Exam Essay Writing Essentials
Exam Essay Writing Essentials 850 per essay: you answer 2 x Essay Qs
Preparation:
- Research via the library online journals + weekly articles on the module site
- Use Models & journal references for a basic essay: aim to search 2016-2020 or 2012 at the earliest:
2 x models and 3 further journal references per essay question answered
- Remember (surname, year) required as a reference / surname, year; update surname, year) if the models or reference is a pre-2012 one
- Make a Plan!
- Remember to write in the 3rd person Passive Voice (no “I”)
- Use academic English, with no slang or colloquialisms
- Remember to edit your work for spelling and grammar solecisms
- Aristotle suggested using: Emotion, Logic and Humour to reinforce your points + References and business examples to be persuasive
Introduction: (not labelled Introduction: essays have no headings)
Reframe the Question
Give a referenced Definition from a journal article (~ not a dictionary!)
Signpost: list all the areas you intend to cover when addressing the topic
Use approximately 3- 5 points for a good essay (one is the counterargument)
Support your points with 2 x models per essay from those taught on the module and 3 further journal references
In order to address the question of XXX it is necessary to consider a, b, c and counterargument e…
Remember to include opposing views/ counterargument. Promise referencing
Link from one section to the next with a linking sentence.
Body: (this is not labelled the Body but is the main part)
Go through the items on your signpost list in individual paragraphs and
Point: state the point you want to make in one sentence
Evidence: support your point with a reference from journal articles or a business news example and include a model. You do not have to describe the full model but ensure that you demonstrate how it would work in practice by referring to levels of the model as they apply to a business example you provide.
Analysis / Explanation: interrogate the reference / model for its implications
Point: state the point you want to make or finding you wish to discuss
Evidence: support with a quote or applied reference from your research (surname, date) and an example in a modern organisation. Refer to the relevant model from the module to demonstrate the theory to practice transfer.
Analysis/ Explanation: of its relevance to the area under discussion – it is vital to engage with the literature and not merely describe or report it. This shows that/means that/ suggests that/indicates that/…etc
PEEL: Point + Evidence + Explanation + Link to the Question
Offer a counter-argument to show that you can think around the issue effectively: it could be argued that…/Some might say…./ the opposing approach would be…
Some have chosen to use one model for the argument and another for the counter argument, to ensure that both models used are well integrated and discussed.
Remember to use linking sentences between paragraphs
2021 Application
Find a relevant 2020 item in the current news for January 2021 to relate to your area of investigation. Apply at least one of your models and several references to it, to demonstrate your ability to apply theory to practice, integrating to a practical topic. You may want to choose an organisation that is similar to the HR Leaders we have looked at or one which is using the models you have chosen from those taught on the module.
Conclusion (this is not labelled conclusion but is a separate paragraph)
Summarise the salient points
Link them explicitly to the question asked, to demonstrate that you have addressed it
Bring the ideas together to make a cohesive conclusion
You can recommend a way forward based on your discussion (no new areas)
There should be no new material in the conclusion but you can give your opinion based on what you have been discussing here: it has become apparent that… / from the considerations above it has emerged that…
Convincing exit line.
Reference List: In an Exam /Timed Assessment no reference list is required.
Basic in-text refs: (surname, year) by the model/quote or (surname, et al., year)
Older model reference: When referencing to an older model you should include a recent citation to demonstrate its currency.
Example: the Contingency model of Leadership
(Adair, 1979;Heifetz & Linsky, 2017).
