Top 10 Tips to Write the Perfect Essay

[@backupandround3375]

Heartily seconding the advice to plan. It makes writing concisely so much easier, and *concision will improve your marks*. Also: compare your sources! Play one critic off against another, then offer your own judgement. Critics and academics are not infallible, and if you disagree, explain why. Try to follow each point through to its logical conclusion. Keep wondering "what about...?" and examining alternatives. If it means you have to include fewer points overall to stay within word count, that's fine. And for the love of god, don't let yourself go 1000 words over the limit and try to edit it down once you've finished. You'll hate yourself, and you'll make it really hard to keep the flow and logic of the essay without a lot of extra work.

[@TomesAndTravel]

This was so helpful! I agree with you about the importance of planning - I didn't really do it much in first year, and then in second year I planned every essay and my marks were much higher. Plans help me gather my thoughts and come up with a clear, logical argument based on what I want to say in the essay. And planning really helps with what you said about linking the paragraphs, because you can sort out the order of everything before you even begin writing.

[@Xenu]

I haven't had to write an essay for school in over a decade but I still loved this video a whole lot more than I expected I would. Even if I hadn't been following your channel for years it would be clear from this video that you speak from a place of productivity and experience. Also, I still write essays even though I don't have to and don't get payed for them. When will my dorkiness ever stop! :-)

[@JeansThoughts]

Thanks a lot Xenu that means a lot! And I don't think I can ever see myself stopping writing essays either aha.

[@EmiliaIKnow]

So helpful, thank you! Also, your hair looks really cute!

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha thanks ;) I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@w.li.8652]

The video was really interesting. I am currently writing my Master Thesis and I was especially struggling with the conclusion and the section on the research in my field so far. Our department always wants us to challenge the other researchers and be like 'but you are wrong here and i'll show you why!' but I have a hard time doing that, because who am I, a mere student doing my Master, do judge other researchers, researchers with a Phd that is, it just feels so wrong.

[@JeansThoughts]

If you can provide evidence then you have every right to contest academics. If you waited until you had a PhD to disagree with another academic you'd never get a PhD as silly as it sounds aha. It's just about being reasonable and practice makes perfect. People who have PhDs contastly disagree so just because they have one doesn't mean they are right on a specific issue (as they can't both be right). You can highlight another person who disagreed with them to support your argument if that helps. They may also just not have gone far enough with an argument rather than being wrong. Or you may generally agree with them but feel they should have also highlighted a piece of evidence you've seen. People with PhDs miss stuff too :). You're entitled to disagree with whoever you want if you can back it up.

[@w.li.8652]

Yes, you're right, but it's difficult because from the first lesson on you have to read works from certain authors again and again and that makes them seem holy, almost. So, to argue against them feels really strange. Also, I don't know about the UK, but in Germany you are supposed to add up to existing research with your own paper. And that is okay now that I'm writing my MT with my own data that I collected, but for the seminar papers it felt so wrong, because they were 20 page papers that no one beside my professor ever read. To be honest, they don't add up to anything but my credit points ^^''' And in a sense, that's also a shame that you put so much work into it and in the end, only one person will read it. I heard about universities where students have to read each others papers and give feedback, but German universities don't work that way

[@inessamaria2428]

This video helps me a lot! Thank you Jean!

[@JeansThoughts]

+Inessa Maria im so glad to hear that!

[@angelah9690]

These tips are so helpful, I handed in my MA dissertation today and I am glad to say I recognised and used all your tips, I also found that when I planned my essays they became much easier to organise and write.

[@Itz_mia16]

one of the most slept on video's on youtube

[@hyleore]

I watch this video, but I know that I will end up rushing an introduction that I won't have time to go back to because I started writing at 10pm for an essay that is due midnight and that I won't get time to proof-read before submitting it 47 seconds late :')

[@angelicvoice1729]

Thank you!

[@Rec426]

I suggest using citeme.com (I believe that's the website) for citing sources. I was taught the wrong method of citing at college and when I got to uni it took me forever to learn Harvard since I kept mixing it up. This website has saved me hours and thankfully comments from tutors saying I can't cite :)

[@lachlanmoir79]

Hi, just checked that and I believe the URL is citethisforme.com if that's the same one? :)

[@JeansThoughts]

I would always suggest double checking your uni though as it can vary from department to department. My department used a different system to the archaoleogy department which I also occasionally wrote classes for so had to know both. And the classics department was a variation on the Harvard system. Your department should provide clear guidlines. We had a handbook that laid it all out for us in examples :).

[@Rec426]

Jean Bookishthoughts I've seen my subject librarian quite a few times so I do use her as a reference if I need any help. We've also got guides around uni so I use them to check if the systems got it right :)

[@Rec426]

lachlanmoir79 yep that's the one 👍

[@JeansThoughts]

Yas the Librarian is always the expert to ask anything!

[@lachlanmoir79]

Very helpful, thank you Jean. I have noted these tips down and aim to use them this year :) Essay planning is my nemesis. I am aiming to improve on that!

[@JeansThoughts]

Good luck!!!

[@t.j.forest6657]

Awesome video! This is some great advice that I wish I would've known about. I got my MA in English (focused in TESOL). According to the marks I got, I wrote really good essays. However, my writing process was generally something like: "Freak out about having to write a 15-20 page essay. Freak out about trying to find a good topic. Somehow find a topic. Write the whole thing in a week, and forget about it until it's time to turn it in." Obviously, I don't recommend this format. x) In a different yet similar vein to the topic of the video, a piece of advice for finding a topic that I found really helpful: Do general research on the broad topic first. Find where you can add your own voice to the conversation. That way, you don't run into the problem of, "I can't find any sources on this." (the nightmare!) But also, you'll already have some base sources before you even start the essay. Also, for me personally, forming the essay around a research question that you're trying to explore (instead a thesis statement you're trying to prove) really helped me in general.

[@JJO54]

After handing in a 19,000 word report to complete my qualification last week this was really interesting - trying to get my head around the Harvard referencing system 20 years after doing my degree was challenging ... that is the point when 2 references rather than 48 would have been quite nice ! :)

[@DarianaMuntean]

😍 greetings from Romania

[@sopheyrac1204]

My history teacher built up to a super secret foolproof essay structure because people were asking what they needed mostly for introductions and conclusions. "Say what you're gonna say, say it, say what you've just said."

[@kranjcat]

all there is to draw my complete attention is a cool irish accent ❤

[@JeansThoughts]

Scottish 😂

[@kranjcat]

@@JeansThoughts ignorance was bliss ☹

[@maddielc204]

I know using a website for citing is so much easier, but most universities will have a student resource center where you can get help with citing. I know in high school I was never taught how to properly cite things, so when I got to university it was a pretty big shock. I went to the student resource center and they taught me how to cite, now it's like second nature.

[@hoodietilmon7550]

That miment when you realize you did all of this but your teacher wont exept the format😂😂😂😂

[@caolila181]

Very sound tips. Thank you. I’ll have them at the forefront when writing my essays Also seeing Lian Hearn on your shelf makes my little heart flutter 😄

[@elleoneiram]

Wish I had seen this before I went to grad school!

[@lined01]

And then, Auditorium Maximum, look at this!

[@KittyAndTheBooks]

I am now in a position where I get those essays to read and it's unbelievable how many people don't seem to have read their finished product before handing it in... there's so many misspelled words and poor grammar... It's really frustrating.

[@JeansThoughts]

Why risk frustrating your marker ay aha?

[@lostfaiths]

This is completely unrelated to your topic, however, those brown and blue books in the background have been taunting and teasing me through several of your videos. Do you mind if I ask what they are? They look like chocolate, and I need them for my own if possible XD

[@JeansThoughts]

They are the Macmillan Collector's Library ^_^ I've done some videos with them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGqboHucn9J7fM0 (an intro to Jane Austen) and here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3WrlJ6Aqs9onKs (where to start with the classics)

[@emilym3395]

This was super helpful and I agree with everything you said- it's everything I sort of subconsciously try to do but sometimes end up forgetting! If possible, I'd really love to see more indepth videos on how to plan essays, find the structure that flows best, and write an introduction and conclusion maybe with examples?

[@JeansThoughts]

I'll definitely think about these ones. Sometimes it's so hard to explain your own process right? Aha. I'm definitely going to do how to find and use sources and how to take notes soon but again I shall definitely see what I can do about the other ones ^_^

[@foodforthought1007]

Thank you! This is really helpfull! :D

[@JeansThoughts]

Glad to hear it :D

[@twistinyourside]

Thank you for this. I'm doing a PGCE on Monday having been away from university for four years and this is SO helpful.

[@JeansThoughts]

Good luck and enjoy!

[@amblyxliu3429]

I think it is really useful!!!

[@yokokurama9788]

That was helpful Thanks

[@esthalensherr5698]

Thank you, Jean! Really needed this.

[@JeansThoughts]

+estha lensherr you're welcome, I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@MissbigredHeart]

this video is so helpful, thank you ❤︎

[@JeansThoughts]

So glad to hear it :D

[@royaevereadsbooks]

Awesome tips as usual Jean!

[@JeansThoughts]

Thanks a lot! :D

[@MELTXXX]

Could you please do a video on how to write in a concise way and cohesively please?! Thanks so much this is helpful!