5 Steps To Write a First Class Essay: PROFESSOR EXPLAINS

Summary

This video reveals a powerful method for writing top-quality assignments by focusing on five key stages. The first is 'conceiving' the assignment—truly understanding it before beginning. Next, research is essential, with an emphasis on forming connections between articles to build a strong academic foundation. The third step involves creating critical dialogue using conjunctive adverbs to structure ideas. Writing should be the natural result of these stages, not the focus of stress. Finally, reacting to feedback is crucial to improving and refining your approach. Following this chain will ensure better grades and less anxiety.

Takeaways

• 😀 Conceiving the assignment is the most crucial first step, ensuring you understand the task before you begin writing.
• 😀 Researching thoroughly and connecting sources is key to transforming your marks; it's not just about finding information, but making connections between studies.
• 😀 Using conjunctive adverbs like 'consequently' and 'moreover' demonstrates critical thinking and creates a seamless academic discussion in your essay.
• 😀 Many students skip or rush the research phase, which leads to weak sources and missed opportunities for building strong arguments.
• 😀 Developing a 'critical dialogue' between sources is essential—it's not just about summarizing, but linking and contrasting them to develop your argument.
• 😀 The writing phase should be the shortest part of the assignment process, as it is primarily about editing and organizing your research into a coherent structure.
• 😀 Students often overthink or procrastinate during the writing phase, but with proper preparation, this stage should be less stressful.
• 😀 Always seek and apply feedback to improve your future assignments. Failure to do so can lead to repeating the same mistakes.
• 😀 Reviewing and reacting to feedback is essential for progress—whether your assignment went well or needs improvement.
• 😀 Focus on working smarter throughout the entire assignment process, not just putting in long hours at the end, to produce higher quality work.

Q & A

What is the biggest problem students face when writing assignments?

The biggest problem students face is rushing into the writing process without adequately focusing on the earlier stages, such as conceiving, researching, and assembling sources. This leads to weaker essays and missed opportunities for improvement.

What are the five links in the essay writing chain?

The five links are: 1) Conceiving – understanding the assignment; 2) Researching – gathering and connecting sources; 3) Assembling – organizing sources into a critical dialogue; 4) Writing – crafting the essay based on previous stages; 5) Reacting to Feedback – using feedback from past assignments to improve future work.

Why is the 'conceiving' stage considered the most important?

The 'conceiving' stage is crucial because it helps students understand the assignment fully, ensuring that they approach the task correctly. Without this clear understanding, students risk making mistakes that can negatively impact their grade.

How can students improve their research skills according to the script?

Students can improve their research skills by taking the time to find high-quality sources, drawing connections between different articles, and understanding how each piece of research fits into the overall assignment. Focusing on finding relevant, academic sources is key to strengthening the research phase.

What role do conjunctive adverbs play in academic writing?

Conjunctive adverbs (such as 'consequently' or 'moreover') help link ideas and demonstrate critical dialogue between sources. They show progression in the argument and make the essay appear more sophisticated by signaling connections and transitions between points.

How does organizing research into a critical dialogue benefit an essay?

Organizing research into a critical dialogue allows students to connect different sources, compare viewpoints, and develop a well-rounded argument. This process helps to demonstrate depth of understanding and creates a stronger, more cohesive essay.

What mistake do students often make during the 'assembling' phase of writing?

A common mistake is not investing enough time in assembling sources and connecting them critically. If students don't make meaningful links between their sources, their arguments lack academic development, leading to weaker essays.

Why is writing considered one of the shortest stages in the assignment process?

Writing should be a byproduct of the work done in the previous stages. If students have properly conceived, researched, and assembled their sources, the writing process becomes much easier and faster, primarily involving editing and finalizing the content.

What is the importance of reacting to feedback after submitting an essay?

Reacting to feedback is essential for continuous improvement. By reviewing feedback carefully and making adjustments for the next assignment, students can avoid repeating mistakes and enhance the quality of their work in future assignments.

What does the script suggest about managing assignment-related stress?

The script suggests that students reduce stress by focusing on each part of the process, especially the stages before writing. By preparing thoroughly in the conceiving, researching, and assembling stages, students can make the writing process less stressful and more manageable.