- A) Choosing your question
In most cases before starting an essay you must choose which question you want to answer.
There is a balancing act to be done when making this choice. On the one hand you must be as thorough as possible when making your choice because choosing the wrong question can make a big difference in how difficult your task is, how enjoyable the essay is and the mark you will get. On the other hand you have to choose as quickly as possible because you need as much time as possible to think about the question, to do research and finally to answer the question. It is possible to switch questions after you have chosen one, but it requires a lot of extra work to get back on track.
First read all the questions so you have them in the back of your mind. Then work out criteria to decide how to make your choice.
Personally the types of considerations I would make are:
i) Is it an interesting topic?
ii) Could I give a good answer to the question now?
iii) Could I write a good essay on this?
iv) Do I understand the question?
Do not choose a question simply because you think it is the easiest or that it requires the least work. While some questions may be easier than others there is usually not a great difference. If the question appears simple, it does not mean that the required answer will be. It is also not possible to know beforehand how much work a question requires until you have got into detailed research and thinking about the subject. Remember many degrees are determined by essays and so questions are designed to test you. It may be though that if you find a subject interesting that this will make the essay easier for you to work on.
I would generally eliminate the questions that I think are awkward or don’t interest me. Then I would mark the possible questions spend a day mulling it over and write some ideas for how I might answer the shortlist (i.e. jot some ideas and based on that ask myself how well could I answer that?). I would then try to decide. More systematic people might mark the questions out of ten on the criteria they made and then choose from the top two.
- B) Obsess about the question
Write the question down long hand or re-type it (i.e. don’t just copy and paste it).
Make sure the question you wrote down is exactly the same as the question on the paper to the last dot and comma.
Read it several times.
Whenever you are making notes or typing your essay or doing research have a copy of the question handy so that you can re-read it.
Remember everything you are doing is narrowly to be able to answer this question. You need it constantly in mind as you go along.
You will find that when it comes to working on the essay you will be using your unconscious mind or “sleeping on it” – reminding yourself of the essay question is part of that process.
If you think the question is obvious or you think that the question will not mean addressing some of the big questions discussed during lectures then the odds are that you have to rethink, that you have not really understood it. At that stage especially go to your tutor for advice.
Print it out and carry it around.
- C) Some keywords in the question
Beware these are quite general – but they should help you think about how you are supposed to be answering the assignment.
Analyse Break up into parts and investigate in detail
Comment Use evidence and give a balanced reasoning for your views
Compare Look for any similarities and note the differences that exist between them
Contrast Bring out the differences (not the similarities)
Define Briefly explain the exact/precise meaning of the word or phrase
Describe Give a clear and detailed account of the topic
Discuss Investigate all sides of the argument, give reasons for and against, and reach a balanced conclusion
Explain Say clearly why something is so, giving your reasons
Evaluate Give your opinion of something, with reasons for and against, saying whether you agree or not, and why
Justify Show why decisions and conclusions are reached, and why what has been said against them could be wrong
Summarise Give a short account of the main points of something – without opinions or irrelevant details
Trace Follow the changes in, or the history of, something; show a sequence of events from one particular point to another
Source for C: https://my.lsbu.ac.uk/assets/documents/academic/essay%20and%20report%20writing.pdf