our essay positively. It can be a very valuable learning opportunity.Course conventions?Of course, you must also check out any particular requirements your course or department might have for that particular essay. How long should it be? Should it be presented in a particular way -typed, for example? If you know the answers to these questions, it will help you to feel more confident about the task.Written versus spokenOne last point in this preliminary stage is toremember that there is a difference between writtenand spoken communication. You must select yourwords more carefully and make your meaningabsolutely clear. Remember you won't be besideyour reader to explain any difficult or obscurepoints. It's more important too, to have a sequenceof logical steps so that your reader can follow yourtrain of thought. Any emphasis has to be conveyedthrough vocabulary, sentence rhythm orpunctuation. And because your reader can go athis own pace, even go back, if necessary, writingcan be much more concentrated than speech.All this has been about the general framework in which you approach your essay. Now we'll go to the next stage which is to examine the task. 2 What is the Question?Understanding the questionYou need to examine the precise wording of the question, in order to decide exactly what you are being asked to do. You will also need to consider the assumptions behind the question and the implications that arise from the question's statement or assumptions. Does the topic require general treatment or specific reference to certain aspects? Are your own experiences and opinions worth expressing - or should you refer only to the knowledge of others?Key wordsIt is often useful at this stage to underline what you think are the key words in the way in which the question is worded. Look for the vital words or phrases which will determine the style and structure of the answer you will write. A list of the key directive words frequently found in ess...
