'Break it down for me!' 🎼
The question, that is.
Some essay questions/statements are a short, simple sentence; others are long and complex.
Some you will instantly understand; other will require some work.
Either way, what you'll want to do is break down the question into its composite components. Identify the key words, and what they ask of you. What is/are the issue/s you need to address? Can you break any part/s of the question down further? Then further again?
When you break the question (and your associated thoughts) down into their composite sections, it becomes easier to think about each element of the question you're addressing.
Creating a structured hierarchy, with headings, sub-headings, points, and sub- points will allow you to think of each element of the essay in more defined and discrete terms, and address each element separately. Use as many levels as you need. And then determine how many words each heading, sub-heading, point and sub-point deserves, dividing the essay’s total word count up accordingly, and writing the defined amount of words against each section.
As you do this, let me encourage you to think deeply about the question, and ponder, ‘Why this question? What learning does the lecturer want to see in my writing? And how best do I achieve this?’
I usually use the meta-headings of Introduction, Body, Reflection, Conclusion. Within the Body, I copy and paste each element of the question as separate sub-headings (as Comments in Google Docs), and include the points and sub points I plan to include as part of my addressing of the question. Each element, meta-section to sub-point, is assigned an allowed amount of words, all adding up to the entire word count. I typically allow myself to be over or under by 50-100 words as I write, without too much concern, mindful it will likely balance out in the end.
Sometimes, I must admit, it has been necessary to consciously adjust and readjust the division of words in each section as the essay has progressed. I would advise that using your intuition and ‘playing it by ear’ will generally produce the best results here.
Relax and just write, trusting your own judgment and knowing it gets easier with practice.
Next Post: Read, Write, Cite
March 2018 (Updated January 2021)