skip to content
Study at Cambridge
About the University
Research at Cambridge
Search site
Home
Study at Cambridge
Undergraduate
Undergraduate courses
Applying
Events and open days
Fees and finance
Postgraduate
Postgraduate courses
How to apply
Postgraduate events
Fees and funding
International students
Continuing education
Executive and professional education
Courses in education
About the University
How the University and Colleges work
Term dates and calendars
History
Map
Visiting the University
Annual reports
Equality and diversity
News
A global university
Events
Public engagement
Jobs
Give to Cambridge
Research at Cambridge
For staff
For Cambridge students
For alumni
For our researchers
Business and enterprise
Colleges & departments
Email & phone search
Give to Cambridge
Libraries
Museums & collections
Home
Resources for students
History
Transkills: supporting transition to University
Home
Resources for students
Resources for students overview
Master's Students: Pre-Arrival Course
Undergraduates: pre-arrival course
Biological sciences
Biological sciences overview
Biological sciences - Referencing
Biological sciences - Referencing overview
Referencing in Parts
Referencing and plagiarism
Further information
Biological sciences - Academic writing
Biological sciences - Academic writing overview
Addressing the question
Addressing the question overview
Key words
Approaches to planning
Activity - Practice planning
Relevance
Using evidence, diagrams and tables
Using evidence, diagrams and tables overview
Reliability of sources
Developing argument
Critical evaluation
Structuring
Structuring overview
Activity - Evaluating introductions
Activity - Evaluating main body
Activity - Evaluating conclusions
Activity - Connectives
Activity - Layout
Language
Language overview
Activity - Practice formal-informal language
Activity - Practice word choice
Biological sciences - Using feedback
Biological sciences - Using feedback overview
Transition from A-level
Activity - action points
Activity - assessment
Further reading
Biological sciences - Exam writing
Biological sciences - Exam writing overview
Activity - Exam process quiz
Activity - Exam planning
Activity - Timed writing
Activity - Exam scenarios
Exam checklist
Further reading
Divinity
Divinity overview
Divinity - Essay writing
Divinity - Essay writing overview
Essay writing, essay writing, essay writing
Before the essay
Before the essay overview
Active and selective reading
Know what you are looking for
Books have indices for a reason
Take notes selectively but thoroughly
After reading and before writing: Thinking
Planning and using your notes
Putting your notes aside
Writing the essay
Writing the essay overview
Some common mistakes corrected
Clarity of language 1: Plain English, not Essayese
Clarity of language 2: Word choice
Clarity of structure
An essay is an argument
Other people's ideas and you
Sweeping points, not specific generalisations
Quotations and examples
Beginnings
Endings
References and bibliography
After the essay
Divinity - Exam writing
Divinity - Exam writing overview
A revision plan
The exam
Getting a first
Economics
Economics overview
Economics at Cambridge
Lectures
Supervisions
Writing essays
Solving short-answer problems
Examinations
Students' feedback
And finally...
English
English overview
English at Cambridge
How might I interpret an essay title?
How might I interpret an essay title? overview
How might I use this resource?
What is being asked?
Supervision essays
Exam essays
How are titles set?
How are titles set? overview
Precise, exam-style approach
Precise, exam-style approach overview
Types of question
'Real' questions
Instructions
Implied or topic titles
Strategies: Rephrase it
Strategies: Problematise it
Strategies: Break it down
Strategies: Challenge it
Creative, supervision-style approach
Creative, supervision-style approach overview
Defining terms
Challenging propositions
Challenging assumptions
Engaging with quotations
End of section
How do I set my own title?
How do I set my own title? overview
Valid
Answerable
Interesting
Developing a title
Activity
Further information and advice
Site map - Interpreting essay titles
How might I manage the process of producing an essay?
How might I manage the process of producing an essay? overview
How might I use this resource?
Time management
Time management overview
SMART study
When to work
Where to work
Tasks in the process
Tasks in the process overview
Getting started
Research
Research overview
Finding information
Managing information
Managing information overview
Referencing
Reading lists
Types of source
Catalogues and searching
Other ways of finding material
Trouble shooting
What format should I choose?
How do I select from what I've found?
What should I read first?
Reading
Reading overview
Reading primary texts
Reading secondary texts
Reading strategies
Note-taking
Writing
Editing
Editing overview
Errors
Mistakes
Infelicities of style
Content
Structure and focus
Pitfalls and challenges
Pitfalls and challenges overview
Procrastination
Perfectionism
Writer's block
Getting bogged down
Concentration span
Too stressed to think
Further information and advice
Site map - producing an essay
How do I produce a well-structured essay?
How do I produce a well-structured essay? overview
How might I use this resource?
What is meant by structure?
Where does structure go wrong?
Where does structure go wrong? overview
Finding a clear direction
Finding a clear direction overview
Knowing where you're going
Knowing where you're coming from
Strategies to help find direction
Effective planning
Effective planning overview
Bullet points
Q&A dialogue
Mindmapping
Structure Diagrams
Connective phrases
Colour
Common planning issues
Planning in retrospect
Communicating structure effectively
Communicating structure effectively overview
Introductions
Introductions overview
"What are you doing?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"How will you do this?"
Common questions about introductions
Activity - Introductions
Conclusions
Paragraphing
Paragraphing overview
Paragraph structure
Paragraphing strategies
Connectives
Further guidance
Site map - Producing a well-structured essay
How do I write in an appropriate academic style?
How do I write in an appropriate academic style? overview
How might I use this resource?
What is academic style?
Portraying yourself as an academic author
Qualities of academic style
Qualities of academic style overview
Aware of your reader
Aware of your own position on an issue
Strategies: Developing your own position
Objective and rational
Objective and rational overview
Personal pronouns
Emotive language
Hedging
Activity - practice using objective language
Formal and professional
Formal and professional overview
Writing in full
Lexicon
Well-informed and knowledgeable
Well-informed and knowledgeable overview
Primary and Secondary sources
Using quotation
Activity - Using quotations
Using references
Precise in meaning
Clear and concise
Grammatically correct
Further guidance
Academic style in exam writing
Site map - Academic style
Geography
Geography overview
Essay writing in Human Geography
Essay writing in Human Geography overview
Introduction
Reading
How can I take notes more effectively?
How should I plan my writing?
How long should my essays be?
What makes a 'good' essay?
What makes a 'good' essay? overview
Essay components: the introduction
Essay components: the main body
Essay components: the conclusion
How should I structure my essays?
How should I structure my essays? overview
Essay structure: definition
Essay structure: analysis
Essay structure: cause and effect
Essay structure: comparison-contrast
Essay structure: process
Essay structure: thesis and support
How should I reference my writing?
How do I organise a book review?
Spelling and grammar
Over-sophistication
Tone
Final words
Essay writing in Physical Geography
Essay writing in Physical Geography overview
Focus on the question
Style
Structure
Structure overview
The introduction
Paragraphing
Quotations
Diagrams
Discussion
The conclusion
Activity: Evaluate an essay
Research
Citations
Presentation
Writing with precision
History
History overview
Transitions to study in History Part I
Transitions to study in History Part I overview
Time management
How much time is enough?
Lectures
Reading and reading lists
Note-taking
Supervisions
Final comments
Essay writing
Essay writing overview
What makes a good essay?
How do I interpret an essay question?
How do I structure my argument?
How do I structure my argument? overview
Planning
Balancing knowledge and argument
Structure
Activity: Relating argument to question
Activity: Cohesive argument
How do I write with authority?
How do I write with authority? overview
Speak with your own voice
Style
Use of language
Activity: Writing with authority
Activity: Developing claims
How do I 'actively argue'?
Revision
Revision overview
What is the nature and purpose of Part I?
What makes a good exam essay?
How can I revise effectively?
And finally...
Law
Law overview
Writing answers to problem questions in Criminal Law
What is a problem question?
How do I treat the facts given in problem questions?
How do I use cases and statutes?
Should I refer to journal articles and textbooks?
How do I know what is relevant to my answer?
How do I structure my answer?
What is the appropriate writing style for problem questions?
Linguistics
Linguistics overview
Writing in Linguistics
What makes a 'good' supervision essay?
How is Linguistics writing different from other sub-disciplines?
How should I structure my essay?
Referencing in Linguistics
Common mistakes
Should I include my own analysis?
Exam writing
MML
MML overview
MML: History essay writing
MML: History essay writing overview
MML: What makes a 'good' History essay?
MML: How do I interpret an essay question?
MML: Reading and reading lists
MML: Note-taking
MML: Planning your essay
MML: Writing your essay
MML: Structure
MML: How do I write with authority?
MML: Style
MML: Language and spelling
MML: How do I 'actively argue'?
MML: Literature essay writing
MML: Literature essay writing overview
MML: What is an 'essay'?
MML: What do supervisors want?
MML: What is 'academic' writing?
MML: What is your writing style?
MML: Reading for supervision essays
MML: Planning your literature essay
MML: Focusing on the question
MML: How can I improve?
MML: How can I improve? overview
MML: Writing introductions
MML: Writing conclusions
MML: Writing paragraphs and linking ideas
MML: What is an academic argument?
MML: Writing to persuade
MML: Writing examination essays
MML: Dissertation toolkit
MML: Dissertation toolkit overview
Approaching the dissertation
Initial ideas and finding a supervisor
Avoiding common pitfalls
Choosing and defining a topic
Producing a work schedule
Reading for your dissertation
Planning your dissertation
Writing a first draft
Reworking and editing your dissertation
Inserting quotations
Referencing other works
Using footnotes
Presenting your bibliography
Plagiarism (MML dissertations)
Using images in your dissertation
Preparing your dissertation for printing and binding
Resources for staff
Resources for staff overview
English supervisors: Teaching academic writing
English supervisors: Teaching academic writing overview
Scenarios and examples
Embedding academic writing in supervisions
Background reading
English supervisors: Teaching critical evaluation
English supervisors: Teaching critical evaluation overview
Transition challenges
Examples and strategies
Useful links
MML supervisor package
MML supervisor package overview
Part IA: Seminar 1: What is an essay?
Part IA: Seminar 1: What is an essay? overview
Introduction to writing skills
What supervisors want
Reading for supervision essays
Focusing on the question
Starting to plan
Constructing an argument
Part IA: Seminar 2: Why do we write essays?
Part IA: Seminar 2: Why do we write essays? overview
Writing conclusions
Writing the main body
Paragraph links
Engaging with primary texts or sources
Part IA: Seminar 3: Revision styles
Part IB: Seminar 4: Five writers, which one are you?
Part IB: Seminar 4: Five writers, which one are you? overview
Developing an argument
Using core statements
Introductions and conclusions
Part IB: Seminar 5: Speaking versus writing
Part IB: Seminar 5: Speaking versus writing overview
When is it appropriate to write 'I'?
Persuasive writing
Approaching the year abroad project
Essay writing
Transkills: supporting transition to University
Resources for students
History
Essay writing
What makes a good essay?
How do I interpret an essay question?
How do I structure my argument?
How do I write with authority?
How do I 'actively argue'?
Transitions to study in History Part I
Revision
What makes a 'good' essay?
How do I interpret an essay question?
How do I structure my argument?
How do I 'actively argue'?
How do I write with authority?
