Know your weaknesses. In case you don’t understand something in a lecture, ask the teacher in the tutorial or when the seminar is over. You are responsible for your personal results as a university student; your readers really have nothing to do with it. You must be sensitive, professional and take responsibility for your own habits.
Make sure you don’t have weak spots and learn some key secrets to succeeding in your essay grades:
1. Know how to use library resources and get books before everyone else. This will save you money on buying books you can’t find.
2. Get your life in order and take clear notes at conferences.
3. Make sure you have a good memory. If you don’t, then make sure you learn the highlights of a topic.
4. Be good at group work.
5. Know how to write essays, this includes how to reference! Get the relevant books from the library if you need help.
6. Be good at revising if you have exams.
7. Have the ability to focus and get things done. Take responsibility for your weaknesses and turn them into strengths!
It is essential that you understand the essay question before even attempting to answer it. If you don’t understand, go to your tutor and find out what the question asks you to do. Often the most vital part of the question is the beginning where it asks you to “Argue” or “Reflect”, this sets the tone for how you answer the question.
A common misconception with essay writing is the amount of research you have to do. It might be with some titles that you need to read every book under the sun (those from top universities), but many of you only need to read the vital parts.
Check out the library and do your research. Start extracting quotes from relevant books and read the important ideas and concepts so that you can give a complete and rounded answer. Make sure you get there fast before all the good books are sold out.
This is where creating a Facebook group for the people in your course can help. You can discuss each of the reservations with the question, establish small study groups, etc. The structure of an essay (as you probably know) is: Introduction: Summarize the main points of your essay. Main Section: Discuss your research and evaluate different points of view. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and your main point of view.
Bibliography: Make sure you get all the correct punctuation in your bibliography. Check with your tutor which referencing system you should use (usually Harvard referencing). You will have to write the essay at least two or three times before it gives up. If you have someone you can trust in your class, trade essays with them to check for errors. It is much easier to spot other people’s mistakes than your own. You will then be ready to submit your essay. Good luck!