Get a better grade : seven steps to excellent essays and assignments / Mal Leicester & Denise Taylor.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. The Literature: Identifying and Using Relevant Key Books and Papers -- Introduction -- Why Use the Literature? -- Strategies, Tips and Tools for Identifying the Relevant Literature -- Define the Essay Question -- Use Keyword Searches -- Libraries and Online Databases -- Organise and Categorise Your Literature Review Information -- The Literature: An Area Full of Potential Pitfalls -- Moving from Pitfalls to Progress -- Use of the Literature -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 2. Planning Your Essay -- Introduction -- The Importance of Planning -- How to Construct a Plan -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 3. Criticality: Rational Reflection: Reasons, Arguments and Evidence -- Introduction -- Higher Education -- Rationality: How to be Rational -- Give Reasons and Arguments -- Provide Evidence -- Avoid Biased Thinking -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 4. Criticality: Critical Thinking -- Introduction -- The Tools of Critical Thinking -- Going Wrong: Insufficiently Critical and Disorganised -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 5. Criticality: Analytic Thinking -- Introduction -- Skills of Analysis -- One. Conceptual Analysis -- Two. Analytic Philosophy -- Three. Meta-Analysis -- Four. Metacognition -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 6. Originality -- Introduction -- Form Your Own Point of View -- Use Your Professional Experience -- Use Your Voluntary Work -- Use Your Personal Experience -- Use Fresh Material -- Use New Perspectives, Insights, Links and Combinations -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 7. Presentation and Academic Conventions -- Introduction -- Use Good Principles of Presentation and Style -- Use Correct English -- Use Academic Conventions Correctly -- Be Conscientious About Proofreading -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 8. Other Forms of Assignment -- Introduction -- Group Work -- Reviews -- Sample Reviews -- Writing Reports -- Research Projects -- Other Forms of Writing -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- 9. Oral Assignments: Lectures and Short Talks -- Introduction -- Gain Self-Confidence -- Engage Your Audience -- Structure Your Talk -- Short Talks Without PowerPoint -- PowerPoint Presentations -- Negative and Positive Approaches -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendices -- Appendix 1 -- Appendix 2 -- Appendix 3 -- Appendix 4.

Not sure how to start your essay or prepare for a presentation? Worried about how to structure your report? Questioning what a good assignment actually looks like? With encouraging, jargon-free advice and a clearly defined seven-step plan to getting better grades, this book takes the fear out of academic writing and gives you the tools you need to succeed. Punchy and packed with the dos and don'ts of good writing, it helps you improve your grades quickly and with minimal hassle.