#stuudytips

SEX. 

State 

Example 

eXplain

(don’t @me. It’s supposed to be SEE or SEEX but don’t lie, when you saw “sex” y’all decided to read on)  

The tip with essays is to have a clear structure. This helps your reader to understand the argument you are making. 

By no means is this structure the only structure. This is probably targeted at the middle school - high school level.   

But it’s a basic structure which you can tweak and add to depending on your level of study (e.g. university) and discipline (e.g. Lit, history, pol sci). 

 So here we go. 

State

Topic sentence 

What is your paragraph about? 

What is the key idea or argument in this paragraph? 

If I needed a one liner about this section, what would it be? 

Example

Back your argument up with examples

These can be quotes, literary techniques etc. 

What evidence supports your topic sentence? 

Explain 

How do your examples support your argument/ thesis  

To what extent? Are they strong examples? Why? Why not? 

Gaps 

If you have absolutely no idea, basically answer the godamn essay question here.  Seriously. Re word it as a statement and incorporate your example. 

If you really have no idea - then reconsider this paragraph. Delete the damn thing.  

Example 1: 10 minute paragraph

[for educational purposes only] 

Let’s say I only have 10 mins to plan and write a paragraph on our good ol’ Irish poet mate Seamus Heaney: 

Using the SEX Method, I’d plan out a paragraph like this: 

Then when it comes to writing an essay, I’d reword those points, fleshing them out as below: 

Ta-da, one paragraph down, 2810178641 more to go! 

If this was a ‘take home essay’ I’d refine some of the sentences. They’re a little clunky + verbose (esp that last sentence). But for a quick in class exam under timed conditions, fuck it, my argument is there, MOVE ON. 

WRITING IS 90% EDITING ANYWAY. SO GET IT ON THE PAGE. 

For info re introductions, conclusions etc see the full post here. 

Other resources

The best (or most frustrating thing) about english is that there’s no one way to do things. So here’s some tips from some other studyblr’s that may suit your style! 

Essay Masterpost by @highscoolering (working link by @elkstudies) 

10 Steps for Essay Writing by @3tznius5this 

Persuasive Essay

THIS POWERPOINT by wittacism (working link by @studyign) 

Essay writing tips by @study-well

Essay writing masterpost by @stuudytips

This answer by @succulentstudy

Essay checklist by @wonderfullifee 

5 tips by @studyfab 

Writing research papers by @post–grad

Stuff you need to write essays by @studyign