Okay. I hear you. ‘Stop telling me how to do it. Show me how to do it!’
Below is an example of how I might break down a simple question:
Example Question
Describe an effective and efficient way to write an essay. (2000 words)
So let’s quickly identify the key words here: “describe,” “effective,” “efficient.”
Yes, these are admittedly subjective. None the less, let me say something about these words I’ve picked out that might help keep your writing on track.
Describe: This type of word directs you in how to answer the question. If instead of describing you define, summarise, critique, outline, list, or do anything other than describe, then you won’t be really answering the question. Pay attention to directing ‘doing’ words (verbs) like this.
Effective/Efficient: These words provide further important clues to what is being asked of you. Don’t write an essay on the quickest, easiest, funniest, most flamboyantly spectacular way to write essays.
Constantly keep in mind what you are being directed to write.
We presumably now know what we need to do. Let’s map it out with a guiding word count.
Introduction (150 words)
Effective Essay Writing (900 words)
Efficient Essay Writing (700 words)
Reflection (100 words)
Conclusion (150 words)
This is a completed meta-level (top, overview level) of how I might think about breaking the task down into slightly smaller ‘bite-size’ chunks.
I generally give myself a generous word count for introducing and concluding my essays, even if I don't use all those words.
I like to use the Reflection section to display some critical reflection on what I have learned, how this has helped me and in what way I am better off for having completed this assignment (more on this later). I think I might be a bit unique in doing this, so feel free to check with your lecturer or drop this idea. I like to do this to link my essay learning to the real post-essay world and demonstrate this application of learning to the lecturer.
In language that will be familiar to EBC Cadets, this links the Education and Theological Formation that has occurred in writing the essay, to future Mission and Ministry Formation as well as current and future Personal and Spiritual Formation.
The bulk of the word count in this hypothetical essay has naturally been allocated to addressing what I have understood to be the core of the question - but not equally so you will have noticed. For me, I have decided to give more room (weight/word count) to addressing the effective element, as opposed to the efficient dimension of the question.
You may disagree with this approach. Maybe I’m wrong in doing this! If I was unsure about this approach, I would discuss it with the lecturer. But as it stands, this is my essay and I think effective writing is more important than efficient writing (within reason, of course).
So I am going to boldly and spectacularly succeed or fail by addressing the question this way (unless the lecturer has advised me otherwise). But note: if I consciously or unconsciously chose to give these elements equal weight, that is also a decision that will also influence the quality and grade of my essay, for better or worse, knowingly or not!
So think carefully when mapping out an essay. What aspects of your answer deserve how much attention?
In this example, the next step for me would be breaking down those two bigger sections into smaller sections.
Thinking cap on, I would start to consider what the main composite sections of this answer could be. One possible breakdown might look like this:
Effective Essay Writing (900 words)
Clear communication (100)
Concise communication (100)
Finding ‘a’ way; not ‘the’ way (300)
Reading widely (100)
Using the ‘read, write, cite’ cycle (300)
Efficient Essay Writing (600 words)
Learning from others (200)
Seeking help from lecturer if required (50)
Structured thinking and presentation (150)
Focus on doing your best with the time and energy you have (100)
??? (100 words)
Now, instead of writing a big blob of 2000 words addressing the essay subject, you can see that I am writing a few hundred words, at most, on specific elements of this essay topic. This is a lot more achievable.
While the sub-headings will be deleted in the final version, I keep them in until the very end, to help keep me on track. It also makes writing the essay very manageable and keeps me progressing easily and regularly.
The larger headings may or may not be in the final version. This is personal preference and may be worth asking the lecturer if they have a preference, if not already stated.
For me to sit down and add to an essay, when I have 20-30 minutes here or there, would be very daunting without these headings and sub-headings. I would need to see where I am up to in 'the whole thing' before being able to add something to the grand 2000-word 'picture.'
Writing something intelligible under a particular sub-section, however, is comparatively simple. And I can quickly and easily come back to it at a later date and refine it and work it into the overall design of the essay. Recently, I have been completing over half of my essays on my iPhone when out and about, using this approach.
A few final points:
You will notice three question marks and 100 words missing from the second section. As I write this article (and as you write your own essay outlines), sometimes you will be tired or short on time and unable to complete the mapping.
That’s ok. Pop in a few question marks and move on. Don’t let not knowing exactly what to do next, or where you are going, stop you from writing some content or ‘notes to self’ under those headings and sub-headings. You can (and should) come back to this fairly early in the piece and figure it out, but don't let a partially incomplete picture stop you from starting. I guess what you really want to avoid is writing 80% of the essay then realising that those three question marks that represent 5% of unformed thinking are in fact representative of a section that deserves 25% of your essay.
Yes, you want to put some ‘meat on the bones’ as soon as possible, and feel like you are (and actually be) making some progress. So a solid structure and sub-structure, followed by some well-formed thoughts and unformed ideas under those headings will see you kicking some quick goals and feeling like victory is not far off, if not outright inevitable. Just be sure to find the right balance and revisit any unformed thinking early enough.
Next Post: Art or Science?
March 2018 (Updated January 2021)