Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124060 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Review
'I discovered your book whilst browsing in a bookshop towards the end of my dissertation. For the first time in my "academic" life I discovered what was actually required of a student to get good grades...The long and the short of it is that I am writing to thank you SO VERY MUCH for this excellent book. It has completely changed my approach to serious reading and I am spreading the news to all my friends and family.' - Helen C Ameen, Linguistics student, Leicester University'There is nothing pretentious, nothing patronising, nothing dogmatic, over-assertive or self-regarding about this book. Its main concern being to guide students into sensible ways of working, reading and writing...Without this book, I would have had an impossible time trying to tune into what is required by way of an essay.' - Christopher Perkins, Mature Student in English Literature, Birkbeck College'Just to let you know that my essay was extremely well received, and I wanted to thank you [Bryan Greetham] for writing this book that allowed me to write my "best essay yet."' - Alex Strick van Linschoten, Student

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

Best on the market
As a teacher and journalist I am frequently asked by students to recommend a book on essay writing. This is the only book I recommend. Not only does Bryan Greetham take you through the steps of writing, he shows students how to think!!
This is something I have not come across in any other book of this kind.
His writing is clear, the structure of the book is helpful, the language is accessible. Top marks from me and my students.

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.

my grades went from C's to A's...
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!