The more you read, the more you will learn. This will (generally) improve the quality of what you write. And as you cite you wider reading, you will build a super-mega-awesome bibliography that demonstrates your efforts.
So, as your ever-expanding knowledge base widens and deepens, and your ability to synthesise and share knowledge improves, so will the quality (and grade) of your essays.
I would highly recommend reading both the core and recommended reading, and cite from as many (preferably close to all) of these sources.
You also want to find some other good books or journal articles (through digital libraries available through your college, university, Google Scholar and beyond).
As ideas about answering the essay question come to you, and books/articles you remember or discover pop into your head, continually work at compiling a list of material to read (or skim read) and reference. Also, keep a record if you need to about where you are up to with this reading. A systematic approach that you can replicate, again and again, makes for easy progress through your course.
Two additional ‘life hacks’ (shh!)I like to use to cite widely are:
As much as possible (almost always) I try to find something of value and reference at least once from any book/article I find and read or skim read. Even if it’s just a footnote to an existing point, to acknowledge the idea I’m (re)presenting - that this thinking is also found it in an acknowledged academic source. This adds weight to the argument and demonstrates what you are writing is not 'just' your own thoughts and ideas. It also makes for a longer bibliography, which makes for a happier Andrew.
At the very end of my essay, I will allow myself an hour or so to pickup any books, articles, etc. I haven’t referenced and see if I can just slip in a last reference or two (or three or four!) using the above method. Again, this often ends up being little more than a footnote. Sometimes it means rewriting a sentence to reflect my wider reading. Occasionally it is even better than that, and I might find a last thought or two is used and referenced, adding to the essay’s quality.
So deliberately gather as wide a collection of books and articles (and you do benefit considerably from adding some articles in there as well; preferably a few very recent ones, to show your up on the latest thinking), then read > write > cite.
This is really the essence of writing good essays. After a quick structuring and getting some preliminary thoughts down; 'read > write > cite, read > write >cite, read > write >cite.'
This will usually lead to some minor restructuring and rewriting, but that is okay - it’s all part of the process.
Try to get into a regular, almost daily, cycle of read, write, cite; read, write, cite; read, write, cite.
This will fuel your learning and writing in a really positive way, and your bibliography will reflect this wider reading.
Next Post: My Future Self
March 2018 (Updated January 2021)