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How to Write Better Essays
5th Edition
by Bryan Greetham



About this book and the author

Have you ever wondered why some people can produce a well-structured relevant essay written in a style that seems to glide across the page with the minimum of fuss? Do you think some people simply have these skills and others don’t, and that there is nothing we can do about it? This book might just change your mind. Addressing each landmark stage of the essay writing process, How to Write Better Essays shows you how to…

  • analyse the question and break down difficult terms and concepts
  • brainstorm effectively and generate ideas
  • evaluate and criticise arguments
  • synthesise original ideas to create your own arguments
  • express your thoughts coherently and develop your own style of writing
  • plan and structure your essay from introduction to conclusion.

In addition, practical techniques teach you how to analyse, criticise, discuss and evaluate material, revise your final draft and avoid plagiarism. The fifth edition of this bestselling book includes a new chapter on staying focused and managing distractions. It also features new techniques for reading sources that will help you form your own judgements and craft strong and original arguments.

For every student who needs to write essays, from whatever discipline, this book is an essential resource, offering the help and inspiration you need to tackle your essays with confidence.

Table of contents

Introduction

Why Write Essays?

The Stages

Stage 1 Interpretation of the Question

Introduction

  1. Revealing the Structure
  2. A Practical Example
  3. Learning to Analyse
  4. The Three-Step Technique – Steps 1 and 2
  5. Creating Your Own Concept
  6. Step 3 – Test Your Concept
  7. Brainstorming
  8. Using the Right Ability: Instructional Verbs
  9. The Abilities Essays Assess

Stage 2 Research

Introduction

  1. Maintaining focus – Gathering ideas
  2. Reading Purposefully
  3. Processing the Ideas
  4. Note-taking for Analysis and Structure
  5. Remembering Your Notes
  6. Note-taking for Criticism and Evaluation
  7. Thinking and Reading Critically
  8. Note-taking for Creativity
  9. Creating Your Own Arguments – Synthesizing Ideas

Stage 3 Planning

Introduction

  1. Planning: Getting the Highest Grades
  2. Editing and Ordering Your Material
  3. Revision: Planning for the Exam
  4. Exam Technique: Planning in the Exam

Stage 4 Writing

Introduction

  1. Finding Your Own Voice
  2. Suspending Your Judgement
  3. Introductions
  4. Paragraphs – Topic Sentences
  5. Paragraphs – Development and Evidence
  6. Conclusions
  7. Style – Simplicity 1: Sentences
  8. Style – Simplicity 2: Words
  9. Style – Economy
  10. Style – the Dos and Don’ts
  11. Working with Evidence
  12. Choosing the Best Word
  13. Plagiarism
  14. Referencing and Bibliographies
  15. Reflective Writing

Stage 5 Revision

Introduction

  1. Preserving Your Best Ideas
  2. Revising the Structure

Sample essay 1: Revising the Structure

40. Revising the Content

Sample essay 2: Revising the Content

41. Learning from Feedback

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

About the author

BRYAN GREETHAM was an Honorary Fellow at the University of Durham, UK, and previously taught at The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. He is the author of How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation, How to Write Your Literature Review and Smart Thinking.


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