NIGEL WARBURTON

The Basics of
Essay Writing

Routledge
Taylor &. Francis Group

LONDON AND NEW YORK

 Contents

Acknowledgements ix

Introduction 1
How to use this book 3
Key points 4

1 What's the point? 5

Writing essays 7
Writing is thinking 8
Cultivate good habits 9
Key points 11

2 Start writing 13
Overcoming psychological obstacles 15
Avoid the weight of unfinished business 17
Do something rather than nothing 18
Customise your approach 19
Take breaks 19
Less than perfect can be good enough 20
Key points 21

3 Answer the question 23

The worst mistake 25
Direct questions 26
Instruction words 26
Key points 29

4 Research and planning 31

Discover what you need to know 33
 Contents

Use reading lists 33

Stop researching and write something 34
Think on paper 35
Use the Internet 36
Key points 37

Beginnings, middles, ends 39

Beginnings 41
Middles 42
Ends 43
Key points 43

Making a case 45
Defend your conclusion 47
Paragraphs as units of thought 47
Use signposts 48
Keep to the point 49
Consider counterarguments/counterexamples 50
Argue to a conclusion 50
Key points 51

Plagiarism, quotation, reference 53

Avoid plagiarism 55
Use quotation marks 60
Give clear references and a bibliography 60
Key points 62

The craft of writing 63

Get the tone right 65
Be economical with adjectives 67
Punctuate effectively 67
Use the active voice 70
Avoid convoluted sentences 71
Be concise 73

VI
 Contents

Avoid adverbs 73
Avoid cliches 74
Learn from others' clarity 75
Avoid these common mistakes 75
Avoid sexist language 78
Spelling 79
Key points 82

9 The exam essay 83

Understand the genre 85
Be prepared 86
Use active revision techniques 87
Coping with exam nerves 88
Read the questions 90
Handwriting 90
Key points 91

10 Improving your writing 93

Rewriting and editing 95
Checklist 95
Learn from feedback 96
Learn from other students' essays 96
Eliminate bad habits 97
Do you recognise yourself here? 98
Key points 108

Conclusion 109
Good luck 111

Bibliography and further reading 113

Bibliography 115
Further reading 115
Internet resources 116

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