Advice on writting an essay please?

[Mildez]

Its been many years since I have needed to write and essay. Ridiculous question but can I begin with a quote? I'm struggling to get that first sentence although I have answered some of the questions (The question is on immunisation, immunity, parental choices etc) Its due in a week and I'm stressing big time

[Trillian]

Yes you can, but you need to make sure that it's relevant to what you want to say in your essay and a paraphrased quote is usually better than a direct quote. Every Uni should have some sort of assistance/fact sheets for their students on academic skills - at UNE they have a whole series of short online courses (by short I mean you do them in 5-10 minutes) to help you brush up on your writing skills. Have a look on your Uni's website and see if they offer the same thing anywhere.

[chody47]

Yes you can. I've done this before, just make sure you immediately tie it into your essay.

[My Three Sons]

I agree that a paraphrased quote is usually better as a first line than a direct quote. I know my lecturers didn't like direct quotes as first lines for essays.

[peanutter]

If it's short - one line, or so - and it's perfect, then go for it.

If it's longer, or it's good but not exactly right, then paraphrase.

Just my two cents

[Arcadia]

I'm a tutor at university and I discourage direct quotes or long passages quoted as an opening. I want to hear what you think. Your opening sentence should be an overview of the whole contention, or an introduction to the topic. It should be written last once you know what you are going to write.

Start in the middle. Make headings and group your ideas and research under each heading. Then look at the entire thing and work out if sections should be condensed or rearranged. Then write it into sentences and go back and do the intro only after you have done the conclusion, remembering not to give away your final thoughts in the introduction.

Use phrases like. "this raises questions about" or " this leads into a discussion on" in the intro to show where you are going, without giving away the conclusion.

Good luck.

[k4t]

I agree with Arcadia. I would not use a quote in your introduction unless you're addressing a question where the examiners have asked you to respond to said specific quote.

[peanutter]

That's interesting, Arcadia.

I was always taught that the introduction should explain what your conclusion is and then describe the road map you're going to use to get there.

Not that this expressly allows or prohibits a quote to start!!

I guess it also depends on the subject nature and length of the essay. Some of my longer essays would have had 100 or more quotes.

But in a short 1000 word one perhaps I'd have 10 or less.

[Arcadia]

Intro should definitely be a road map! In fact I like to have a sentence explaining each of the paragraphs. I mean don't give away your final conclusions though, but leave the reader somewhere to go, so it's a journey itms? It's the road map but not a picture of the destination.

[My Three Sons]

I'm a tutor at university and I discourage direct quotes or long passages quoted as an opening. I want to hear what you think. Your opening sentence should be an overview of the whole contention, or an introduction to the topic. It should be written last once you know what you are going to write.

Start in the middle. Make headings and group your ideas and research under each heading. Then look at the entire thing and work out if sections should be condensed or rearranged. Then write it into sentences and go back and do the intro only after you have done the conclusion, remembering not to give away your final thoughts in the introduction.

Use phrases like. "this raises questions about" or " this leads into a discussion on" in the intro to show where you are going, without giving away the conclusion.

Good luck.

This is almost exactly how I wrote all my essays by the end. Much easier way of writing them I found.