Essay Writing
Hints For Effective Essay Writing Essays form an integral part of your history programme and your success in all history modules will depend on your ability to express yourself effectively in writing. To do this, precise thinking and careful organisation are essential. This means that attention must be given not only to content, but also to presentation, notably spelling, grammar and style. There is useful information on good essay writing practice at
http://www.qub.ac.uk/keyskills
Before You Start To Write Make sure you understand the essay title before starting to collect material. If you are uncertain, consult either your tutor or classmates. Think carefully about the question before you even start your reading. Underline key words, and add your own initial comments. Get it into your head. What is it getting at? Then, when you read, you will have a better idea of what you are looking for. Reading First read one of the recommended textbooks to get an overview. Then turn to more specialised works, taking the module reading lists and other bibliographies as starting points. However, researching an essay does not simply mean hunting for books and reading them. It means exploiting them with definite questions in mind. This requires you to be selective and to develop the ability to absorb key chapters or sections of a book. Note taking Essays should not be written from open books, but from notes made while reading. There are various methods of note taking: small cards or pieces of paper with one point to each card is one method. Continuous notes on a sheet of A4 as you read is another. But whatever your preferred method, always take notes that are full enough to provide you with the evidence you need, but concise and selective enough to be manageable for the purposes of reference and revision. Planning Having read as much of your prescribed reading as possible, organise your thoughts. Identify the important factors as they occur to you, continuously defining and
http://www.qub.ac.uk/keyskills
Before You Start To Write Make sure you understand the essay title before starting to collect material. If you are uncertain, consult either your tutor or classmates. Think carefully about the question before you even start your reading. Underline key words, and add your own initial comments. Get it into your head. What is it getting at? Then, when you read, you will have a better idea of what you are looking for. Reading First read one of the recommended textbooks to get an overview. Then turn to more specialised works, taking the module reading lists and other bibliographies as starting points. However, researching an essay does not simply mean hunting for books and reading them. It means exploiting them with definite questions in mind. This requires you to be selective and to develop the ability to absorb key chapters or sections of a book. Note taking Essays should not be written from open books, but from notes made while reading. There are various methods of note taking: small cards or pieces of paper with one point to each card is one method. Continuous notes on a sheet of A4 as you read is another. But whatever your preferred method, always take notes that are full enough to provide you with the evidence you need, but concise and selective enough to be manageable for the purposes of reference and revision. Planning Having read as much of your prescribed reading as possible, organise your thoughts. Identify the important factors as they occur to you, continuously defining and
References: Appendix 9.1 at the back of this Handbook. Plagiarism Plagiarism can be described broadly as copying the work of another and passing it off as one’s own. You are deemed guilty of plagiarism if you submit written work for assessment that has been copied either directly or with only minor changes of working from books, articles, the Internet, or another student’s work without acknowledgement and reference. This is both unethical and equivalent to cheating at examinations and illegal under copyright laws. Plagiarism also reveals an unwillingness to think for oneself, being therefore diametrically opposed to the spirit of university studies. Direct copying from a book, an article, or a site on the Internet without adequate acknowledgement and references will therefore be penalised. See our advice on using internet sources in Section 6.3. Submitted written work must be the result of your own efforts. The Assessed Coursework/Essay work form requires you to sign a declaration declaring that the work is your own. Plagiarism is viewed as a serious breach of the University’s examination regulations. The University’s General Regulations define plagiarism as ‘passages from other works (or a paraphrase of such) incorporated without acknowledgement and with the intention of it being taken to be the candidate’s own work’ (see University Calendar, Book I, General Regulations) and stipulates strict penalties for violations. The School of History is committed to upholding the highest standards of scholarship and will not tolerate violations of this fundamental rule. Useful Study Guides, Writing Manuals, and Introductions to History Arnold, J. H., History: a very short introduction (Oxford, 2000) Black, J. and D. M. MacRaild, Studying history (2nd edn, London, 2000) Carr, E. H., What is history? with new introduction by R. Evans (London, 2001) Elton, G. R., The practice of history (London, 1987) Evans, R. J., In defence of history (London, 1997) Jordanova, L., History in practice (London, 2000) Marwick, A., The new nature of history: knowledge, evidence, language (London, 2001) Tosh, J., The pursuit of history (3rd edn, London, 2000)