What gets good marks? A good academic essay directly addresses the set task, and is well-researched, well-argued, and well-structured. Pay close attention to these qualities, and to matters of style, and you will see improvements in your essay marks.
Relevance
You must adequately address the essay question or topic. Failure to do so suggests unfamiliarity with course content, lack of thought, and poor planning and organisation. As you begin, reflect on the set question or task until you are confident that you understand what you are required to do. Seek help from lecturers or library staff if you are unclear about any aspect of the question.
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Check whether you are expected to include personal reflection in your essay.
Argument
Take an informed position or point of view on the topic and develop a logical and coherent line of reasoning. An essay that states information from sources but does not seek to persuade will attract poor marks. Aim to present a cogent, compelling and convincing argument. Use of assumptions, conjecture and speculation weaken an argument. Stick to the facts.
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The argument of a long essay or dissertation is often succinctly expressed in a thesis – a sentence or two encapsulating the central theme or idea. This is stated in the introduction and revisited in the conclusion. It should be plausible, specific, insightful and (if possible) original. Keep it free from jargon and avoid quotations and clichés. Your thesis statement may need adjustment as you progress with your research and formulate a detailed argument.
Evidence
Evidence supporting your argument is gathered through research. The better your research, the better your essay is likely to be. Demonstrate that you have done thorough research by analysing and evaluating the evidence you find. Show how the evidence supports your argument. Presentation of a strong and substantiated argument based on solid research from reputable sources will improve your essay marks.
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Accurate and complete referencing in the prescribed referencing style enables the reader to verify your claims and judge the credibility of the evidence. Failure to cite sources indicates that you are cheating by using someone else’s words or ideas without attribution. This is a serious offence and must never occur. If in doubt, always include the reference.
Structure
A good argument is served by a clear, logical and cohesive structure, and a well-structured essay indicates time spent in thought and reflection on the task. Each part, each paragraph, each sentence must contribute to the task of persuading your reader that your argument is compelling and your conclusions convincing. You therefore need to plan your essay well.
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Other features attracting poor marks include failure to follow through with what your introduction promised, inadequate defence of your argument, poor deployment of evidence in support of your argument, and significant departures from the set word limit (either too many or too few words for the task).
Style
It is not enough for an academic essay to be well-researched, well-structured, well-argued, and to adequately address the set task. To get the best marks it must also be written clearly and elegantly, with minimal clumsy or awkward phrasing, minimal spelling and grammatical errors, and an absence of unnecessary jargon. Time spent editing, revising and proofreading is not wasted. Allocate sufficient time for “polishing” your essay. Good writing makes a good student.
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A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: What am I trying to say? What words will express it? What image or idiom will make it clearer? Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? And he will probably ask himself two more: Could I put it more shortly? Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?[1]