A Student's Writing Guide
How to Plan and Write Successful Essays

Boost your confidence and grades with this step-by-step guide to tackling university writing assignments.

Gordon Taylor (Author)

9780521729796, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 7 May 2009

284 pages
21.5 x 13.7 x 1.4 cm, 0.39 kg

'A wonderfully comprehensive guide to essay-writing, covering everything from the importance of initial reflection and research, to how to develop an effective argumentative style. The book itself is a model of clarity, and its friendly tone tells readers they are in very safe hands indeed.' Martin Crowley, Senior Lecturer, Department of French, University of Cambridge

Are you struggling to meet your coursework deadlines? Finding it hard to get to grips with your essay topics? Does your writing sometimes lack structure and style? Would you like to improve your grades? This text covers everything a student needs to know about writing essays and papers in the humanities and social sciences. Starting from the common difficulties students face, it gives practical examples of all the stages necessary to produce a good piece of academic work: • interpreting assignment topics • drawing on your own experience and background • reading analytically and taking efficient notes • developing your argument through introductions, middles and conclusions • evaluating and using online resources • understanding the conventions of academic culture • honing your ideas into clear, vigorous English. This book will provide you with all the tools and insights you need to write confident, convincing essays and coursework papers.

Preface
1. Introduction
Part I. Reflection and Research: 2. Reflection: asking questions and proposing answers
3. Interpretation: reading and taking notes
Part II. The Dynamics of an Essay: 4. Introductions
5. Middles
6. Endings
Part III. Language: 7. You, your language and your material
8. Analytical language 1: sentences
9. Analytical language 2: rhetorical strategies
10. Cohesion and texture
11. Conventions of academic writing
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: Writing skills [CJCW], Language [C]