Stage 3 – Use your plan to guide your research
• Armed with your outline plan, use skimming and scanning strategies
to identify material relevant to your key points (see on-line guide on
reading for academic purposes)
• Use an active, critical, questioning approach to read the material you
have identified (see Anglia Ruskin’s on-line guides at
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/central/studentsupport/
services/learning/on_line_study_skills.html)
Stage 4 - Refine your plan
• If your research has drawn out key points you would have missed
out, include them. Delete anything that now seems irrelevant or
unimportant.
• Work out the order for introducing key points.
• Convert your outline plan into a linear plan – list the main
topics/arguments as headings in order.
• Code (colour, letters, numbers) the headings.
• For each main topic/argument note the main information you will
include and the examples/other supporting details.
• Divide up your word allowance between the headings – allow one
tenth each for the introduction and conclusion.
• Work out how many words per page you write in your handwriting.
Select the total number of pages you will need. Draw out pages
showing what topics you’ll include on each page.
• Sort your research notes – use the code colour, number or letter to
relate them to your plan.
• Start drafting!
Stage 5 - Drafting
• If you have a mental block with the introduction, start with the
“middle”, with a topic/idea you feel most comfortable with.
• Take each main topic/idea and write a paragraph about it.
• Do not worry about style/spelling at this stage – let the ideas flow.
• For each paragraph include a “topic sentence” that makes it clear
what that paragraph is about. The rest of the paragraph will include
information and evidence related to that “topic”.
• Leave space for editing.
• Write the conclusion – it should sum up the content of the “middle”
and relate back to the title.
• Write the introduction – it is easier to say what your essay sets out to
do once you have done it.
• If you have word-processed your draft, print off a hard copy for
editing purposes.
• Put the draft aside for a day or so – come back to it with a fresh pair
of eyes.
Stage 6 – Editing your draft
First re-read your draft, checking for structure and content:
• Does the main body do what the introduction says it will do?
• Is it clear what each paragraph is about? (Highlight the topic
sentence; sum up the topic in the margin and colour code it.)
• Is every paragraph relevant to the question?
• Is everything in the paragraph relevant to the main “topic”?
• Is there enough in each paragraph to support the “topic”?
• Is anything repeated/superfluous?
• Is everything in the right place?
• Are the sentences in each paragraph in the right order?
• Does every paragraph relate clearly to the others? (See useful
linking words and phrases).
Check again for style and presentation:
• Are the ideas clearly expressed, in an academic style?
• Have you cited references correctly and listed them at the end?
• Does the spelling/punctuation help the reader?
Useful linking words and phrases
To indicate a contrast:
however on the other hand in contrast
alternatively on the contrary conversely
in comparison rather in fact
another possibility better/worse still but
despite this notwithstanding in spite of
nevertheless for all that yet
all the same instead
To provide an illustration:
for example as follows that is
that is to say for instance say
in other words namely such as
chiefly mainly most importantly
typical of this/such notably one such
including especially not least
a typical/particular/
key example
in particular
To extend a point:
similarly equally indeed in addition
in the same way in addition likewise
too besides also
above all as well furthermore
To show cause and effect/conclusion:
so therefore accordingly
thus hence then
it follows that for this reason this implies
in this/that case consequently because of this/that
this suggests that in conclusion in short
to conclude In brief in all
it might be concluded
from this
accepting/assuming
this
resulting from/
in consequence of this
as a result/
consequence
owing to/due to the
fact that
accepting/assuming
this
To show the next step:
first(ly) second(ly) to begin/start with
lastly last but not least ultimately
first and foremost finally another
then after next
afterwards third(ly) first and most
importantly
in the first/second
place
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