We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out more

Essay/Assignment hints and tips

Learning how to do essays well is a key part of a business undergraduate degree. Mastering this skill doesn't happen overnight, so don't worry if you stuggle with the basics initially. Our panellists give their advice on how to best prepare for an essay below.

Start early and use good quality sources, speak to the module leader about what they expect, at the end of the day they are marking it so why wouldn't you find out what they expect and want.
Oliver Gilding, Leeds Beckett University

Make sure you start early. This is advice that is very important because leaving essays to the last minute will mean you don't have enough time to gather relevant information.
Conor Lee, Liverpool John Moores University

Be sure that your definition of good is not different from the marking criteria - you may have written a masterpiece in your perspective, but if its irrelevant and not what they are looking for it will receive poor marks.
Wooyoung Joo, Birkbeck University

Time management is vital. This does not mean handing essays in days before the deadline. However, it does mean that you have at least 3 days before the deadline with a final version that you can proof read, scrutinise and even ask someone else to read over.
Sam Stevenson, Nottingham Trent University

Before you start writing look at the markscheme and make a plan to cover all requirements.
Achilleas Drakou, University of Westminster

Don't fall into the trap of thinking undergraduate essays are to be structured in the same way as A-Level essays. See your personal tutor, and talk through how to write an undergraduate essay.
Jordan Auburn, University of Bath

Use multiple sources to support the same point and use sub-headings to illustrate the flow of the essay.
Jonathan Evans, University of Winchester

Clarity, clarity, clarity. Know your argument beforehand and don't put a word to paper that doesn't contribute to it. Most of the time, writing a good essay involves assuming the reader has zero knowledge on the subject matter; this can be frustrating but if you write with this style in mind, you'll find that your essays flow better and are much clearer overall. Markers will appreciate that!
Luke Dunn, University of Bath

Share: