These notes are from the Study Skills section of the OU website.
I wrote these notes down in my notebook in order to help me write my essays for the TMA's. However, I have also decided to write them here too incase I missplace the notebook or decide to write an essay in the local libary and don't have the notebook at hand. This way I can always have these notes.
Writting Essays
*Intro ~> Body ~> Conclusion*
Intro:
- 5-10% of the word count
- outline the main arguements
- identify main arguements
- indicate the stages of arguements
- highlight any major issues
Body:
- 80-90% of the word count
- main arguement
- narrative flow
- highlights a sequence of different points
- follow a coherent and continous 'story'
Conclusion:
- 5-10% of the word count
- summeraise issues raised in the body
- tie up loose ends
- emphasise key elements of arguement
- make reference to the title question again
Other points from the videos on the study skills:
* Always write an essay plan
^ Key words or key themes that will trigger off other issues and notes
* Mindmaps are a good way to organise notes
* Write the question on a card and put it infront of you so that you have it with you 24/7
PLANNING:
Evidence you need:
- gather together all your notes that you need and review them. - I'm hopeing to make my notes need so it will be easier to do this.
- note down key words of the assignment
- check your notes against the assignment question
- higlight your notes that will be useful for the TMA
- quotes you wish to use ~> remember to make note of where these are from in the reference list
- tables
- paraphrasing
- have the question beside you always
Planning the essay by draft:
...planning...planning...planning....
- Address the real question
- Show understanding
- Create a mindmap - write all ideas down
- check back from previous assignments to see if there is something you should be doing
- build an outline for your essay
- create the first setences that lead onto your main points
- remember to write in paragraphs
- look where you need to add evidence and see which sort of evidence would best be appropriate e.g. quotes
Other things that will help:
* Read broadsheet newspapers and look at the bits where there is comments and editorials and see how it is draffted like an arugement
* think of it as an arguement
* divide up your word count
Checking the draft:
Things to think of when reading it through:
- Have I actually answered the question?
- Are my arguements precise and backed up by evidence?
- Does it flow and is it understable?
- Have I shown that I understand the module material?
- Is it all referenced properly?
Perhaps also get someone else to check it for you and see what they think!
Second Draft
Aim: to improve on the first draft
- Include any things that you may have missed out
- Look at the sequence of paragraphs - do they flow logicaly from one to the next?
- Check sentence structure, puncuation and grammer
- Make sure that your style of writting and vocabulary is approriate for the context
Personally, I think that writting the drafts would be easier on a computer. Why? - because it will be easier to re-edit the work into the second draft, to add in bits you've missed and so on.
With all these notes and information I hope to be able to write good essays! :)
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
|
- Dr. Seuss
I'm currently wading my way through the very famous Perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I received this book for Christmas from a dear friend of mine.
So far, so good. I don't usually enjoy the type of just letter books but this one is somehow different I seem to be enjoying it.
Whilst I was reading it the other day I got to thinking that I NEEDED to see the film of it because the book is just amazing, it truly is. And so I rented to film and watched it, and I must say it is a very good film! Although it does make you cry! Also Emma Watson also stars in it, although for the life of me I can't imagine her to be anyone else but Hermione hehe!
|
I joined the Open University last year in 2012. I am still waiting for my degree to start, February 2nd 2013.
I'm doing a BA Honors degree in Language Studies, French and English. I have always loved languages, especially French. It's my dream to teach English abroad and to be able to travel the world; I have a massive case of wanderlust.
My degree will take hopefully 4 years to complete, well it should do with my plan of action anyway! In February I will start the course AA100, Arts Past and Present. The course itself looks at many aspects of art including history, literature, paintings and music. Since I've not done a university course before it should help me to settle in and gain a strong grasp of essay writing.
I have already looked over the booklet which contains information about how to write essays and so on, I also highlighted the key information for when I need to look over it again. I also viewed the DVD on my first module - Cleopatra's image and read through the chapter on that. However I wasn't really sure what to do as I've not spoken with a tutor at all yet. But, I thought perhaps it was best to get a head start.