How to Write a Great University Essay: A Quick Guide

One of the biggest academic adjustments for students starting university is writing university-style essays. It's important to know that scoring full marks on an essay is no longer the goal - instead it's more about showing off a depth of knowledge while also showing off a nuanced perspective. Needless to say - if you’ve just received your first essay brief and felt a wave of panic, you're not alone.

University essays are a step up from sixth form or college writing; here’s a quick guide to help you write your first university essay effectively:

1. Understand the Question

Before writing a word, break down the essay title. Is it asking you to analyse, compare, evaluate, or argue? Highlight key terms and make sure you understand exactly what's being asked.

2. Start with research, not writing

Avoid diving straight into paragraphs. First, read widely around your topic using reading lists, lecture notes, and academic journals - but don't just summarise. Think critically about what you’re reading and how it connects to the question.

Create a rough reading map with space for:

• Key arguments and quotes

• Useful authors or theorists

• Contrasting views

3. Plan before you write

A strong plan leads to a strong essay. Organise your main points into a logical structure before writing, ideally by using bullet points to map out what you'd like to include in each paragraph.

Basic essay structure:

• Introduction: Outline your argument and how you’ll answer the question.

• Body paragraphs: Each should focus on one clear idea backed up with evidence.

• Conclusion: Summarise your argument and reflect on its broader significance.

4. Make Your Argument Clear

Your essay isn’t just a collection of facts — it should have a central argument or thesis. Every paragraph should help prove that point.

Don't be afraid of going back to basics by using the PEEL structure:

• Point: What are you arguing?

• Evidence: Support it with quotes, data, or theory.

• Explanation: Show how it links to the question.

• Link: Connect it to the next point.

  
  

5. Keep Your Style Academic

The last thing your university professor wants to read is an informal essay. If essay writing doesn't come naturally to you, don't be afraid to keep a list of useful sentence starters to hand too.

• Avoid casual language or opinionated phrases like “I think”.

• Be concise and formal, but don’t overcomplicate.

• Use third person unless told otherwise.

6. Reference Properly

Know which referencing style your department uses (Harvard, MLA, APA etc.) and stay consistent. As a good rule of thumb, remember to reference every quote, idea, or data point you didn’t come up with yourself. You can use automatic reference generators to help you, but always remember to double check the formatting just in case!

7. Edit Ruthlessly

Don’t submit your first draft. After writing:

• Take a break

• Read your essay aloud

• Check clarity, flow, and whether every paragraph links back to the question

• Cut anything that doesn’t support your main argument — even if it’s interesting.

  
  

Essay writing at university is about learning to think independently, argue effectively, and back up your ideas with evidence. Like any skill, it takes practice — but once you understand the process, it becomes much more manageable. Remember: your first essay doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to show that you’re engaging with the material and willing to learn.