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November 1st, 2024

Tips for writing academic essays.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Essay writing is a common task for LSE students. Every first-year student at LSE will inevitably need to write a 1,000 word essay-based report during the autumn term, regardless of your course. This may sound intimidating, especially if you’re not used to academic writing, but fear not! LSE offers plenty of resources to help you tackle your first essay with confidence.

Academic essays are quite different from the essays many of us wrote in our A-level exams. An academic essay is a more formal piece of writing that presents an argument or analysis on a topic using evidence, reasoning, and interpretation. If, like me, you haven’t had much experience writing essays — perhaps you didn’t complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) at school — this can seem daunting. But with the right approach, you’ll soon get the hang of it.

Here are my tips on how to get started:

Planning and structure

When you receive your essay question, the first thing to do is break it down and think about how to develop your response. Take your time to consider the examiner’s requirements—what are they expecting from your essay? Once you understand the question, identify a few key concepts you’ve learnt on your course and think about how you can expand on them.

It’s crucial to organise your essay logically. A linear structure, where points build on each other, helps create a clear argument. Avoid jumping back and forth between ideas; instead, move from more general points to more specific ones.

A useful way to begin is by making a list of all the information and points you want to include. Group similar points together, then arrange those groups in a logical order. Within each group, organise your points carefully, and check your plan to ensure it meets the task requirements.

As you write, frequently refer back to your outline to ensure you’re staying on track. Don’t wait until you’ve written two pages to check your progress—if you lose track early on, it becomes harder to fix later. If you’re unsure, discuss your essay’s overall structure with your teacher to ensure you’re heading in the right direction.

Lastly, distribute your word count wisely. If you’re over the limit, check whether you’ve over-explained certain points. If you’re under the limit, think about areas where you can elaborate further.

Paragraph structure

Each paragraph should focus on one main point, and everything in that paragraph should support or relate to that idea. So, how do you structure a paragraph?

1. Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main point.
2. Follow this with details, examples, and evidence to support your point.
3. Then, add critical analysis that explains how your evidence relates to the point you’re making.
4. Finally, wrap up the paragraph by linking it to your overall argument and preparing the reader for the next paragraph.

One mistake I made in my first essay was neglecting cohesion. I failed to connect my ideas properly, and as my teacher commented: “It’s a bit hard to follow because you don’t use linkers to tie the essay together”. I soon realised that cohesion— using linking words and phrases — acts like the connective tissue that holds the whole essay together.

Make sure you use referencing words (e.g. “this shows that…”), cause-and-effect words (e.g. “therefore”, “as a result”) and other connectives (e.g. “furthermore”, “however”) to guide the reader through your argument. Without these, your essay can feel disjointed, like a collection of unrelated thoughts.

It’s essential to review your essay before submitting it. Tools like Grammarly can help catch grammar mistakes, but don’t rely solely on them. After finishing your draft, take a break and step away from it for a bit. When you return, you’ll have fresh eyes to spot mistakes or sections that don’t flow as well as you thought. You might also catch places where you’ve accidentally repeated or omitted words.

If you need more help, don’t hesitate to visit LSE LIFE . They provide excellent advice on academic writing, from structuring your thoughts to citing your sources. Essay writing is a valuable skill to develop, and while it may seem challenging at first, it’s also rewarding. As you work on your essays, you’ll learn more than just the course content — you’ll discover how to construct solid arguments and engage with academic research.

Good luck with your essays, and remember: with practice and the right guidance, you’ll only get better!

About the author

I'm a first-year student of BSc Environment and Sustainable Development with Economics at LSE. I'm on an exciting journey to explore the vibrant and enriching LSE study life, and I'm eager to share the joy of this experience with you. My interests extend beyond academics; I'm passionate about traveling and savouring diverse cuisines. If you find my content intriguing or simply wish to engage in a friendly conversation, please don't hesitate to get in touch.