Product Description

A wide range of courses use essays as a form of assessment, yet many students have never been taught how to write an essay. 'How to Write Better Essays' takes you carefully through each stage of the process from interpreting the question, to the research, planning, writing and revision. The book shows you how to improve not just the study skills like note-taking, reading, organisation and writing, but your thinking skills too. You will learn how to analyse difficult concepts, criticise and evaluate arguments, use evidence, and develop more of your own ideas. 'How to Write Better Essays' gives clear practical advice, and will be the ideal book for students with a range of abilities, whether you're struggling with essay writing or simply looking to refine your existing skills.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27929 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-22
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Alex Strick van Linschoten, Student
'..I wanted to thank you [Bryan Greetham] for writing this book that allowed me to write my 'best essay yet'.'

Synopsis
This book takes the reader carefully through each stage of essay writing from interpretation of the question, to the research, planning, writing and revision. Readers are shown how to improve not just study skills like note taking, reading, organization and writing, but their thinking skills too. The reader will learn how to analyze difficult concepts, criticize and evaluate arguments, use evidence, and develop more of their own ideas. This book gives clear practical advice, with a troubleshooting section that deals with a range of common problems.

About the Author
BRYAN GREETHAM currently teaches philosophy at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. He also runs thinking and writing skills courses based on this book at universities, colleges and schools in New South Wales.

Customer Reviews

Absolutely brilliant!!!
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me.
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.