How to Write Better Essays

40 Interpretation of the Question

Now that you’ve analysed the concepts and unwrapped the impli-

cations of the question, you’re in a better position to research the

essay. You should have a clear structure of the key issues raised. In a

great many questions these will develop out of your analysis of the

key concepts in the question. In others they will come from your

initial attempt to describe what you believe to be its meaning and

implications. Either way, you cannot begin your research without

arming yourself with a clear idea of what the question is getting at

and what you should be looking for when you begin to read and take

notes.

 In the next chapter

In the next chapter we will look at the best way of getting your own

ideas down, so that when you begin your research you know what

used in the question. Then analysethe core characteristics, those

that are common to each of your examples. This will take a little

thought, but remember the ‘olic’: your mind will have a fairly clear

idea of the concept. You’ve just got to bring it in front of your mind’s

eye so that you can list the core characteristics. You may only come

up with three or four, but that’s fine.

• Then, test it. Think up a borderline case, one that doesn’t easily
  fit. This will lead you to refine your original concept. Other charac-
  teristics may appear that are far more important, or you may adjust
  one or two of those you’ve listed. Once this is done, test your new
  refined concept by imagining a contrasting case that seems to con-
  flict with it. This might lead you to adjust your concept again – either
  that or you will realise that there’s more to your example and it does
  fit within your concept after all. Either way, after you’ve done this you
  will no doubt feel that you’ve mapped out the concept: you’ve got all
  the core characteristics sharply in focus.


• Armed with this you can now go back and reveal more of the impli-
  cations of the question by imagining a doubtful case. This will
  throw a sharper light on the consequences of using the concept in
  the way it was used in the question. At the end of this, as a result of
  your careful analysis, you’re quite likely to have in front of you in
  your notes the structure that will form the basis of the final essay.

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