Promotional Information

Covers a range of different types of essay assignments, including exam essays and dissertations Supported throughout by examples of real essays from The Open University, with accompanying analysis Helps you to correctly interpret your brief, research the content and improve the speed of your writing as well as the quality Provides guidance and advice on good research techniques, spelling, grammar and accuracy, creating an essay plan and citing your sources Includes 'action boxes,' throughout the text to point the way and help you to monitor your progress, along with space to make notes

Table of Contents

• Section - ONE: Introduction: destination graduation
• • Chapter - 01: New realities
  • Chapter - 02: Future realities
  • Chapter - 03: How to use this book
• Section - TWO: The academic essay: its nature and role
• • Chapter - 01: What is an essay?
  • Chapter - 02: Essay conventions
  • Chapter - 03: The essay as assessed coursework
  • Chapter - 04: Developing your academic skills through essay writing
• Section - THREE: The foundation for success
• • Chapter - 01: Using clear language
  • Chapter - 02: Detail that makes for good writing
  • Chapter - 03: If your first language is not English
• Section - FOUR: Researching the content
• • Chapter - 01: Deciding which topic to write on
  • Chapter - 02: Understanding the essay title
  • Chapter - 03: Gathering material and using bibliographies
  • Chapter - 04: Developing your academic skills
  • Chapter - 05: Making notes
  • Chapter - 06: Using essay banks
• Section - FIVE: Preparing and writing
• • Chapter - 01: A systematic approach
  • Chapter - 02: When it all goes wrong
• Section - SIX: The structure and detail of an essay
• • Chapter - 01: The introduction: making a good start
  • Chapter - 02: The central content
  • Chapter - 03: Referencing
  • Chapter - 04: An appropriate conclusion
  • Chapter - 05: Writing essays in examinations
  • Chapter - 06: The purpose and form of a dissertation
• Section - SEVEN: Example essays and the art of learning from experience
• • Chapter - 01: What your lecturer wants
  • Chapter - 02: A checklist
  • Chapter - 03: The nature of the examples
  • Chapter - 04: An example of guidelines
  • Chapter - 05: Examples
  • Chapter - 06: Dealing with criticism
  • Chapter - 07: A helping hand
  • Chapter - 08: Top tips
• Section - EIGHT: Looking ahead
• • Chapter - 01: The immediate benefits
  • Chapter - 02: The wider world
  • Chapter - 03: Areas of change
  • Chapter - 04: Skills with ongoing benefit
  • Chapter - 05: Applications in finding work and beyond
  • Chapter - 06: Written communication in the workplace
  • Chapter - 07: Ongoing development

About the Author

Jacqueline Connelly has a wealth of experience of universities, including holding senior managerial posts at both Lancaster and Kent Universities. Patrick Forsyth is a consultant, trainer and writer. Mark Connelly, who wrote the foreword and contributed to the book is an author and a lecturer in Modern History at Kent University.