Getting it back

Getting it back

Here is a summary of things to keep in your mind about writing an essay. When I mark an essay, they are the things that I particularly look out for:

• Use of critics (ie don't slavishly agree with them)

• Range of reference to literary texts, including obscure ones

• Clear and perceptible structure

• Interesting ideas tied in to quotations

• The paragraph:

  1. Length
  2. Topic sentence
  3. First sentence, last sentence
  4. First paragraph (sets out themes)

• List of works consulted (properly styled)

• Quotations properly laid out, and references styled properly

• One side of the paper only

• Spelling and punctuation

In addition, I will be using the official School set of marking criteria. We are instructed to use these criteria at all times when marking in order that there should be uniformity in the marking (which is otherwise a rather subjective business). You should be aware of these criteria and write with them very much in mind. In fact, if I were you I would memorise them. They are here.

9. Two how-to-do-it books

MLA Handbook for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations , (New York: MLA, 1977) Gen. Ref. Z 253.

This is the most useful text to buy. It has notes on everything you need, including how to do indented outlines. It's not as full or as easy to understand as the next title below, but it's all there.

Update (27/3/99): you don't have to buy it any more. It's here, in a really helpful frame format. This is wonderful. All students should use this site all the time.

Kane, Thomas S, The Oxford Guide to Writing , (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983).

This book has it all: how to make an indented outline, how to spell, how to punctuate, how to write a paragraph, how to take notes, how to sharpen your pencil--everything. The bad news is that (a) it's rather American, and (b) it's out of print. There are two copies in the Library, on long loan.

Update 2002: this has now been reissued as two books: the Oxford Essential Guide to Writing, at the very cheap price of £3.44 (from Amazon); and the New Oxford Guide to Writing, paperback £9.14 (Amazon). The latter looks so interesting that I've just ordered it.