PSY106 Tutorial Preparation

Exam Overview & Tips

Exam Essay Tips:
READ THE TITLE VERY CAREFULLY AND MORE THAN ONCE!
Review notes from lectures start assembling essay, rough core and what you want to
include read around the subject to find studies/articles etc. that support or make new
points.
Practice writing the essay in full in the first instance
Make less detailed skeletons and outlines as you go along
Practice writing it in the time
Tell yourself your essay
Bottom line doesnt matter if you dont write it exactly the way you have written it in
your drafts (you will end up changing it anyways) just make sure its well structured, well
research and that all the relevant + extra material is present.

Essay writing

Why on earth would someone ask you to write an essay apart from the reason of making you
miserable what does it evidence?
Understand the title and what they are asking you to do
Identify appropriate material to read
Understand and evaluate that material
Select the most relevant material to then transfer to your essay
Construct an effective and persuasive argument
Arrive to a well-supported conclusion or review
Can you guess the most common criticism on students essays?
Does not keep to the title
Structure is poor
Too descriptive not enough critical thinking, demonstration they understand the point
Lacks in critical writing

These then make good points for essay writing
Sticks to title guideline and boundaries
Establishes relevant structure shows clear development of the argument
Uses critical writing and evaluation as much as possible

How to start the process of essay writing?
Even before the writing of the essay? BRAINSTORM
o This will prevent you from encountering writers block
o Good way to clearly outline your argument
o See how much you actually have to say about the topic
o Keeps you on track with the title
Essay progress breaking ideas down to build them up again MAKE MORE THAN ONE IF
YOU ARE UNSURE
Break down the essay title into its component parts, and consider possible ways of
addressing them;
Work with these component parts, as you select your reading and make relevant notes;
Build up the essay using the material you have collected; ordering it; presenting and
discussing it; and forming it into a coherent argument

**What is the single immovable feature that you should have as a reference all of the time the
title: You begin there; you end there; and everything in between needs to be placed in relation to
that title.

Reading relevant material
Read abstracts of papers
Skim read to identify if the source is relevant take notes if necessary
Make sure you record the source

**Be flexible with your writing be welcoming to reconstruction and revisions. Just start writing
instead of thinking too much on how to start writing.

How to structure efficiently?
Why is structure so important? You make it that much easier for you present your
argument in an efficient way.
Make sure you also include a micro-structure i.e how is the evidence/theory/case study
going to be presented.
The use of the PARAGRAPH one idea per paragraph please! Dont overload your reader
comes across as confused, rushed not organised.
o Introduce idea present it with evidence, comment on it (critical thinking) end and
start again with the next.

Keep in mind your reader the reader is your friend dont piss them off
Why? It is your task to present your argument in a way that your audience can follow; it is
not your audiences job to launch an investigation to detect the points you are trying to
make.

INTRODUCTION hock your reader, make them want to read on.
Begin with a general point about the central issue
Show your understanding of the task that has been set
Show how you plan to address the title in your essay structure
Link to your first point.
Outline your thesis/stand point on the issue.

The HEART of the ESSAY
This is where your structure really comes into play
Brownie points for
o Appropriate academic style
o Interesting and engaging writing
o Clarity of though and expression
o Grammar and spelling
o Sensible ordering of material to support ideas + use of evidence.

CONCLUSION
Also has to be powerful you want to end with a bang.
Good tips for a good conclusions are:
o BRIEF recap of what was covered in the essay in relation to the essay title
o Reference to larger issue
o Evaluation of main arguments
o Highlight the most important aspect
o How it links to other issue

Editing not an option BUT a critical part of the process. Return to it with fresh eyes if possible but
always re-read and prof read.

Presentation try and avoid very long sentences they are a lot of effort to read and understand,
do not demonstrate your skill but portray confused unorganised thoughts.

Key things to remember
1. Title is your holy grail follow it always. It will inform you on any decision of your essay from
how to start to what to include and how to finish
2. Use a relevant structure to support and present your ideas dont leave it to chance, plan it!
3. Expect to make revisions and to re-write things
4. Edit edit edit!

Extra resources
Leicester University website - http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/pdfs-of-study-
guides/writing-skills-pdfs/writing-essays-new.pdf
Barass (1982) Students must write: a guide to better writing in coursework and
examinations. London: Methuen.
Crme P & Lea MR (1997). Writing at university: a guide for students. Buckingham: Open
University Press
Scott R. (2001). The essay writing process. Ch3 pg. 36-58. Making your case: a practical guide
to essay writing.