There are two main types of essays: those based on theory and those based on the application
of theory to a practical situation or scenario.
Essays based on theory
are often centred on problems or issues under debate and generally
require a formal response to a set question, statement or a proposition. This is to encourage
you to research and think critically about the various viewpoints and ideas presented in the
literature to enable you to form
your own viewpoint/position/answer to the question. So in
this kind of essay you have to have a viewpoint (argument) and convince the reader, that
your
viewpoint or perspective is credible i.e. develop your argument.
You do this by using the
ideas of others to justify your viewpoint.
Essays based on theory and practice
generally require either:
• relating and/or evaluating a theory (or theories) to practice/s (e.g. explain
communication theory/theories and give examples from everyday life), or
• evaluation of a practice by using criteria from theory (e.g. analyse and evaluate
communication practices in your workplace).
Again you must form your viewpoint/answer and use and acknowledge the ideas in the
literature to support your viewpoint.
Common problems with the presentation of ideas in essays
• Not developing an argument. This is one of the most common problem in essays
particularly those essays that ask the student to respond to a question or proposition.
• Not making the link between theory and practice (where appropriate of course!)
• Not justifying the analysis/evaluation/reflection with sufficient theory and thus use of intext
referencing.
• Not writing to convey analysis and/or evaluation but rather writing descriptively i.e. telling
a story.
• Not communicating the link between the ideas in the essay and the assignment
task/question.
• Not writing in paragraphs (i.e. having a couple of sentences together rather than having
groups of at least 4 sentences that follow from one to the next).
• Not inserting a space between paragraphs.
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