An essay presents a written discussion. You are expected to demonstrate your independent research and critical thinking, so as to justify your viewpoint. You need to decide on your stance (a way of thinking about something, especially when expressed in a formally stated opinion), and find theories and examples to support your opinion, using these to structure a coherent argument.
A well structured essay typically consist of -
- an introduction which is approximately 5-10% of your word count
- your main body which is approximately 80-90% of your word count
- a conclusion which is approximately 5-10% of your word count
- a list of illustrations if you have used any images in your essay
- a bibliography for all of your text-based sources
There are a number of types of essays, and different ways to structure them, but at UCA the most common essays are critical evaluations, compare and contrast, problem and solution and discursive essays. Which approach you use will depend on your chosen topic, any examples you wish to refer to and your own critical stance (essays are NOT just a summary of what other people have said). If you are having difficulty deciding on any of these points, revisit some of your lectures or recommended reading, ask your tutor for help, or book a tutorial with a Learning Development Tutor.