Depending on what university, department or school you study at, chances are there’s a set list of marking descriptors that are used to determine your essay grade. They are usually publicly available (google your institution and ‘essay marking descriptors’), and detail what your essay needs to do in order to achieve a C or B or A. The descriptors of the school I currently work at, for example, Edinburgh University’s School of Social and Political Science (SPS), can be found via this link. What you are probably not aware of, however, is that hidden within them is some really sound essay marking advice.
Tag: social science
What Should Be in a Social Science Essay? Fundamentals and Essential Techniques
This blogpost is also available as a PDF download, so it can be stored on your desktop and used as a checklist before submitting your essay.
The following is a condensed overview of the most important features of social science essay writing. Its aim is to cut through the noise, and focus on the most essential (and important) elements of essay writing. Read it carefully, and use it as a check-list once you have completed your essay.
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How can I write an effective Conclusion? – A formula that almost always works
In most parts, the conclusion is a mirror image of the introduction. Before you read this blogpost, you should therefore have read its sibling, Introduction – a formula that almost always works.
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How can I write an effective Introduction? – a formula that almost always works
Good introductions and conclusions are common, but great ones are rare. Intros and conclusions are also among the most misunderstood elements of essay writing. They are often underestimated in their importance for the overall essay. And they are best discussed together, as to some extent, they are mirror images of each other. In short: There’s so much to talk about! These blogposts make some simple-to-follow suggestions for great introductions and conclusions for every time you write an essay, and shows how they are key to essay writing success. They come in two parts: Part 1 focuses on the introduction, part 2 on conclusion.
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How many sources should I use in my essay?
Possibly the most frequently asked question when it comes to social science essay writing (certainly in first and second year courses) is how many sources should be used in an essay. This is a very legitimate question, especially if you don’t have much essay writing experience to start with. But the answer is not very straightforward. It depends. Rather than providing a fixed number, this blog post lays out what it depends on, and what kinds of parameters play a role in determining the number of readings.
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