This is the second of a few articles I am writing to give simple, easy to follow essay writing tips to international students.
I actually run my own website at so I'm well qualified to give you some of the main tips I'd say would improve most of the essays we have submitted.
My website offers a proofreading and editing service for just £8 for the first 1000 words so if you're still not 100% confident take a look and I'd love to help you towards far more professional results in the future.
So on with the article and I'm going to explain how to effectively analyse your points.
This is the part of your essay you really need to get right to get the best marks you can.
Your opening statement for these middle paragraphs will make a point - this could remain neutral or if you are attempting to persuade, or state your opinion, it will support your thesis; either way the point must always relate directly to answering the question.
Make sure that the point will then have evidence to back it up - for example 'The economic position of the super-powers by the 1980s had set into motion the fall of Communism' - this sort of statement is fine as long as you can show exactly why you have said it.
You don't need to be too nice and neutral in your essay, if you feel one answer is the correct one then argue it as much as you can - just make sure there is always evidence, evidence, evidence.
What many international students especially tend to do is just to now write down everything they know about the point - just remember all your paragraph needs to do is build the argument.
Once you make your point put in the evidence to support it and then explain exactly how it supports it.
The simple structure of each paragraph should therefore be point, evidence then an explanation of how the evidence supports the point; this is important - you are not explaining the evidence itself but how it supports the point and therefore answers the question.
If you keep to this formula you will be answering the question comprehensively and should be on your way to the best mark; of course if there are different arguments you will be explaining how they interlink together in answering the question - advocating some and ruling out others.
The number of the paragraphs will depend on the number of points you need to make a strong argument.
Next time we'll look at the conclusion and how to bring each of your points together but for now thanks for reading everyone;if you want more help with your written English visit my website.