Fully updated since publication in 2007, and with extended and revised sections in key areas such as plagiarism & Copyright, and Citing & Referencing, How to write Essays & Assignments will allow a student to assess and address their particular weaknesses in planning and writing great academic essays and delivers detailed tips, techniques and strategies to enable them to significantly improve their abilities and performance in time to make a difference.
CONTENTS
Preface and acknowledgements
How to use this book
Introduction
1. Why expressing yourself well in writing is important - how to develop your writing skills
What markers are looking for
2. What markers are looking for in your essays and assignments -how to identify the key elements required to meet markers' expectations
Getting started
3. Tackling writing assignments - How to get started
Researching your topic
4. Effective academic reading - How to read efficiently and with understanding
5. Library and learning resources - How to make the best use of the facilities
6. Note-making from texts - How to create effective notes for later reference
7. Thinking critically - How to develop a logical approach to analysis, synthesis and evaluation
Writing a first draft
8. Academic writing formats - How to organise your writing within a standard framework
9. Planning writing assignments - How to respond to the task
Writing technique
10. Academic writing style - How to adopt appropriate language conventions
11. Shaping your text - how to create effective sentences and paragraphs
12. Improving your grammar - How to avoid some common errors
13. Better punctuation - How to use punctuation marks appropriately
14. Better spelling - How to spell competently
15. Enhancing your vocabulary - How to increase your word power
Editing & Revision
16. Reviewing, editing and proof-reading - how to make sure your writing is concise and correct
Plagiarism and referencing
17. Plagiarism and copyright infringement - how to avoid being accused of 'stealing' the ideas & work of others
18. Citing and listing references - how to refer appropriately to the work of others
Presentation
19. Presentation of assignments - how to follow the appropriate academic conventions
Improving your marks
20. Exploiting feedback - how to understand and learn from what lecturers write on your work
21. Essay writing in exams - how to improve your marks
References and further reading
Glossary of key terms
