For those of you, like me, who have never completed an EPQ, writing an academic essay for the first time can be a very intimidating experience. The ability to write essays is not taught explicitly at the university; rather, it is a skill you learn as you go along or, if you go to LSE, by attending the very helpful workshops and consulting the resources offered by LSE LIFE.
Nevertheless, I figured giving some advice to those who will be entering university soon and have never written an academic piece before would be helpful. This is my three-step guide, based on my personal experience, on how to ace your first academic essay!
Planning
The first step, as with anything related to academia, is to plan the essay. At first, planning an essay may seem like a waste of time, but once you have a sound strategy in place, all that is left to do is fill in the blanks. Break down your essay question. Then, take the time to comprehend the question in its entirety and the examiner’s requirements. Next, highlight the keywords from the question to brainstorm the key concepts and themes you want to cover in your essay. You must select the topics for your essay after listing all possible connections between the themes in your course. This typically depends on your word count; the lower your word count, the more succint you need to be about the topics you cover. Thirdly, you should begin researching your subject, any essential theories, and the scholars you must mention. Note down these citations so they can be used for further research. Eventually, you need to start planning the essay’s structure and decide which theories and sources will be covered in which paragraphs. With this, you can be as detailed or as brief as you like; you’ll soon figure out which is best for you. Personally, I think brief bullet points work best. Before you begin writing, if you’d like, you can ask your teacher to read over your plan.
Writing
After you’ve finished planning, you must start writing the essay. Since the introduction is probably the most crucial part of a good essay, I would advise starting there. You might want to define the keyword or introduce the central concept in your introduction, but you should also clarify what the essay is about and what you plan to argue. Keep it succinct and direct. Contrary to popular belief, I prefer to write the conclusion before the essay’s main body. This is because the introduction and conclusion can appear more cohesive when written after one another. In addition, this lets you clarify what you are trying to demonstrate in your essay. Once you are clear on your argument, the main body is a straightforward section. Start with your reading list references, and make an earnest attempt to use the suggested readings to support your claims. To make your essay stand out and be unique, don’t forget to incorporate theories that might not have been addressed in the course. However, remember to make sure you respond appropriately to the question in hand!
Reviewing
The essay may seem to be finished, but think again. Here comes, Grammarly. Enter your work in Grammarly to ensure any spelling or grammar errors are noted. When you look at a piece of work for too long, it can be challenging to see its flaws, so give it some time to sink in and then go over it the following day. At this point, you might also want a friend from the course, a parent, or a sibling to review it for you. Last but not least, read your essay aloud just before submitting it. Sometimes you may have missed words or realised you accidentally inserted a random word.
Concluding thoughts
I hope these pointers have been helpful to you, whether you’re a student in year 13 reading this blog to get ready for your university years or even a student already enrolled at LSE who’s writing an essay for the first time. Do your best, and no matter what grade you receive, you can improve next time. If you are unhappy with your results, contact your teacher and schedule an office hour so they can assist you further. Happy writing and, good luck!
