I am quite passionate about this skill - and it is a skill, not just for school - because being able to condense your thoughts into a formal written conversation is an essential, wherever you are in your studies or career.
These 6 points work for both a set essay and an exam question - obviously you can't walk away from your exam, but being able to separate yourself a little during the given time certainly helps to give you a clearer mind in the final stages.
Current marking theories look for the difference between competence and mastery - using correct terminology, excellent grammar and punctuation and logical progression of argument - so bear these in mind.
1. Preparation
- Do the damned reading! (A really skilled student could manage a pass-level essay with just Cliff notes/Cambridge reader/class notes, but there is NO REPLACEMENT for actually reading the text!)
- Make notes - I always fill my books with post-its, colour coded for characterization/historical references/questions raised.
- As you read the particular themes and patterns of the story will become apparent, and will give clues to the type of exam question you'll get.
- Do further reading. Depending on your level this might just be a bit of historical or social research, further studies will require knowledge of critical theories - feminist or Freudian readings for example - usually directed by your tutor. Advanced studies at degree level will require you to seek out your own critical sources, which can be difficult - your tutor will have guidelines relevant to your subject.
- Studying English literature often leads you to performances - either stage or screen - try and watch as many as you can as some essays will benefit from it. Watching a production also helps you to understand more complex story lines (particularly in Shakespeare) but remember that your essay is about the text, unless otherwise stated, don't get too caught up in the acting choices.
- Dissect the question. What is the question asking? Compare, Explore, Discuss, Explain?
- What sources do you need? Main text, class-led reading, self-led research.
- Re-read your text with the question in mind, remove notes that are not relevant (this is where post-its come in handy) and clarify those that are.
- How many points of argument/discussion do you have? Order them with a logical progression.
- What is your word count? Set aside 2-300 for introduction and conclusion then divide the remainder between the points you have left, about 1-200 each.
- ALWAYS INCLUDE PLANNING IN AN EXAM. It should only take a few minutes, but if you run out of time the assessor can see where you were intending to go and can allow for your intentions in their marking.
- Explain each point in turn, give a quote for evidence, back up with research/further reading.
- What is your opinion? Can you add something interesting to the argument - the assessor will appreciate an original idea IF it is well written with appropriate references. Don't fill an essay with all your own opinions, you need to discuss those already given in your sources first, one or two of your own ideas towards the end show the understanding you have developed through your reading.
- PRINT HARDCOPIES ON A REGULAR BASIS! Never rely on technology, it is easier to rebuild from here - trust me on this!
- Have I answered the question? Make sure that you are on-topic throughout, a brilliantly written argument will gain you no points if it is not relevant to the question.
- Take a moment away from writing to re-read the text in full. In an exam this gives you a few minutes to relax and re-focus for the final push.
- For a set essay this should be at least a day. Go somewhere outside, walk in the park, play sports. Do something different.
- Now you can write your introduction and conclusion.
- Check for clarity, flow, grammar, punctuation.
- Read aloud if you can, or aloud in you head (if you get what I mean)
- Check your references and bibliography.
Always leave yourself time before deadline - at least 24 hours in case of technical issues. Keep a hardcopy for yourself.
DO NOT USE ESSAY-WRITING SERVICES!
In an exam of 2 hours you should split the time generally as follows;
10min Read text and make notes.
10min Planning
1hr Writing
10min First Edit
10min Re-read Source
10min Introduction and Conclusion
5min Final Edit
+5min
A set essay with a deadline - assuming a month lead-in;
1-7th Preliminary planning - dissect the question then continue on to Reading and Research
8th - Planning
9-19th Writing (I'm not expecting anyone to spend all day for 10 days working on this. It's easier to do a bit every day so that you're refreshed in between, or you could go at it for a whole day. Whichever way works for you to get the main bulk of the essay done in this period)
19th - First Edit
20th-25th Re-read Source and go outside for at least a day.
25th - Introduction and Conclusion
26th - Final Edit of Text.
27th - Referencing and Bibliography (You should have been putting this together as you progressed, now is the time to get everything in order using the appropriate system)
28th - Deadline
This system has taken some time to work out, but it certainly works for me. However long you have before deadline you should always start with a general plan as soon as you get the question, which will give you an idea of what you are looking for in the reading. Although you can probably write a passable essay in a week, I always aim for at least 14 days for the chance to show real mastery of the text and your writing skills. Reading can take months, but sooner or later you're going to have to sit down and write.
A last-minute caffeine-fueled rant on a page will always be recognizable by the stench of panic in the writing. If you're given time to do the work, actually DO THE WORK!
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