A2 Hotspot Number 4: Attention all wafflers!

This hotspot is focused on essay writing, and as such, is applicable to Unit 3 and 4 equally. It really does make a difference to the coherence and flow of your essays. Read on...

Imagine you've just written a fabulous paragraph of AO2 and, rather pleased with yourself... you are just about to put a full stop and move onto your next point. Stop, think and ask yourself..

"Have I made that AO2 relevant to the essay question?"

If the answer is "No" then you need to add a simple link to the essay question to show it's relevance. At the end of each paragraph it should be clear what the evaluation means for the focus of the essay. So, for example, you may have used a case study to support a point and then talked about the issues of using this evidence. If you finish your commentary at that point it'll read like you have lost the focus, so finishing the writing by saying how this means that the evidence base for the theory is flawed. This means that you have addressed the essay question directly.

This technique also keeps you on track. It is easy to fly off at a tangent and then realise much of what you have written is irrelevant. If you're inclined to waffling this'll be especially useful to you!