- 1). Research your subject. Think carefully about what the question implicit in the assigned subject is asking, and focus your efforts on that. Ask your teacher or professor for suggestions or even a reading list. Take notes as you read, to help you remember what you have read and identify the main points.
- 2). Structure your essay or report using the notes you made during your research. Identify the main theme or the main points relevant to the question, and arrange them in logical order. There may be several main themes you can discuss. The most important thing is for the structure to be logical.
Structure each section so that it deals with a separate aspect of your subject, and flows into the next section. Establishing a solid structure for your work is a bit like constructing a skeleton: it is the bare bones around which your essay or report will take shape. Once the skeleton is there, all you have to do is fill in the spaces between the bones. - 3). Ensure that you answer the subject question. Many students feel they have to include everything they know about a subject in their essays, but you are more likely to make a good impression--and get a good grade--if you focus on the specific subject and answer the subject question. Stick to the point.
- 4). Keep track of the references you use as you write, and cite them when appropriate. Include a list of references with your essay or research report. This not only is good research practice, it also helps demonstrate the effort you put into your work. It can even help protect you from accusations of plagiarism. Check with your assignment supervisor about whether your essay should use a specific system of referencing.
- 5). Run a spelling check when you have finished writing, and make sure you proofread your work for mistakes. Reading it out aloud can be a good way to check for errors. You might also find it useful to ask a friend to read through your essay. Sometimes spotting mistakes is easier for someone who is seeing the work for the first time.
- 6). Ensure that your essay or research report is presented exactly according to any guidelines you have been given. Schools and colleges often want essays presented in a certain way; e.g., double-spaced or using a particular font. You may lose a grade if you do not follow the guidelines.
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