Essay writing

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Essay writing does not have to be difficult once you are armed with the right skills.

Top tips for essay writing
1. Make sure that you are absolutely clear about the word length and completion date.

2. If you are unsure about the question, get guidance before you begin to prepare.

3. Get hold of the necessary background reading well in advance.

4. Markers are looking for you to express your own ideas, so get them in order.

5. Make sure that you have full references for all the books that you use.

6. Plan the whole essay in detail before you begin to write.

For more advice, see the writing section.

Technical writing
Do:
1. Think about your readers and how they want you to approach the subject.

2. Write formally: use do not rather than don't, will not rather than won't.

3. Use words accurately, checking technical terms with your tutor or a professional journal.

4. Punctuate accurately, keeping sentences to a reasonable length.

5. Write reports in the past tense - they're about work you have done.

6. Write impersonally: it was recommended rather than I recommend.

Don't:
1. Address the reader directly as you, or refer to yourself as I or me.

2. Use abbreviations such as lab for laboratory or diag for diagram.

3. Add personal comments such as how you felt about the work.

4. Waffle: write concisely and keep to the point.

5. Write sentences of more than about 40 words in length.

For more advice, see the writing section.

This content has been written by Joan van Emden and Lucinda Becker, authors of Presentation Skills for Students.