Essay writing

phrases&checklists
Types of evidentiary contribution

• Fact
• “Smith found, discovered, revealed, notes, points out that”
• Perception
• “Smith describes, identifies, distinguishes, categorises”
• Figure of speech
• “Smith regards ___ as, compares ___ to, suggests that ___ is like”
• Definition
• “Smith defines ___ to mean ___”
• Assumption
• “Smith assumes, postulates, hypothesises, takes it for granted that”
• Proposition
• “Smith argues, asserts, contends, suggests […] that if A, then B”
• “Smith supports, is critical of”
Types of evidentiary contribution

• Opinion
• “According to Smith”
• “Smith tells us, says, thinks, suggests, considers, agrees/disagrees that”
• “in Smith's opinion”
• Value judgement
• “To Smith, it is good, bad, beneficial, detrimental”
• Claim
• “Smith claims that”
• “For Smith, it must be, is surely, is obvious that”
• Question
• “Smith asks/questions whether”
• Reasoning
• “Smith shows in their analysis that, demonstrates, concludes”
For further examples see Godfrey (2018)
Developing a style: the right reporting verb

Attitude Correct Neutral Neutral (cont.) Incorrect

The verbs are acknowledges adds indicates confuses
usually in 3rd defines argues informs disregard
person singular or demonstrates claims presents ignores
plural simple explains clarifies proposes
present tense form. identifies concludes remarks
observes describes reminds
e.g. ‘Brown (2004) outlines expresses reports
explains …’ shows feels states
finds uses
checklists
Developmental editing checklist

 Have you answered the question?

 Are all of your claims supported by evidence and
developed through reasoning?
 Are all of your topics/points/arguments in the right order?
 Do you have a clear connection between each topic?
 Do you need all of these topics?
Copy-editing checklist

 Have you been consistent in your stylistic decisions?

 Have you tried to use simple language where possible?
 Have you hidden behind technical terms?
 Have you thought about the right word for what you’re trying to
say?
 Have you written objectively and provided reasons and evidence
to support your claims?
 Have you referenced correctly and consistently as prescribed in
your chosen style guide?
Proofreading checklist

 Have you double-checked everything did at the developmental

and copy-editing stages?
 Have you checked your dissertation/course handbook?
 Have you included all the required materials for submission and
that all sections/forms are complete?
 Have you checked your formatting?
 Have you checked your references (in text and bibliography)?
 Have you checked for typos, missed words, overused punctuation
and words, etc.?