Tips for Writing an Academic Essay

First and foremost

Take this course SERIOUSLY!!! This is a FOUNDATION course which means, it lays and
establishes the grounding, the principles and the standards for a Bachelors degree. It is not
a CXC O level course, it is not a Cape A level course, it is a University course, you are
therefore REQUIRED to take a leap, a jump and meet the University standard for essay writing.
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Students MUST recognize that lecture notes are meant to guide and focus your
research. Read your lecture notes and the lecture lessons to get a sense of the issues.
Then read the REQUIRED readings from the course reading list to acquire evidence that
would support and expand these ideas.
Regurgitating lecture notes is UNACCEPTABLE at University level. You MUST
READ!!
Do not substitute the required readings with articles you find online or elsewhere. Do not
use school books or websites for CXC, Cape or US High schools etc. Stick to the
REQUIRED and RECOMMENDED readings on your reading list.

Remember that you are required to write Academic essays only!

You MUST refer by name to the main authors of the topic you are discussing.

When answering a question you must focus only on the material which is relevant to the
answer. It is imperative that you sift the evidence and only include material that is
relevant for the question you are asked. Do not include information that does not directly
support your answer. Irrelevant information wastes your time and causes you to lose
marks. In other words: do not write a good answer to the wrong question. Only
answer the question you are asked, not something else on a similar topic.

Discuss questions REQUIRE you to develop a logical argument, examine and carefully
analyse ALL the evidence for and against the statement in order to demonstrate the validity of
your argument. This type of question calls for a complete and detailed answer.
Students must note that developing an essay rests on your ability to prove your thesis by
examining the evidence that supports your view, as well as by providing definitive evidence
that shows why the opposing view is inadequate, flawed or otherwise.
Step one:
- Write a focused, detailed introduction.
Your opening sentence should rephrase the question in your own words. Develop a solid
argument by clearly stating whether you agree or disagree with the statement and explain
why you formed this opinion. Then clearly outline all the steps you will take to prove
your argument.
eg For the question on Amerindians:
- 1st restate: This question suggests that the only cause of the seriously great reduction of
the Taino and Kalinago people was fatalism.

2nd Develop argument: Decide if the statement is true, partially true or completely false.
Justify and explain why you reached your conclusion. eg. It can be argued that the
statement is completely false because Kalinago people were not significantly reduced by
Spaniards, most Amerindians did not submissively accept their fate as seen in the various
ways they resisted and no single factor can explain the drastic decline of the Taino
people.

3rd Explain how you will prove your argument by fully and thoroughly examining all
the contributory factors in order to determine which played the most significant role in
the decline. This includes an examination of: diseases; the black legend; Amerindian
fatalism; inter-Amerindian rivalry; Amerindian timidity, cowardice and extremely
inadequate weapons; infra-structural transformation; miscegenation; ecological
imbalance etc. etc.

4th Fully examine each factor listed above in a separate paragraph.