HOW TO ESSAY? Leonhard Dobusch Summer Term 2020 University of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Jan 05, 2023 47 likes •248 views

HOW TO ESSAY? Leonhard Dobusch Summer Term 2020 University of Innsbruck <1> What is an essay? The research essay as an open form of an argumentative short text Expressing ideas helps to form them. [] In a real

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HOW TO ESSAY?

Leonhard Dobusch  Summer Term 2020  University of Innsbruck

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<1>    What is an essay?

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Expressing ideas helps to form them. […] In a real essay you're writing for yourself. You're thinking out loud.

“

Graham, P. (2002)  

http://www.paulgraham.com/essay.html

The research essay as an open form of  an argumentative short text

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An essay is not a seminar paper

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Differences between essays   and seminar papers

Essay Seminar paper pick and defend a position strive for objectivity no index, no sub-headings indexes, sub-headings few and only short quotations longer direct quotations possible no tables or figures use tables and figures length: 3-8 pages length: 15-20 pages

Source: http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/document/download/8338ad2cf9c6731695a7e81124255a24.pdf/Das_Anfertigen_eines_Essays.pdf

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<2>    Structuring the essay

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Classical tripartite essay structure

(1) Introduction  clear question as a starting point for argumentation    (2) Main section  core arguments, structured by paragraphs    (3) Conclusions  need to follow from core arguments in main section

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(1) Introduction

Situation: why is the topic relevant?
Complication: what is the thesis or problem?
Solution: what methodology is applied?

Topic and relevance

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(2) Main section

One argument, one (clearly recognizable) paragraph
Paragraphs are linked by a red (argumentative) thread
Different structures possible:
Thesis, followed by debunking alternative views
Juxtaposition of two contradictory theses
Synthesis of various stances
…

Arguments and proofs

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(2) Main section: paragraph structure

pyramid

data, examples, quotes    >> ARGUMENT 

inverted pyramid

ARGUMENT >> data, examples, quotes

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(3) Conclusions

Refer back to initial question/problem
What is the unique contribution of the essay?
Outlook and further implications

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<3>    Form

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Title page (incl. author information)
Quoting referenced literature (in main text)
Reference list

Less formal requirements for an essay  when compared to a seminar paper

Necessary parts of the essay

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Table of content, indexes
Tables, figures
Footnotes
Descriptions of essay structure on the meta-level

Less formal requirements for an essay  when compared to a seminar paper

Not part of an essay:

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<4>    Style

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General Recommendations

Simple language, short sentences
Avoid flowery phrases and cliches
Avoid acronyms
Avoid passive tense whenever possible
Use verbs, not nouns

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Recommendations for essays

Avoid redundancies
Use quotes sparsely
Provide facts and examples as proofs
Take a stance

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<5>    Your Essays

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Essays on Organizing in Times of Crisis

Focus on one aspect of organizing in times of crisis in

assessing the case of the Covid19 

Focus on one question/thesis/insight/point
Between 3-5 pages long (12pt, Times, 1.5 line spacing)
Hand in essay as requested by the instructor

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E-Mail: Leonhard.Dobusch@uibk.ac.at Twitter: @leonidobusch Web: bit.ly/LD-UIBK // dobusch.net Research blogs: 

sconjunction.net

governancexborders.com

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