How to Write Better Essays

70 Interpretation of the Question

The next stage

Now you should be clearer about what the question is getting at and

what you want from the texts you’re about to read. You will also know

the range of abilities the examiner wants to see you use when you come

to answer the question. As you move into the research stage this should

be reflected in your pattern of study – in the way you use your skills,

like reading and note-taking.

In the next stage you will learn how to use these skills to ensure you

do more than just recall what you’ve read and imitate your authors.

You will be shown how to use your skills to process ideas in more

Assignment 3

Planning your research

When you were given the essay question you are working on you were

no doubt also given a reading list by your tutor, composed of books and

journal articles. You won’t have to read every text on the list, so before

you begin your research you will need to prioritise them. First, categorise

them into those whose approach is general and those that are specific.

Then consider, in each of these categories, which appears to be the most

useful. Some may appear too general, others too specific. In some cases

you will need to skim and scan the texts before you’re sure. In the next

stage you will be shown how to do this.

However, now that you know the meaning and implications of the

question, you will know what you’re looking for. Generally tutors try to

indicate the pages you will find most helpful, but this is not always pos-

sible. For most questions it helps to begin with the more general text

and move to the specific, but this will depend upon your prior knowl-

edge of the topic. Either way, you will still have to narrow down the spe-

cific sections you need to read. In the next stage you will be shown ways

of doing this.

The same applies to the journal articles. Your interpretation and brain-

storming of the question will have given you a much clearer idea of the

specific issues raised and where you need to devote more of your time.

In most cases, of course, we’re not lucky enough to find that the author

of an article is examining exactly the issue we need to think about. So,

again, you will have to prioritise and be selective about the sections that

are most useful.

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