How to deepen your argumentation? Tips:

Many of us, I reckon, have experienced the problem of not having enough depth in their arguments. We end up  gathering information from 5 or 6 places and then reinterpreting and twisting it around to come up with a coherent argument. As a result we are stuck with a C or a C+ again.

My advice:

- Increase the number of sources you are using. Some people use as much as 50 references in an academic essay and as a result they get high marks most of the time!

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- Differentiate the types of sources you are using. You may not want to be using only books. The newest scientific trends are firstly outlined in journals.

- Why not make an online poll, and reference it later in your essay. Professors value that kind of initiatives. This also shows involvement with the topic and may add depth where depth is missing.

- The essence of the problem is reached after you mention more than 2 authors. So read a bit more widely if necessary!

Introduction: The Negative Type

The Negative Introduction type of introduction, haha! means merely stating in the first sentence what you are NOT going to write about in your essay, and then stating what you ARE going to write about in the thesis.

Model structure:

This essay is not about/My aim in this essay is not to ...... . Instead I am going to focus on .... . I am also going to ...... . And finally/ And last, but not least I am going to ..... .

The first sentence introduces the negative introduction. The final three sentences illustrate the (positive) points of argumentation.

Inspired by:

Kane, T (2003). Oxford Essential Guide to Writing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Introduction: The Mini-intro + Maxi-thesis structure

Have you wondered how to write your introduction, in a way that you avoid unnecessary information, yet reflect the structure of your arguments? One way that works particularly well for me, is the mini-intro + maxi-thesis structure, whereby the introduction has been condensed to only half a sentence.

One such example would be the following:

"The discussion of Skidelsky’s argument that the extended welfare system controls economic life covers several topical arguments. Firstly, extended government spending does control market relationships, yet only indirectly. Secondly, state provided welfare is arguably seen as imposing greater control than the one provided by the private or voluntary sectors. Thirdly, welfare restricts economic opinion by leading parties into consensual alliances, yet social policy discussions are not the sole basis for political alliances. And, finally, although welfare indeed restricts economic life, pure Capitalism and Communism are more restrictive."


Here the introduction is as small as the first sentence of the paragraph. The thesis is as big as the firstly-secondly-thirdly-and finally structure.

So, this is one really good way to start your essay.

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Tips for Success in Essay Writing

- Before you choose the topic of your essay, think strategically! Which area will you be able to excel in? Clearly, there is no point in writing about something you are not confident in. Your coursework are your chance of  getting a first since you are doing them at home and you can use wide range of sources.

- Before you start writing your essay, research it well. You do not want to repeat the same information with every sentence you add. Instead, every next sentence should introduce new information or develop the previous point.

- Reference your sources first. Students tend to forget referencing or try to finish with it as soon as possible, as they are tired at the end.

- Never write your conclusion before you have finished, since you might miss something important.

- Yet, write down your introduction and thesis, after you have written down the whole argumentation part, so that you include everything said in the essay.

 - Remember to start every paragraph with a topic sentence,  stating the micro-thesis that the paragraph develops.

- Never invent references - i.e. reference something you have not used in your writings. Lecturers spot this  easily.

- Analyse your essay title. Ask yourself what the title requires you to do.

- Structure your essay accordingly.

- Allow enough time before the day you start writing it and the day of your deadline. ( At least 2 weeks).

- Write one paragraph per day. Proofread the paragraph the following day and then go on to the next one.

- Ask you lecturer for some sample essays from previous years. Be methodological. Adjust your writing style and sources to the style and sources, used in the model.

- Find an article on the given topic, and look up the articles from the article's  bibliography. Authors often cite major developments in their field, so why not benefit from that?

- Be proactive. Ask your professor for advice and recommendation. They will be flattered that you are interested in the topic and will be ore willing to help.

Most Common Essay Words

Do not be intimidated by confusing essay titles. Instead, look at these:

Account for - or in other words - Explain how a given theory, thesis, proposition or a trend came about and how it was laid down. A suitable structure is the pyramidal structure, whereby you outline the events following from one another. Or you could write down each argument in a separate paragraph, forming a kind of chronological structure.

Analyse - or in other words - Explain each and every issue that constitutes the argument, and how different points make up the whole logic behind the argument. Use again a pyramidal structure.

Assess - or in other words - Show how important an issue is. The implication here is that you need to consider the topic in the context of surrounding ideologies. Explain your thesis paragraph by paragraph, using a linear essay structure.

Compare and/or Contrast - or in other words - Show the similarities or differences between two issues.Use a binary paragraph structure.

Discuss/Critically Discuss - or in other words - Describe both arguments for, and against. Use a binary  structure, whereby in the first paragraph you describe the pro, in the second one you describe the con.
Critically Discuss simply means that you need to be more theoretical in your arguments. 

Evaluate - or in other words - See Assess.


Explain - or in other words - Clarify the meaning of a particular topic. Make clear what a certain thing really is. Use a linear structure or a loose pyramidal structure. 


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What is?/How? - or in other words - Answer the question straightforwardly, jotting down arguments as to what is the main factor or how something has come about.