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Just Student Help’s ultimate essay writing guide walks you through every step of the essay writing process, from getting in the right state of mind through to polishing and handing in your essay to your tutor.  Simply click ‘Introduction’ below and follow the easy walk through to become an essay writing expert!

If you are looking for help with writing a dissertation then check out our ‘ultimate guide to dissertation writing‘.

Every page has forward and back navigation at the foot so you can progress at your own pace and revisit any sections you’re unsure of.

Introduction

How the information is organised and presented

Chapter 1

• 1. Where to begin an essay
  • 1.1 Writing at university level
    • 1.1.1 Undergraduate essay writing
    • 1.1.2 Post graduate essay writing
  • 1.2 Understanding the concept of an essay
  • 1.3 Essay writing stages overview
    • 1.3.1 Title and question
    • 1.3.2 Data
    • 1.3.3 Planning and timetable
    • 1.3.4 Creative process
    • 1.3.5 First draft
    • 1.3.6 Essay revisions
    • 1.3.7 Spit and polish
    • 1.3.8 Handing your essay in
  • 1.4 What defines a successful essay writer?
    • 1.4.1 Write – let it flow
    • 1.4.2 Time – it’s not always on your side
    • 1.4.3 Attitude – take a positive approach

Chapter 2

• 2 Starting the essay and running towards the finishing line
  • 2.1 Preparing to write an essay
    • 2.1.1 Discovering your ideal writing environment
    • 2.1.2 Focusing on organisation
  • 2.2 Dealing with writers’ block
  • 2.2.1: Overcoming fears
  • 2.2.2: Writing what comes to mind
  • 2.2.3: Talking it out
  • 2.2.4: Visualising success
  • 2.2.5: Giving it a rest
  • 2.2.6: Pumping up the brain muscle
  • 2.3: Staying focused on essay writing
    • 2.3.1: Long term strategies
    • 2.3.2: Short term strategies
    • 2.3.3: Decreasing the time constraints
    • 2.3.4: Chunking it
    • 2.3.5: Reaping the rewards
  • 2.4: Looking for feedback and encouragement

Chapter 3

• 3: Essay types and strategies on structure
  • 3.1: Focusing on writing topics
    • 3.1.1: Content focus
    • 3.1.2: Content action plan
  • 3.2: Essay types and frameworks
    • 3.2.1: Simple essays
    • 3.2.2: Two-sided essays
    • 3.2.3: Compare and contrast essays
    • 3.2.4: More complex essays
  • 3.3: Essay strategies
• Chapter 3: Summary

Chapter 4

• 4: It’s not all writing – first comes reading
  • 4.1: Academic reading
  • 4.2: Using your reading list
  • 4.3: Other sources of reading
  • 4.4: Reading techniques
    • 4.4.1: Best reading techniques
    • 4.1.2: Online reading tips
    • 4.1.3: Speed reading tips
• Chapter 4: In summary

Chapter 5

• 5: Online research – a whole world of additional information
  • 5.2: Where to look online for research
  • 5.3: Acceptable academic information online
    • 5.3.1: Criteria that defines acceptable academic websites
    • 5.3.2: To wikipedia, or not to wikipedia
  • 5.4: Other tips for online research success
• Chapter 5: Summary

Chapter 6

• 6: Taking notes and getting sorted
  • 6.1: All about taking notes
    • 6.1.1: What do you need for note taking?
    • 6.1.2: How to organise your notes
    • 6.1.3: Are index cards still relevant?
  • 6.2: Marking research
    • 6.2.1: Bookmarking
    • 6.2.2: Lecture note marking
    • 6.2.3: Coding systems
  • 6.3: Creating notes
    • 6.3.1: What’s important?
    • 6.3.2: Note designs and diagrams
  • 6.4: Knowing your limit
  • 6.5: Turning notes into an essay writing plan
• Chapter 6: Summary

Chapter 7

• 7: Just say no to plagiarism
  • 7.1: Defining plagiarism
    • 7.1.1: What makes plagiarism such a problem?
    • 7.1.2: What universities are doing about plagiarism
    • 7.1.3: The implications of getting caught cheating
  • 7.2: Using your words
    • 7.2.1: How to avoid copying
    • 7.2.2: Using your notes as a guide
    • 7.2.3: The fine art of the summarising and paraphrasing
• Chapter 7: Summary

Chapter 8

• 8: The devil is in the details
  • 8.1: Punctuation
  • 8.2: Capitalisation
  • 8.3: Verbs
  • 8.4: Nouns and pronouns
  • 8.5: Adjectives and adverbs
  • 8.6: Propositions, conjunctives and interjections
  • 8.7: Common grammar mistakes and how to fix them
• Chapter 8: Summary

Chapter 9

• 9: Start essay writing by perfecting the paragraph model
  • 9.1: Defining paragraphs
    • 9.1.1: Types of paragraphs
    • 9.1.2: Paragraph dos and don’ts
  • 9.2: Structuring a paragraph
    • 9.2.1: Topic sentence
    • 9.2.2: Supporting sentences
    • 9.2.3: Concluding and transitional sentences
  • 9.3: Logic and flow
    • 9.3.1: Directing the reader
    • 9.3.2: Staying on track
• Chapter 9: Summary

Chapter 10

• 10: Defining the academic writing style
  • 10.1: What is the academic style?
    • 10.1.1: Your audience
    • 10.1.2: Your tone and attitude
  • 10.2: The formal writing style
    • 10.2.1: First person or third person?
    • 10.2.2: Active voice or passive voice?
    • 10.2.3: Watching for contradictions, cliches, and overstatements
    • 10.2.4: Avoiding slang
    • 10.2.5: Diverse and technical language
    • 10.2.6: Long and short words
    • 10.2.7: Other grammar no-no’s
  • 10.3: Being objective
    • 10.3.1: How to avoid bias language
    • 10.3.2: Clarity and specific language
    • 10.3.3: Cutting the fat
    • 10.3.4: Stating the facts
  • 10.4: Creating Your Own Academic Voice
• Chapter 10: Summary

Chapter 11

• 11: The essay introduction
• 11.1: The purpose of the essay introduction
• 11.2: What to include in the essay introduction
• 11.3: The thesis statement
• 11.4: Revisiting the essay introduction
• 11.5: Common essay introduction mistakes
• Chapter 11: Summary

Chapter 12

• 12: The essay body
• 12.1: Pick a position
• 12.2: Different types of essay body writing
• 12.2.1: Analytical essay writing
• 12.2.2: Reflective essay writing
• 12.2.3: Descriptive essay writing
• 12.3: Keep your balance
• 12.3.1: Defining evidence
• 12.3.2: Reading critically
• 12.3.3: Stating opinions
• 12.4: Using quotes
• 12.5: Using visuals within an essay
• 12.5.1: Presenting visuals
• 12.5.2: Interpreting visuals
• 12.5.3: Summarising information in chart form
• Chapter 12: Summary

Chapter 13

• 13: The essay conclusion
• 13.1: The conclusion purpose
• 13.2: How to conclude an essay
• 13.3: Writing the essay conclusion
• 13.3.1: The essay conclusion content
• 13.3.2: The essay conclusion tone
• 13.3.3: Tying it all together
• 13.3.4: Looking ahead
• 13.4: Checking your work and looking back
• Chapter 13: Summary

Chapter 14

• 14: Referencing all information
• 14.1: Why reference?
• 14.2: Referencing basics
• 14.3: Defining referencing terms
• 14.4: What’s your reference style?
• 14.4.1: Harvard
• 14.4.2: APA
• 14.4.3: Footnotes
• 14.4.4: Other types of referencing styles
• 14.5: Using quotes
• 14.5.1: Citing the author
• 14.5.2: Direct quotes
• 14.5.3: Indirect quotes
• 14.5.4: Integrating quotes in your essay
• 14.5.5: Long quotes
• 14.6: Reference list
• 14.7: Bibliography versus reference list
• Chapter 14: Summary

Chapter 15:

• 15: Editing and proofreading essays
• 15.1: Editing versus proofreading: What’s the difference?
• 15.2: Editing essays
• 15.2.1: Essay editing for content
• 15.2.2: Essay editing for structure
• 15.2.3: Essay editing for style
• 15.2.4: Essay editing for length
• 15.3: Essay proofreading
• Chapter 15: Summary

Chapter 16:

• 16: The perfect essay presentation
• 16.1: Preparing your essay for submission
• 16.1.1: What looks good
• 16.1.2: Best paper to use
• 16.1.3: Pages
• 16.1.4: Binding your essay
• 16.1.5: Essay cover sheet
• 16.2: Closer inspection
• 16.2.1: Font and font size
• 16.2.2: Headings and sub-headings
• 16.2.3: Italics within your essay
• 16.2.4: Spacing
• 16.2.5: Data and Visuals
• 16.3: The final check
• Chapter 16: Summary

Chapter 17:

• 17: Handling results and feedback on your essay
• 17.1: Learning from the experience
• 17.2: Understanding feedback on your essay
• 17.2.1: Taking positive feedback on your essay
• 17.2.2: What do your essay marks mean?
• 17.2.3: How to cope with getting a lower mark and handling disappointment
• 17.3: Working with your tutor on the feedback
• 17.4: Moving on to the next essay
• Chapter 17: Summary

Chapter 18:

• 18: Essay types by specialty
• 18.1: Writing a law essay
• 18.2: Writing an architectural essay
• 18.3: Writing an art essay
• 18.4: Writing a criminology essay
• 18.5: Writing an environmental science essay
• 18.6: Writing a religion essay
• 18.7: Writing a philosophy essay
• 18.8: Writing a science essay
• 18.9: Writing a literature essay
• 18.10: Writing a business or economics essay
• 18.11: Writing a nursing essay
• 18.12: Writing a media essay
• 18.13: Writing an education essay
• 18.14: Writing a film studies essay
• 18.15: Writing a mathematics essay

Chapter 19:

• 19: Troubleshooting your essay
• 19.1: Too many words
• 19.2: Too few words
• 19.3: Time is running out
• 19.4: Technology issues
• 19.5: My writing stinks!
• 19.6: An unanswered question
• 19.7: Wrong references
• 19.8: I don’t understand!
• 19.9: I hate my course!
• 19.10: It seems perfect, but how do I know for sure?

Chapter 20:

• 20: Writing essays for an exam
• 20.1: Planning for an essay exam
• 20.2: Managing time
• 20.3: Revising for an essay exam
• 20.4: Borrowing from best practices
• 20.5: Taking care of yourself
• 20.6: Getting ready for essay exams
• 20.7: Writing by hand
• 20.8: Dealing with nerves
• 20.9: Answering the exam question
• 20.10: Presenting the final essay exam
• Chapter 20: Summary

Conclusion: Final thoughts on essay writing

• Conclusion: Final thoughts on essay writing