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How to Write a Law Essay: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples

Since 2006, oxbridge essays has been the uk’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service.

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

Let's put it this way: if you are studying law, you will agree that writing a law essay is no easy feat. Whether you’re dealing with case law, statutes, or legal principles, structuring your essay correctly and presenting your arguments effectively are key to achieving a high grade. This guide will walk you through the essentials of writing a law essay, including structure, introduction examples, and practical tips to help you produce a first-class essay.

A Law Essay Structure

What is the basic structure of a law essay? A well-structured essay not only presents your arguments clearly but also demonstrates your grasp of legal concepts. Here’s a typical structure for a law essay:

Introduction

Overview : Briefly introduce the topic and outline the key issues. Thesis Statement : Clearly state your main argument or position. Purpose : Indicate how the essay will address the issues and what the reader can expect.

Issue Identification : Clearly identify and explain the legal issues or questions. Legal Analysis : Discuss relevant case law, statutes, and legal principles. Argument Development : Develop your arguments logically, providing evidence and analysis to support your points. Counterarguments : Consider and address potential counterarguments or alternative viewpoints.

Summary : Recap the main points and arguments. Reinforcement : Restate your thesis in light of the evidence presented. Final Thoughts : Offer any final reflections or implications of your analysis.

Crafting an Effective Introduction

The introduction of a law essay sets the tone for the rest of your work. A strong introduction should provide a clear overview of the topic and establish the context for your argument. Here’s how you can structure it:

• Hook : Start with an engaging statement or question related to the topic. This could be a relevant quote, a brief anecdote, or a provocative question.
• Context : Provide background information to help the reader understand the relevance of the topic.
• Thesis Statement : Clearly outline your main argument or position. This should guide the direction of your essay.
• Roadmap : Briefly outline how you will address the issues and structure your argument.

Example of a Law Essay Introduction:

“The principle of judicial review is a cornerstone of the British legal system, ensuring that all public authorities act within their legal boundaries. This essay explores the scope and limits of judicial review, focusing on recent judicial decisions that have reshaped its application. By analysing key case law and statutory developments, this essay will argue that while judicial review remains a vital check on executive power, recent trends indicate a shift towards more restrained judicial intervention. The discussion will be organised into three main sections: an examination of the historical development of judicial review, an analysis of contemporary judicial approaches, and an evaluation of the implications for future judicial oversight.”

Writing the Body of the Essay

The body of your law essay is where you provide detailed analysis and develop your arguments. Follow these steps to ensure clarity and depth in your writing:

• Identify the Issues : Clearly define the legal issues or questions at hand. This section should set the foundation for your analysis.
• Provide Legal Analysis : Discuss relevant case law, statutes, and legal principles. Be sure to provide brief summaries of relevant cases, discuss any statutes or legislative provisions relevant to the topic and explain any key legal principles or doctrines that apply to the issues.
• Develop Your Arguments : Present your arguments logically, using evidence and analysis to support your points. Ensure that each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next, maintaining a clear and coherent flow.
• Address Counterarguments : Consider potential counterarguments or alternative viewpoints. Address these within your essay to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Example of Argument Development

“In the landmark case of R (on the application of Miller) v. Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (2017), the UK Supreme Court reaffirmed the principle that significant constitutional changes require parliamentary approval. The court’s decision highlighted the importance of maintaining parliamentary sovereignty in the face of executive decisions. However, recent judicial trends suggest a cautious approach towards intervening in political matters, reflecting a broader shift towards judicial restraint. This shift raises questions about the future scope of judicial review and its role in holding the executive accountable.”

Crafting a Strong Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarise the key points discussed and reinforce your thesis. Avoid introducing new information; instead, focus on synthesising your arguments and providing a final perspective. Keep in mind the following:

• Summarise Main Points : Briefly recap the key issues and arguments presented in the body.
• Restate Thesis : Reaffirm your thesis statement, demonstrating how it has been supported by your analysis.
• Final Thoughts : Offer any concluding reflections or implications. This could include suggestions for further research or practical implications of your findings.

Example of a Law Essay Conclusion:

“In conclusion, while the principle of judicial review continues to serve as a crucial mechanism for ensuring accountability, recent developments indicate a more nuanced approach by the judiciary. The balance between maintaining judicial oversight and respecting the limits of judicial intervention is delicate. As demonstrated through recent case law and statutory changes, the evolving nature of judicial review reflects broader shifts in constitutional theory and practice. Future developments will likely continue to shape the scope and application of judicial review, underscoring the need for ongoing scholarly and judicial attention.”

Final Tips for Writing a Law Essay

• Use clear and precise language to convey your arguments. Avoid jargon and overly complex sentences.
• Ensure all claims and arguments are well-supported by legal evidence and analysis.
• Always edit and proofread your essay for clarity, coherence, and correctness. Ensure that your writing adheres to legal academic standards.

Read some complete law essay examples here.

Final Remarks

Writing a law essay involves understanding the structure, crafting an effective introduction, developing your arguments, and presenting a clear conclusion. By following the guidelines and examples provided, you can create a well-organised and compelling essay. Remember, the quality of your analysis and the clarity of your arguments are key to achieving a first-class result.

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How to Write a First-Class Law Essay

Studying law at university entails lots of essay writing. This article takes you through the key steps to writing a top law essay.

Writing a law essay can be a challenging task. As a law student, you’ll be expected to analyse complex legal issues and apply legal principles to real-world scenarios. At the same time, you’ll need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively. In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to guide you through the process of planning, researching, structuring and writing a first-class law essay with confidence. 

1. Start In Advance

Give yourself plenty of time to plan, research and write your law essay. Always aim to start your law essay as soon as you have the question. Leaving it until the last minute does not only create unnecessary stress, but it also leaves you insufficient time to write, reference and perfect your work.

2. Understand The Question

Do not begin until you fully comprehend the question. Take the time to read the question carefully and make sure that you understand what it’s asking you to do. Highlight key terms and annotate the question with definitions of key concepts and any questions that you have have. Think about how the question links back to what you’ve learned during your lectures or through your readings.

3. Conduct Thorough Research

Conducting thorough research around your topic is one of the most fundamental parts of the essay writing process. You should aim to use a range of relevant sources, such as cases, academic articles, books and any other legal materials. Ensure that the information you collect is taken from relevant, reliable and up to date sources. Use primary over secondary material as much as possible.

Avoid using outdated laws and obscure blog posts as sources of information. Always aim to choose authoritative sources from experts within the field, such as academics, politicians, lawyers and judges. Using high-quality and authoritative sources and demonstrating profound and critical insight into your topic are what will earn you top marks.

4. Write A Detailed Plan

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to plan your essay. When writing your plan, you’ll need to create an outline that clearly identifies the main points that you wish to make throughout your article. Try to write down what you wish to achieve in each paragraph, what concepts you want to discuss and arguments you want to make.

Your outline should be organised in a clear, coherent and logical manner to ensure that the person grading your essay can follow your line of thought and arguments easily.  You may also wish to include headings and subheadings to structure your essay effectively This makes it easier when it comes to writing the essay as starting without a plan can get messy. The essay must answer the question and nothing but the question so ensure all of your points relate to it.

Start Writing Like A Lawyer

Read our legal writing tips now

5. Write A Compelling Introduction

A great introduction should, firstly, outline the research topic.  The introduction is one of the most crucial parts of the law essay as it sets the tone for the rest of the paper. It should capture the readers attention and provide the background context on the topic. Most importantly, it should state the thesis of your essay.

When writing your introduction, avoid simply repeating the given question. Secondly, create a road map for the reader, letting them know how the essay will approach the question. Your introduction must be concise. The main body of the essay is where you will go into detail.

6. Include A Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis should clearly set out the argument you are going to be making throughout your essay and should normally go in the introduction. Your thesis should adopt a clear stance rather than being overly general or wishy-washy. To obtain the best grades, you’ll need to show a unique perspective based upon a critical analysis of the topic rather than adopting the most obvious point of view.

Once you’ve conducted your research and had a chance to reflect on your topic, ask yourself whether you can prove your argument within the given word count or whether you would need to adopt a more modest position for your paper. Always have a clear idea of what your thesis statement is before you begin writing the content of your essay. 

7. Present the Counter-argument

To demonstrate your deeper understanding of the topic, it’s important to show your ability to consider the counter-arguments and address them in a careful and reasoned manner. When presenting your counterarguments, aim to depict them in the best possible light, aiming to be fair and reasonable before moving on to your rebuttal. To ensure that your essay is convincing, you will need to have a strong rebuttal that explains why your argument is stronger and more persuasive. This will demonstrate your capacity for critical analysis, showing the reader that you have carefully considered differing perspectives before coming to a well-supported conclusion.

8. End With A Strong Conclusion

Your conclusion is your opportunity to summarise the key points made throughout your essay and to restate the thesis statement in a clear and concise manner.  Avoid simply repeating what has already been mentioned in the body of the essay. For top grades, you should use the conclusion as an opportunity to provide critical reflection and analysis on the topic. You may also wish to share any further insights or recommendations into alternative avenues to consider or implications for further research that could add value to the topic. 

9. Review The Content Of Your Essay

Make sure you factor in time to edit the content of your essay.  Once you’ve finished your first draft, come back to it the next day. Re-read your essay with a critical perspective. Do your arguments make sense? Do your paragraphs flow in a logical manner? You may also consider asking someone to read your paper and give you critical feedback. They may be able to add another perspective you haven’t considered or suggest another research paper that could add value to your essay. 

10. Proofread For Grammatical Mistakes

Once you’re happy with the content of your essay, the last step is to thoroughly proofread your essay for any grammatical errors. Ensure that you take time to ensure that there are no grammar, spelling or punctuation errors as these can be one of the easiest ways to lose marks. You can ask anyone to proofread your paper, as they would not necessarily need to have a legal background – just strong grammar and spelling skills! 

11. Check Submission Guidelines

Before submitting, ensure that your paper conforms with the style, referencing and presentation guidelines set out by your university. This includes the correct font, font size and line spacing as well as elements such as page numbers, table of content etc. Referencing is also incredibly important as you’ll need to make sure that you are following the correct referencing system chosen by your university. Check your university’s guidelines about what the word count is and whether you need to include your student identification number in your essay as well. Be thorough and don’t lose marks for minor reasons!

12. Use Legal Terms Accurately

Always make sure that you are using legal terms accurately throughout your essay. Check an authoritative resource if you are unsure of any definitions. While being sophisticated is great, legal jargon if not used correctly or appropriately can weaken your essay. Aim to be concise and to stick to the point. Don’t use ten words when only two will do.

12. Create a Vocabulary Bank

One recurring piece of advice from seasoned law students is to take note of phrases from books and articles, key definitions or concepts and even quotes from your professors. When it comes to writing your law essay, you will have a whole range of ideas and vocabulary that will help you to develop your understanding and thoughts on a given topic. This will make writing your law essay even easier!

13. Finally, Take Care of Yourself

Last but certainly not least, looking after your health can improve your attitude towards writing your law essay your coursework in general. Sleep, eat, drink and exercise appropriately. Take regular breaks and try not to stress. Do not forget to enjoy writing the essay!

Words by Karen Fulton

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Law: Legal essay

Four tips on how to write a good law essay.

An essay is a common type of assessment in a law degree. This resource offers tips and resources to help you plan and write law essays. There are usually two types of law essays: the theoretical based essay and the problem-style essay.

The theoretical based essay may ask you to critically discuss a new piece of legislation or a recent case in relation to existing laws or legal principles. You may also be asked to take a side in an argument or discuss the wider societal implications of a legal outcome.

Problem-style essays require you to advise a party based on the analysis of a scenario or given problem. You will be required to identify the legal issues and apply relevant law. See more on legal problem-solving in this resource . This resource will focus on theoretical based law essays. There are a number of strategies that may help you in starting, structuring and presenting a law essay.

1. Starting your answer

The first step to a successful law essay is understanding the question. One of the most effective ways of breaking down the question is to identify the direction, content, and scope or limiting words.

For example, look at the following essay question:

Direction Words : Critically analyse.

Content Words: tort of negligence; tort of battery; consenting to medical treatment; patient’s right (autonomous decision).

Scope/Limiting Words: the extent to which, protect.

• In this case, we need to critically analyse an area of law.
• Here, we need to research the torts of negligence and battery and the issues of consent in medical treatments and patients’ rights .
• Here we should critically analyse how well (the extent to which) the aforementioned torts do or do not protect patients’ rights in the context of medical consent .

You may also find it useful to look at the rubric to help you interpret your examiner’s expectations.

2. Planning your argument

When reading a case, journal article, book chapter or online article, it can be hard to know exactly how to use the source in an essay. This is where taking good notes while reading critically is helpful. Take a look at our other resources to help you Read critically and Read difficult material .

The next step is to take notes that help you understand different arguments and issues, or information and context, and refer back to your assignment question to keep you on track.

Writing a very short summary of each source is a great way to start. For example, for each journal article you read, try to summarise the author's main points in a few lines. This will help you to articulate the meaning in your own words.

Then, expand on this summary with some key points. Be sure that when taking notes, you make a note of the source and the pinpoint reference or page number, so that you can correctly cite the source in your essay.

Planning strategies

Understanding arguments.

Think about how you will use your resources. You may use a primary or secondary resource to:

• to support your argument with evidence
• to demonstrate a range of issues and opinions (remember, it’s OK if you don’t agree with all your sources! Show where these contrasting arguments fit into your discussion)

It may be helpful to ask:

• How does this source contribute to my argument?
• Do I agree or disagree with the author’s argument?

See our resource Master the art of note-making and Brainstorming and mind mapping for more tips.

Integrating resources into your essay

It is important to use your research well. One way to do this is to plan the main points of your essay, and how you will use your primary and secondary resources (such as journal articles, books, case law, legislation, websites) to support one or more of those points.

3. Structuring your answer

A key element of successful law essays is the structure. A good structure will enable you to communicate your ideas fluently and efficiently. This is an important and highly valued skill not only in law school, but in practice as well.

Usually, your essay requires an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Generally, you should have one idea per paragraph. This may mean shorter paragraphs than what you would ordinarily write in high school or other faculties. Concision is key in law. Therefore, we recommend a short paragraph which efficiently addresses an issue over a long and winding exploration of many different issues.

Remember to use subheadings to provide structure to your writing. It is a good idea to come up with your subheadings before you start writing so that you have a structure to follow. The subheadings should act as a series of subtopics which reflect the arguments needed to substantiate your thesis statement.

Below we have an overview of the working components of good law essays. Examiners expect you to use all of these in your writing. The samples come from Julie Cassidy, ‘Hollow Avowals of Human Rights Protection: Time for an Australian Federal Bill of Rights?’ (2008) 13 Deakin Law Review 131.

NB: This is an illustrative example only. It is not concise enough for an undergraduate research essay and you would be expected to remove phrases like “In the course of, it is suggested that, in regard to.”

4. Presenting your ideas

In order to do well, you must also present your essay so that it reflects academic standards. This includes correct citation practices, subheadings, Plain English, and grammar and spelling.

Examiners highly value closely edited and proofed work. First-year students commonly rely too much on passive constructions and embellished language. Good lawyers write in clear and concise English that is easily understood.

• Correct Citation
• Subheadings
• Plain English
• Grammar and Spelling

Your essay must adhere to the AGLC4 rules , including appropriate pinpoint footnotes and bibliography.

A comprehensive guide to AGLC4 is provided by the Library.

Law essays use subheadings frequently, but judiciously. This may be different to what you are used to.

Subheadings also help provide a structure. See the previous section for more advice.

In accordance with AGLC 4, the first word of your heading must be capitalised.

Examiners do not want to see the full extent of your vocabulary. They prefer to see complex arguments rendered in simple language.

This, surprisingly, is not easy. We tend to think through writing. That is, our ideas come to us as we are writing. This leaves a lot of writing which is repetitive, vague, or contradictory as our ideas evolve.

Use the editing worksheet to learn which words you can easily swap out to improve readability and strategies to avoid long-winded constructions.

Do not leave your assignment to the last minute. Not only will this create undue stress, but you will not have adequate time to proofread your assignment.

When we work intensively on a piece of writing, we need a period of time away, or distance, in order to re-read our work objectively. Give yourself 2-3 days before the due date so you can print your text and edit it carefully to remove any typos or grammatical errors.

Services like Grammarly may help to pick up errors that are missed by Microsoft Word.

Further resources

Legal essay strategies, legal essay strategies accordion.

• Writing a Law essay mind map Take a look at this useful mind map to see the steps involved and the questions you should ask yourself when writing a law essay.
• Melbourne Law School: Research essay guide / Legal essay checklist
• Professor Steven Vaughan (University College London): How to write better law essays ( Prezi slides )
• Associate Professor Douglas Guilfoyle (University of New South Wales): Plain Legal English ( YouTube playlist )
• Professor James Lee (King’s College London): #FreeLawRevision Guides (see especially Essay Technique Parts 1, 2 and 3) ( YouTube playlist )
• Strategies for Essay Writing - Harvard College Writing Center See particularly, the section on Counterargument.

Examples and language

• University of Western Australia Law School: Examples of legal writing
• Columbia Law School: Writing in plain English
• Dr Patrick Goold (City, University of London): ‘It’s a subject where words matter’: how to write the perfect law essay ( The Guardian )
• 'Don't just vomit on the page': how to write a legal essay Law lecturer Steven Vaughan (University College, London) explains why the best essays take discipline, editing, and teamwork.

Effective Legal Writing: A Practical Approach

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How to write better law essays : tools and techniques for success in exams and assignments

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How to write law essays and exams

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Level Up Your Essays: How to get better grades at university

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Your feedback matters

We want to hear from you! Let us know what you found most useful or share your suggestions for improving this resource.

Guide On Completing Law Essays for Students in the UK

How To Develop Your Critical Thinking Skills

What is dental negligence?

• essay writing
• law students

Writing a legal assignment is a daunting task, especially for students who do not possess the skills needed to create a good piece. To report a good law essay, you need to have a legal background that will enable you to conduct your analysis with ease or you can paper  i need someone to write my essay for me

A student has to demonstrate his or her ability to analyze a legal topic and describe it in a simple, logical, and clear way. Like other essays, your opinion will rely on facts. Writing and completing a law essay is simple especially for students in law university. All you have to do is follow the tips that we are going to discuss today.

Defining a law essay

Laws are rules that are enforced by government authorities to maintain order. Law essays are papers written by students to analyze different aspects of the law and provide different views and opinions on the subject. These views also describe the strength and weaknesses of a particular legal topic.

1.    Starting a law essay

How do you start writing a law assignment? You start by identifying a great topic that will act as the foundation of your essay. After identifying a good topic, you explore the question in your subject area. The subject area will help you in understanding the issues that you need to address. Your professor expects you to provide good answers in the body section.

Another important part of a law essay is the title. You need to create a captivating and compelling title that will get readers interested in reading the piece. Start by coming up with a captivating intro that creates the desired impression. Your opening remarks should indicate what the reader should expect to find in your paper.

2.    Finding a good topic

Since most legal papers focus on legal analysis, you’ll need to do your research in your area of study. You’ll be in a comfortable position to write your essay after you’ve familiarized yourself with the topic. Don’t forget to list your information sources since they’ll be required at the end of your essay. For your insights or arguments to be effective, you’ll need to present them in a structured approach.

3.    Create an outline

Without a good outline, you don’t have the assurance that you’ll get your desired results. To create an outline, you’ll need to come up with a draft that includes all the main arguments and ideas that you’ll include in your copy. A structured blueprint gives you a reference point that helps you formulate and turn ideas into words. With an outline, you’ll easily focus on the topic at hand and the main topics.

4.    Include all the sections

Just like any other essay, a law essay is made up of three sections namely the intro, body, and conclusion. The intro consists of one paragraph that finalizes with a thesis statement. The body includes around three or four paragraphs that elaborate on the theme and arguments. The conclusion summarizes the essay.

1.     The Introduction

The introduction part introduces the reader to the subject at hand by summarizing the arguments of the essay. It is an opportunity to get the attention of the audience by focusing on the value of the topic. The introduction ends with a thesis statement that justifies the objectives of the essay.

2.     The body

The body is a key element of the essay. It allows you to state your main arguments that support your thesis statement. Do not be afraid of giving counter-arguments on the issues that you are supporting. However, your claims have to be supported by reliable sources of information.

The opinions that you include in your essay should indicate a clear understanding of the subject matter. The body part needs to challenge and persuade readers to adopt your thoughts. If you’ll be tackling different elements, it’s important to divide your body into sub-headings.

3.     The conclusion

The conclusion summarizes your point of view by restating your thesis statement. Your body needs to address all the critical questions for you to be in a position to conclude with a comprehensive answer. Never introduce a new idea in the conclusion. You also need to be objective in your final remarks especially when describing your personal view.

To conclude

Before we conclude this article, we’ve decided to share a few critical tips on certain aspects of your essay that deserve your attention. You need to:

• Present your paper in a neat and organized way
• Use coherent and effective structures when labeling your subheadings
• Demonstrate your ability to apply the law using your arguments
• Develop systematic and logical arguments

Writing a law essay shouldn’t be difficult with the tips that we’ve discussed here. The most important thing when writing such essays is creativity. You need to prepared to think outside the box. After writing your essay, remember to proofread at least three times before submitting it.

Camilla Uppal

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Essay-writing: tips & hints for success.

Posted on: 28 February 2022 by Kirsten Ward in Blog

At several points during your degree, you may be asked to write an essay. In some modules, essays form a key component of your summative assessment. To celebrate National Essay Day on 28th February, we have collated a set of hints & tips, designed to help you succeed in achieving a higher mark in your essay-based assessments.

So, what makes a great essay? Great essays are not just discursive but also analytical. Done well, essays not only communicate your understanding of a topic to the examiner, but can be learning processes in themselves, encouraging you to organise relevant material and think in new and creative ways. To impress an examiner, essays must be appropriately referenced and carefully framed, using academic language, and be free from typographical errors. For these reasons, you are strongly encouraged to start your essays early, leaving enough time for thorough proofreading with fresh eyes.

At a base level, your essay is a reasoned answer, supported by evidence, to the question set. The evidence for your argument comes from your wider reading. The way you select and interpret this evidence and explain how this helps you to answer the question, demonstrates your own thinking to the examiner. Producing a well-organised and evidence-based critical discussion, that directly answers the question set, is not an easy task. You will find that your essay writing improves with practice as you progress throughout your degree. However, developing good habits from the outset can go a long way in helping you to achieve success in your essay-based assessments.

Reading with Purpose

When you first receive the essay question, it is important to avoid rushing into the writing process. Although you may wish to show off the breadth of your knowledge to the examiner, writing down everything that you know about a topic, without a clear plan or structure, is likely to reduce the strength of your argument. Aim to make your examiners life as easy as possible, by grouping ideas together, and considering your overarching narrative, before putting pen to paper.

The first key tip is to ensure you answer the question. As with writing, do not rush into research. Instead, dedicate some time to understanding exactly what the question is asking. Consider the question within its context: what wider debates and issues may it be touching on from your lectures and seminars? Is there a specific viewpoint, or angle, that the question takes, or wishes you to explore? Is the question part of a wider discussion, perhaps one that is ongoing within the academic literature? Your lecturer may encourage you to narrow the question down, particularly if there is a tight word-limit. If you choose to focus on a particular area, ensure that you explain your choice to the examiner. Show them that you understand that, whilst there may be wider issues at play, you have chosen to conduct a deeper analysis within a certain area, given the constraints of the word limit. Likewise, if the question retains a narrow focus, ensure that you stay within the defined limits, and try not to entertain tangential debates.

Re-reading the question and underlining key words can help in clarifying what your answer should cover. Look out for any subject-specific terms that are used, and check that you fully understand them. You may also wish to highlight the type of analysis that the question is asking you to undertake. For example, are you being asked to compare and contrast or to critically analyse, possibly by reference to key cases or academic papers? If in doubt, break the question down. Ask, why is this topic important? Set yourself an orderly plan for research. What do you need to find out first? Breaking the question down into bitesize research tasks can prove useful when you come to plan your essay. You will then already have done a lot of the work in determining what each aspect of your argument adds to the assessment.

Once you have considered what the question is asking, you may wish to note down your initial thoughts, including: (a) what you already know about the topic (b) any aspects that you may need to research further and (c) your preliminary conclusion. This begins the process of formulating your argument and is likely to help you in prioritising your reading. Once you have completed your research, you may wish to repeat this process. By bringing together key ideas from your wider reading, you can clarify: (a) what you have found out and (b) whether your initial conclusions have changed. Remember when conducting your research, make sure you jot down a brief citation for each academic source. This will prove useful when collating your bibliography prior to submission.

Developing as a Researcher

Good essays are underpinned by sound critical analysis. Your aim when conducting preparatory research is to analyse material and evaluate the contribution it makes to your argument. Although critical analysis may seem, at first sight, a high-level skill, we make reasoned decisions every day. Critical analysis involves two main tasks: (a) weighing up the evidence supporting a certain idea to determine whether it is convincing, and (b) explaining why the evidence is, or is not, convincing. You may find it useful to approach your wider reading with a list of questions to trigger a critical approach, including (i) what is the author’s viewpoint and could it be biased? (ii) could the intended audience have influenced the way that the information is presented? (iii) what is the author’s main argument and what evidence is used in support? (iv) is the argument convincing and what are the challenges that could be waged against the conclusions made? Critical analysis does not necessarily mean disagreeing with an argument. It is equally important to be able to explain why you agree with a certain line of reasoning.

Post-it notes on a wall show one method of essay planning.

Planning with Intent

Writing with a plan often increases the overall coherence and structure of an essay. Because you know your end point and have undertaken the complex reasoning needed to bring logic to your argument, a plan allows you to focus on effectively communicating your ideas to the examiner. It also avoids the common pitfall of changing your line of reasoning halfway through writing your argument. Becoming comfortable with leaving aspects out of your essay is a skill. Remember, your word count means that it is impossible to cover everything. Your examiner is instead assessing your ability to harness and bring order to a tailored set of evidence.

Each of us adopts our own style of planning. Most commonly, you may wish to brainstorm your ideas, and arrange them into three or four groups, reflecting the key sections within your essay. Remember, not all ideas will fit neatly into this structure, so be prepared to discard them if necessary. Many writers find it helpful to store less relevant ideas within a separate Word document. Likewise, some students prefer visual plans, such as spider diagrams or mind maps, with key ideas springing out from a central question. Ideas can then be numbered, or colour coded, to structure the creative brainstorm. Others prefer a linear style, such as bullet pointing. Once you have your plan, a quick overview can often indicate whether you have too much, or too little, information. As always, be prepared for your exact line, or structure, of your argument to change as you write. You may notice new connections and patterns within, or between, your ideas. However, a plan is easily adaptable. Having an initial overarching structure will ensure that you can quickly see where any new thoughts or arguments fit into your essay.

The main purpose of planning is to set out what you will focus on in each section. This will include an introduction, where you will address: (a) what the question is asking (b) why this is interesting for your examiner and (c) how you plan to answer it. If you are struggling to get started, write down each question you are seeking to answer in turn, and take one at a time. Some students prefer to write a summary before they begin, setting out the central thesis of their essay within one or two sentences, to ensure they have a strong, overarching direction. Others prefer to write their introduction last, once they have a clear idea of their argument within the essay. You may choose to begin with the paragraph you feel most confident about and build momentum from there. Your outline should also address the main body of your essay, focusing on how each paragraph will build your argument. You may wish to try out different sequences for your groups of ideas, to determine which structure is the most persuasive. Remember that your key aim is to answer the question set. One useful tip is to focus each paragraph on one argument only. You may wish to break your plan down into more detailed sub-sections, noting the evidence from your wider reading which supports each point. Finally, your plan should bring your ideas together into a conclusion, where you summarise your arguments and show how you have addressed the question set.

Writing for Success

With a structured plan, you should have a good idea of what role each paragraph plays within your overall argument. This should help you to gauge what evidence you need to include within each section and how your essay fits together as a whole. Remember, introductions and conclusions serve key purposes within your assessment: they can make a good first and last impression. Both are core structural devices to guide the examiner through your argument. Introductions should also set out the conceptual and theoretical framework underpinning your essay. Ask yourself what the examiner needs to know, to be able to follow your argument, and how best you can draw them in from the outset. Likewise, consider what message you wish to leave the examiner with, and whether your main argument comes through clearly in your conclusion.

Remember, your introduction is the gateway into your essay. It is a map that guides the examiner, identifying the main route, and positioning your argument within the wider academic landscape. The main body of your essay should then develop the ideas that you have outlined in your introduction. The key to a successful essay is to integrate your own arguments with evidence from your wider reading. Generally, it is better to discuss fewer points, in more depth. The strongest approaches also tend to adopt a thematic analysis, integrating the arguments which can be advanced on both sides of a debate, as opposed to addressing one after the other. Remember that your essay should be analytical as opposed to descriptive. Try to only include background details where they add directly to your argument. It can prove a useful exercise once you have a first draft, to highlight areas of description in one colour and areas of analysis and evaluation in another. This will allow you to check that you have an appropriate balance.

Whilst everyone has their own style of writing, each paragraph should adopt a strong structure. Beginning with a topic sentence, the paragraph should signal to the examiner what it adds to the essay. The introductory sentence should then be supported by evidence and critical analysis. You should seek to interpret the evidence, explaining how, and why, your wider reading supports your main line of argument. Avoid simply letting the evidence ‘speak for itself’ or relying on sweeping generalisations. Instead, use case studies and specific examples. Counterarguments though, can be turned to your advantage. The strongest essays do not ignore opposing viewpoints, but rather address them head-on.

Each paragraph should then finish with a mini conclusion, linking the paragraph back to the question set. Remember that each idea should be supported by a fully cited reference from your wider reading. You should also pay close attention to the advice given by your lecturer, who may share their own style preferences, including the use of subheadings, first person and indentation. Always keep the question in front of you during the writing process. Be ruthless in discarding irrelevant material: a lack of succinctness may cost you marks. Finally, signpost your reader by using appropriate connecting phrases, guiding them through the overarching narrative of your answer.

Your conclusion should capture the journey your examiner has undertaken in reading your essay. It should allow for reflection on the main issues discussed, and directly relate back to the question set, showing how you have reached your answer. If the question asks you to make a judgment call, then you should clearly outline your reasoning. Whilst a nuanced conclusion may be appropriate, you should try to avoid ‘sitting on the fence’ or combining several sides of an argument into a muddled conclusion. Importantly, you should not introduce new material into a conclusion. Instead, focus on ‘closing the circle’ of your discussion by answering the questions raised in your introduction. You may wish to comment speculatively regarding future developments, although some writers prefer to include these discussions as part of their analysis. Similarly, although it may be appropriate to comment on the limitations of your analysis, you should avoid ending your argument on a negative or a rhetorical question. Ultimately, your conclusion should leave the examiner with a clear and positive view of your main argument.

Developing as a Writer

Writing is not an easy task. If at any stage, you become stuck, it may be useful to revisit your main ideas. Try writing one or two sentences, explaining what you are trying to get across to the examiner, without worrying about the exact phrasing. It may also help to explain the idea out loud. A trusted friend or family member can highlight any aspects which need further exploration. Do though, pay careful attention to academic integrity guidelines. After submitting a few essays, you will begin to understand what type of writer you are. You can then adapt your planning and writing habits to suit your needs. For example, if you are a slow writer, perhaps because you seek perfection in each sentence as you write, you may wish to explore writing a rough draft and beginning the editing process from there. In any event, redrafting is unavoidable, and time spent on editing and proofreading can make a real difference to your final mark.

Essays should be written in a formal academic style, avoiding the use of cliches, contractions and subjective descriptions. Common pitfalls include overreliance on ‘academic-sounding’ words and the use of overly long sentences. Both inhibit clear and accurate communication. Ideally, leave a day between finishing your essay and proofreading to gain some distance from your work. Try reading your essay aloud or using the ‘read aloud’ function on Word. This will ensure you focus on each word, highlighting sentences that are too long or dense. Check too, that your argument flows and makes sense as a cohesive whole. Do not be afraid to restructure, even at this late stage, or to cut information that is not directly relevant to the question. Remember, the examiner is looking for a focused argument. Put yourself in their shoes. Can you follow the argument clearly? Are there gaps in the reasoning? Is the argument signposted? You also need to check your references and bibliography, adopting a consistent formatting style throughout. Finally, pay close attention to any feedback you have received on previous essays. Do not be afraid to approach your lecturer or academic adviser with any questions you may have. Good luck!

Keywords: Essay Writing , National Essay-Writing Day , Essay planning , writing for success , developing as a writer , Reading , research , Research writing .

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