Effective Effective Writing at the Writing at the

Graduate Level: Graduate Level: Essay Essay

OrganizationOrganizationStudent Development ServicesStudent Development Services

Writing Support CentreWriting Support CentreUCC 210UCC 210

www.sds.uwo.ca/writingwww.sds.uwo.ca/writing

Layers of Effective Writing

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Layer 1: AppearanceGrammar, Formatting,

Etc.Layer 2: Writing Style

Sentence FlowLayer 3: Organization

Connecting the IdeasLayer 4: Content

The Ideas

Essay Organization

Present your ideas in a logical (not chronological) order

Essential at the macro (paper) and micro (paragraph) levels

Critical Essay Organization

Intro-Body-Conclusion

Usually, roughly 10-80-10 word distribution

Introduction

Introduce the topic

Narrow the focus using key references

Make a clear thesis statement

General

Specific

Thesis Statements

The most important part of an essay

Thesis = Argument

More than just the topic

More than just your position

Thesis Example

WEAK: Freud’s concept of the structural model of the psyche is wrong.

BETTER: Freud’s concept of the structural model of the psyche is more popular with the general public than with medical professionals.

Body

All content should come back to the thesis

Follow a logical order (A-B, B-C, C-D)

Many possible structures:

Compare-contrast

Chronological

Conclusion

Revisit your thesis

Apply to your topic

Extend beyond your topic

Maybe a new point

General

Specific

3: Paragraph Organization

All about Topic Sentences and Support

Each paragraph should cover one Topic that is Supported by clear evidence

Follow a logical order (A-B, B-C, C-D)

Paragraph Example 1. The authors dismiss one of the most interesting

findings of the experiment without giving an explanation. 2. Bees already carrying pollinia were more likely to revisit A. morio. 3. They explain why pollinia carrying bees do not visit less (unable to distinguish flowers at low densities) but do not explain why bees that have previously visited A. morio are more likely to return, despite the apparent lack of reward for such behaviour. 4. The difference, though slight, was highly significant. 5. The bees must benefit from returning to the deceptive orchid. 6. This odd finding shows that some confounding variable may not be accounted for in this study. 7. Perhaps the pollen provides some type of health benefit to the pollinator. 8. Regardless, this issue must be resolved in order to achieve a complete understanding of this phenomenon.