Resource

Essay

Author: ATU Galway

What is it?

Students are required to write an essay on specified or agreed topics within given parameters e.g., word count, use of different literature sources etc. Students are required to present their points in a structured, logical, and discursive manner.

Advantages & Challenges

Advantages

Challenges

Advantages

Challenges

Tips for Use

Design essay prompts that prompt students to engage critically with course material, analyse complex concepts, and formulate well-supported arguments.
Consider getting students to draft an essay plan prior to commencing writing the essay. This would enable the opportunity to provide feedback in advance of the assessment.
Educate students about academic integrity and the importance of citing sources properly to avoid plagiarism. Clearly explain expectations regarding citation formats, use of quotations, and paraphrasing techniques.

Resources

University of Warwick: Essay variants: essays only with more focus (warwick.ac.uk)
University of London:assessment-toolkit-I-2015.pdf (london.ac.uk)
Durham University:Assessment-Guidelines_Essays-and-Other-Written-Assignments.pdf (durham.ac.uk)
University of Reading:Planning and structuring your essay – Essay writing – LibGuides at University of Reading
Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence – Microsoft Word – Pugh|CompendiumOfAssessment.docx (leeds.ac.uk)(page 27)

Sample Rubrics

University of Galway: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/media/celt/files/coursedesign/Rubrics.pdf
University of Southern California (USC): Academic essay rubric – USC Center for Excellence in Teaching

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