Essay Writing Technique

Essay Writing Technique This need not be complicated, a few lines or dot points is ample. At some point in your research, you should begin thinking about a contention for your essay. Remember, you should be able to express it briefly as if addressing the essay question in a single sentence, or summing up in a debate. Your research should take shape from here, guided by the essay question and your own planning. That can make trying to communicate who you are as well as who you hope to become a daunting task. You might worry about sounding generic or not sounding like yourself or not sounding “smart” or “wise” enough. One of many students’ and parents’ biggest fears is the sheer anonymity of the process. You may also find our page on writing for history to be useful. Essays should ideally be completed a few days before their due date, then put aside for a day or two before proofreading. Referencing not only acknowledges the work of others, but it also gives authority to your writing and provides the teacher or assessor with an insight into your research. More information on referencing a piece of history writing can be found here. Your conclusion need not be as long or as developed as your body paragraphs. You should avoid introducing new information or evidence in the conclusion. One effective way to do this is with a brief summary of ‘what happened next’. For example, an essay discussing Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 might close with a couple of sentences about how he consolidated and strengthened his power in . What’s an important conversation you had with them? But, we’ve offered some adjusted timelines lower down in case you don’t have the whole summer to work with. One of the major challenges for many students about applying to college is knowing that they are full of passion and potential energy which hasn’t yet been converted into kinetic energy. Start by providing a little context, then address the question, articulate your contention and indicate what direction your essay will take. Once you have finalised a plan for your essay, commence your draft. Once most of your research is complete and you have a strong contention, start jotting down a possible essay structure. Identify terms or concepts you do not know and find out what they mean. As you locate information, ask yourself if it is relevant or useful for addressing the question. Be creative with your research, looking in a variety of places. Most will start by reading an overview of the topic or issue, usually in some reliable secondary sources. This will refresh or build your existing understanding of the topic and provide a basis for further questions or investigation. Was there a particular timeâ€"a summer, or a yearâ€"when that place became important? Describe the first time you saw their home, in story form. Who’s a family member who lives with you and is important to you? Think of a specific time they helped you with something. In history writing, the active voice is preferable to the passive voice. In the active voice, the subject completes the action (e.g. “Hitler initiated the Beer Hall putsch to seize control of the Bavarian government”). In the passive voice, the action is completed by the subject (“The Beer Hall putsch was initiated by Hitler to seize control of the Bavarian government”). The active voice also helps prevent sentences from becoming long, wordy and unclear. Every essay should be proofread, edited and, if necessary, re-drafted before being submitted for assessment. What do people in your community or school know you for? Tell the story of the first time you did this thing. Tell the story of the most meaningful time you did this thingâ€"it might be, say, when you won a game, but it also might be when you lost a game, or when you quit the team. Did you grow up considering another place that is not where you currently live home? Tell the story of the first time you went there or the first time you remember going there.