Introduction

Below you will find some of the questions students commonly ask about writing essays and which they find particularly confusing. The questions (and my responses to them) are organised according to broad topic and at the end of each question is an indication of the chapter(s) in the book to which it relates.

Developing your own voice

‘How critical can I be? Can I really challenge authority?’

The answer to this question is a big ‘yes’. Remember, universities exists to develop the mind of the individual and to push the boundaries of knowledge. This can only happen if students are able to question the established wisdom. Paradigm shifts, sea changes in the way in which we look at the world or some aspect of it don’t come about from being timid and from assuming that everything you hear and read is unquestionable fact; they come about because great thinkers are courageous enough to question what’s often taken as fact and to prove it wrong! As an undergraduate student you have as much right to do this as a Nobel Prize winner. However, there are some very important caveats you must bear in mind before you opt to criticise the ideas of respected scholars – or indeed your fellow students, in a seminar or tutorial say.