The topics of reflective essays are often much broader, and more general, than those of research essays. Nonetheless, the greater breadth can be a problem, and can put you at risk of writing a very general and vague essay. An essay is used to assess the strength of your critical thinking and your ability to put that thinking into a persuasive written form. Dont be too general or too narrow initially Think of a wide topic title Think of your thesis Make sure you plan your essay with a clear three-part structure. WARNING: some cases of plagiarism result from clumsy citation, rather than a real attempt to use another's work inappropriately. This is a deliberate ploy to open the course up as widely as possible to your speculation. n.d. In the absence of a Teaching Department style guide, you are expected to use the Harvard system. Writing successful essays Expectations of essays at university level Essays are a major form of assessment at university. ESSAY WRITING BASICS W Page 5 IN SUMMARY: Focus your essay into a question or a statement Determine what it will include/exclude. Tertiary Essay Writing Guide. This is a general essay-writing guide, designed to be useful for students in all disciplines within the School of Culture and Communication. University of Melbourne. You may be asked to provide two copies of longer assignments and essays. Its t ihe key forumn which you get i THE ESSAY The research essays i the foundation of studies in the humanities. Writing a good one can be a challenging, but rewarding, experience. Please see your lecturer/tutor if you have any questions that this guide does not address.