Assessment Tasks: Essays

Typically, an essay includes these parts:

Introduction

• Introduce the topic & open the discussion
• Capture the reader's attention

Main body of the essay

• Introduce each new point with a new paragraph
• Provide supporting evidence for each point made

Conclusion

• Summarise the main ideas
• Demonstrate how you have proven the point
• Reaffirm the introduction

(Content adapted from University of Queensland, 2019, Planning your assignment)

Paragraph Tips:  5 steps on how to write a paragraph
(This LibGuide material was last checked and edited in 2020).  

Essay writing is more than just an assessment task.  It also helps you in other ways.

Illustration adapted from:  University of NSW, Academic Skills: Glossary of Task Words, viewed August 2020. 
(Copied and communicated with permission).

• Read the question carefully
• Notetake as you read
• Use relevant sources of information
• Write a plan
• Stay on topic by referring back to the question as your write
• Highlight keywords in the question to begin researching the topic
• Record reference sources as you go
• Keep to the word limit
• Cite all sources using the style designated by your lecturer or teacher
• Proof read before submitting

(NSW Department of Education & Training, July 2020, Essay Writing Checklist.) 
(CC-BY-4.0-Int)

Task words provide you with direction on how to answer your essay question

Glossary of Task Words

Illustration adapted from:  University of NSW, Academic Skills, Glossary of Task Words, December 2019. 
 

1. Know your purpose
2. Understand your audience
3. Brainstorm about your topic
4. Decide on a thesis
5. Develop your essay
6. Create an essay structure
7. Connect ideas
8. Choose memorable language
9. Invent a strong title
10. Edit and proofread

Source: Top Tips for Writing Better Essays
(Oxford Dictionaries)
https://www.lexico.com/grammar/top-tips-for-writing-better-essays