How to Write Better Essays

11 Have I answered this particular question relevantly?

12 Have I dealt with all the implications of the question that I

identified in the interpretation stage?

13 Have I covered these in enough depth?

14 Have I spent too much time on less significant issues, while only

dealing superficially with any of the major issues?

15 Have I presented a convincing case which I could justify confi-

dently in a discussion?

16 In the conclusion, have I avoided introducing new ideas that

haven’t been dealt with in the body of the essay?

17 Have I tied my conclusion in with my introduction?

266 Revision

Assignment 13

Revision – the structure

Now revise your essay carefully again. This time go through each of the

stages outlined here.

Start with the introduction, checking all those things we’ve talked

about. Once you’ve done this, tick off the items on the checklist. Then

move on to the logical structure, checking the logical sequencing of the

arguments, the topic sentences and the transitions. Tick them off on the

checklist and then move on to consider the arguments, evidence and

conclusion, ticking these off on the checklist too.

In the next chapter

With this done you should feel more confident that all your ideas,

what’s on the inside, are now clearly and logically developed in your

essay. You can now turn to the outside, the language and style through

which you’ve expressed these ideas.

HTW33 7/27/01 8:50 AM Page 266