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Write a quick draft all the way through. Don’t worry too much about the introduction or conclusion. Focus on getting your ideas on paper. Double check to be sure that you get all the material on the page in some form. Write in your own voice, as you would talk to a friend. Write this knowing that you will have time to review and rewrite. If you are prone to rambling or poor grammar, you will need the time to review and rewrite. Never plagiarise! Always keep track of any quotes or citations. Do not copy other people's work in any way without the proper citations. Do not simply take someone else's work and change a few words around. This is cheating and you might get caught and expelled. Also remember that there is computer software that can turn-up plagiarism too. So if you use somebody else's words or ideas you must properly site them in footnotes as a source.
Organise your research materials and your ideas. Not only do you have to read the materials but also you have to clearly organise the information that you are using from other sources. Start by highlighting key points and making notes of these points. As you gather these materials your thoughts should solidify. Think about how you would string this information together in a cohesive flow. Allow yourself to refine or change your approach as you amass the materials. At this point you can further organise your thoughts into an outline format. Clearly understanding your essay assignment. If the essay topic is assigned, it is important to clearly understand the assignment. You might want to underline key words in the topic and think about how they relate to the readings and/or lectures. If in doubt, always ask other students or the tutor for clarification.
Start early and budget your time. If there is reading and lots of research involved, then the sooner you start the better. Starting early will also help you deal with unforeseen problems like difficulty obtaining the required research materials or coming down with the flu just before the paper is due. Starting early also helps your main ideas really develop in your mind so when you finally start writing your essay they are already well formulated.
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