1. Professor Rhona Smith Former visiting professor at Beijing University
Writing essays
Professor Rhona Smith
Former visiting professor at Beijing University

2. What are essays?
Many of the modules on this programme use essays/ research reports/ papers as assessment.
These are individual pieces of work – you do all the research and writing yourself. If you are permitted to work as a group, you will be told.
Essays let you show off your knowledge by presenting it in a clear and ordered way.

3. How are essays marked?
Your teacher will clearly explain in advance what the criteria for assessment are.
These will be used for marking your essay.
The teacher cannot give you marks for something which is not listed as a criteria.
The teacher cannot take marks off for missing something which is not listed as a criteria.

4. Assessment criteria
The assessment allows you to demonstrate you have met the objectives of the module – these objectives are listed in the syllabus and available on moodle.
The objectives may be broken down by the teacher listing separate criteria for marking.
Examples may include: clear evidence of independent research; logical structure; good level of analysis; good referencing; demonstrates understanding of international human rights.

5. Essays and real life
In many workplaces, you will be asked to prepare or write reports. The style may be different from your essay at university, but the skills are the same.
When studying at Beida, you will have to read many books, academic articles, cases and other writings. The people who wrote them probably started off writing short essays. Even a doctorate is really just a long essay!