An essay aims to communicate a certain point of view, and should include substantiated arguments. These arguments are derived from numerous sources, including academic articles. By referring to other people’s ideas and findings, you are providing a distant defence; you are not communicating your personal assessment, but a well-considered and widely accepted assessment. It is essential that you reference your sources, both in the text and in a bibliography.

An essay is only a few pages long (check the assignment description for specific instructions) and contains at least an introduction, a body and a conclusion. You do not divide the text into chapters and sections, just paragraphs. Make sure you state your opinion in the introduction and the conclusion. In the body you walk the reader through the steps of your thought process. These steps must follow on logically and lead to the conclusion (your position). If readers wonder ‘why?’, ‘who says that?’ or ‘what does that mean?’, you are not on the right track. So, reflect critically on your own argumentation. It is not for nothing that an essay is referred to as an exercise in academic thinking.

The body consists of several paragraphs; each one should present an argument. Use signal words (firstly, after all, moreover, etc.) to help the reader orientate themselves in the text. After all, you want the reader to follow you through your thought process to reach your conclusion.

In an essay you can use the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’ in the introduction and the conclusion. You should avoid doing so in the body, since this makes your arguments less persuasive.