DistanceLearningCentre.com
LEARNING MATERIALS
Course: Access to Higher Education Diploma
Subject: Study Skills
Unit: Writing for Academic Purposes
Topic 2: Essay Writing
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
• record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
• keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please
read the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Course: Access to HE Diploma
Level: 3
Subject: Writing for Academic Purposes
Topic 2: Essay Writing
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL / ⌘ + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .............................................................................................1
1. Read the question… .........................................................................2
2. Researching .....................................................................................5
Online ....................................................................................................................5
Finding valid, reliable and relevant online sources .....................................7
Books and printed texts ........................................................................................9
Taking your research further ..............................................................................10
3. Planning ......................................................................................... 11
Note taking ..........................................................................................................11
Using your notes .......................................................................................12
Flashcards ..........................................................................................................12
Spider diagrams ..................................................................................................13
Mind maps ..........................................................................................................13
Essay planning....................................................................................................15
4. Writing............................................................................................ 17
Introduction .........................................................................................................17
Main body ...........................................................................................................18
Using paragraphs ......................................................................................18
Conclusion ..........................................................................................................18
Word count..........................................................................................................19
Proofreading .......................................................................................................20
Plagiarism ...........................................................................................................20
5. Style guide ..................................................................................... 22
Presentation ........................................................................................................22
Citing texts ..........................................................................................................22
Punctuation .........................................................................................................23
People .................................................................................................................23
Quotations...........................................................................................................23
Paraphrasing and referencing in text .................................................................24
Reference list and bibliography ..........................................................................24
A book with a single author .......................................................................25
Two or more books by a single author......................................................25
A book by multiple authors ........................................................................25
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Course: Access to HE Diploma
Level: 3
Subject: Writing for Academic Purposes
Topic 2: Essay Writing
LEARNING MATERIALS
An edited collection of essays ...................................................................25
A work in a collection.................................................................................25
An article in a journal .................................................................................25
A website 25
An online newspaper article ......................................................................26
DistanceLearningCentre.com Materials....................................................26
Appendices .........................................................................................................26
Golden rules of essay writing .............................................................................28
Essay checklist ...................................................................................................29
Recommended reading .......................................................................... 31
Resources ...........................................................................................................31
Books ..................................................................................................................31
Websites – Researching.....................................................................................31
Websites – Planning and Writing .......................................................................31
Websites – Plagiarism and Referencing ............................................................32
References ............................................................................................. 33
Image credits ......................................................................................................33
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
LEARNING MATERIALS
Course: Access to Higher Education Diploma
Subject: Study Skills
Unit: Writing for Academic Purposes
Topic 2: Essay Writing
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
• record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
• keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please
read the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Course: Access to HE Diploma
Level: 3
Subject: Writing for Academic Purposes
Topic 2: Essay Writing
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL / ⌘ + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .............................................................................................1
1. Read the question… .........................................................................2
2. Researching .....................................................................................5
Online ....................................................................................................................5
Finding valid, reliable and relevant online sources .....................................7
Books and printed texts ........................................................................................9
Taking your research further ..............................................................................10
3. Planning ......................................................................................... 11
Note taking ..........................................................................................................11
Using your notes .......................................................................................12
Flashcards ..........................................................................................................12
Spider diagrams ..................................................................................................13
Mind maps ..........................................................................................................13
Essay planning....................................................................................................15
4. Writing............................................................................................ 17
Introduction .........................................................................................................17
Main body ...........................................................................................................18
Using paragraphs ......................................................................................18
Conclusion ..........................................................................................................18
Word count..........................................................................................................19
Proofreading .......................................................................................................20
Plagiarism ...........................................................................................................20
5. Style guide ..................................................................................... 22
Presentation ........................................................................................................22
Citing texts ..........................................................................................................22
Punctuation .........................................................................................................23
People .................................................................................................................23
Quotations...........................................................................................................23
Paraphrasing and referencing in text .................................................................24
Reference list and bibliography ..........................................................................24
A book with a single author .......................................................................25
Two or more books by a single author......................................................25
A book by multiple authors ........................................................................25
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Course: Access to HE Diploma
Level: 3
Subject: Writing for Academic Purposes
Topic 2: Essay Writing
LEARNING MATERIALS
An edited collection of essays ...................................................................25
A work in a collection.................................................................................25
An article in a journal .................................................................................25
A website 25
An online newspaper article ......................................................................26
DistanceLearningCentre.com Materials....................................................26
Appendices .........................................................................................................26
Golden rules of essay writing .............................................................................28
Essay checklist ...................................................................................................29
Recommended reading .......................................................................... 31
Resources ...........................................................................................................31
Books ..................................................................................................................31
Websites – Researching.....................................................................................31
Websites – Planning and Writing .......................................................................31
Websites – Plagiarism and Referencing ............................................................32
References ............................................................................................. 33
Image credits ......................................................................................................33
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
