![]() ![]() A good argument can make all the difference between an average essay and a great essay. Whenever you’re writing an English essay, it is of the utmost importance that you have an argument, or at the very least a specific angle of discussion. With a question such as "Discuss the theme of 'ghosts' in John Donne's poetry" students often fall into the trap of picking three poems and simply pointing out the use of ghosts in each. Often it helps restart my brain by giving me a moment to reflect on my ideas, leaving me once again inspired and able to write.Īfter you’ve gotten through most of your research and taken notes on various sources, it’s time to decide on your thesis or argument. I find that if I am stuck on a point or am having a slow writing day, it can be extremely helpful to take a break from writing and just take notes on an article or chapter. While you should try and get the bulk of it done before you begin writing, it’s a good idea to still be looking at JSTOR and your library's books. Please note that research should be ongoing throughout the essay writing process. Professors want their students to write essays that demonstrate a breadth of understanding, and for this reason I would recommend always having minimum 8-10 resources in your bibliography (including primary sources) if you are not in honours just yet, you can get away with fewer although it’s a good habit to get into. It’s also worth noting that professors do look through your bibliography to see how many and what kind of sources you used. Therefore by focusing first on researching and compiling sources, you can ease yourself into the essay mindset and giving yourself a better idea of the subject area. All too often, students find themselves stuck and unable to begin an essay because they can’t figure out where to begin. It will also help give you a jumping off point when the time comes to start writing. It's important to begin with research as your readings can greatly inform the direction your essay will take. I always recommend using JSTOR (an online archive of primarily journals and articles) alongside books from your library, as articles are often more specialised and more to-the-point than books are. Once you have chosen your question, your first step should be to begin compiling sources. For the purposes of detailing how to best prepare an essay outline, I will be using the question "Discuss the theme of 'ghosts' in John Donne's poetry" as an example. ![]()
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