticize for his actions. It is important, however, to view Columbus as a product of his times. His aggressive, even savage, treatment of the local populations he ‘discovered’ reflected contemporary cultural and racial prejudices.” Try and widen the context of the question to show the wider implication of your argument. In other words, how does this question and answer fit into a bigger picture? E.g. “The heroification of Columbus represents a wider problem, namely a longstanding disregard for the history of the native people of the Americas. The era of European settlement in the Americas was driven by admirable ideals often, but it had catastrophic results for Native Americans.”

Example 2 – Do you believe that convicted murderers should receive the death penalty? Summarize your argument again briefly E.g. “In summary, in cases where murder has been proven to be pre-meditated without a shadow of a doubt, it is has been argued that the death penalty should be made an option for judges when they pass sentence.” Try and widen the context of the question to show the wider implication of your argument. In other words, how does this questions and answer fit into a bigger picture. E.g. “Changing the law to allow this to happen would be very difficult. But the case should be argued from a moral point of view. We have to respect the rights of a murder suspect and give them justice, but when proven guilty their rights must be judged to less than those of the victim’s family and friends and, indeed, society as a whole.”