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Writing an Essay or Project at an MA Level

In the first paragraphs/ section

  •  define your aim, or the issue you will deal with either as a question or a thesis.
  • Start with a story that identifies the issue
  • Or a parable or a tricky question to capture people's attention

Content

  • Make sure your paper achieves its goal,
  • Does it demonstrate you have fulfilled one of the learning outcomes of the course?
  • Have you interacted with material from the course but with your own perspectives?

Issues of Style

  • Does it have momentum?
  • Is there a clear flow from section to section?
  • Logic - does each paragraph contribute to the logic of what you are discussing, is it linked to the previous thought and to the next?
  • Do you show enthusiasm for dealing with the issue?
  • Yet objectivity
  • Is there a balance of the various themes you are covering
  • Show a breadth of readings/research through 3-4 quotes in the document, plus references to key ideas
  • Is your data valid
  • Do you diagram your thoughts well and is it labelled (i.e. caption above and description of what each part means below -  a picture is worth 1000 words
  • you have a conclusion that shows how you have accomplished what you set out to do in the introduction
  • Originality Are you bringing new perspectives, something that the reader will find enlightening?
  • Creativity.  Does it have the pizzazz factor?

Formatting

  • References are clear and consistent
  • There is a bibliography
  • You have 3-5 Headings or subheadings
  • it is readable (for example you have done a spell check and a grammar check)
  • quotes are inset and single spaced if over 4 lines
  • the cover page is according to the requirements of the school

If English is your second or third language state this as a note on the cover page.

 

© Viv Grigg & Urban Leadership Foundationand other materials © by various contributors & Urban Leadership Foundation,  for The Encarnacao Training Commission.  Last modified: July 2010
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