Writing a successful essay

Essay writing is a fundamental skill for many students, in geography as well as other disciplines. Being able to write a successful essay is important academically, but the transferable skills and attributes you develop are equally as important for professional life after study. Writing an essay allows you to assess your own personal response to a question and deepen your learning about a topic. In so doing, it provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge you have gained and show your understanding. This article has been written by a student and staff team and is aimed at an undergraduate student audience. We will take you through the full process of ‘writing’ an academic essay, from developing your understanding of the essay title or question, to preparing your first draft, seeking and acting on feedback, through to concluding your essay. While focusing on coursework essays, much of our advice will be relevant to examination essays. Throughout this article we will include top tips from students, using their voice to highlight what has worked for them.