Essay Writing

In one line

An examination essay is a short piece of continuous prose that takes a position on a stated topic, supports it in three or four paragraphs, and closes on a judgment, and it is written to a length the paper fixes.

The lengths MU actually sets

Read the number of words before you start. A 150 word essay is three short paragraphs. Writing 500 words for it wastes fifteen minutes you will need at the end of the paper.

The four kinds of topic, and what each wants

One. The two-sided topic, which is the commonest: "Social Media: Boon or Bane", "Artificial Intelligence: a Boon or Bane for Lawyers", "Should capital punishment be abolished?", "Women empowerment: a myth or reality". These want both sides and then your own conclusion. An answer that gives only one side has not answered the question, because the question named two.

Two. The single-subject topic: "Role of Youth in Protecting the Environment", "Cyber Law and Crime", "Discrimination against Women". These want a description, causes, effects and what should be done.

Three. The personal topic: "My Favourite Book". These want a specific answer, not a general one. Name the book, the author, and one thing in it, or you will produce a paragraph anybody could have written about any book.

Four. The proposition to be argued, which is the form MU uses inside question 4: "The lawyer's profession is a liar's profession. Write an essay expressing your views on this subject." These want the proposition examined, evidence from the prescribed texts, and a position.

The structure, which never changes

Introduction, three or four sentences. Say what the topic means, why it matters now, and what you will argue. The last sentence of the introduction is the thesis, and an examiner looks for it.

Body, two to four paragraphs, one idea each, each opening with a topic sentence. In a two-sided topic, one paragraph for each side and one for the resolution.

Conclusion, three or four sentences. Not a summary of what you have said, but a judgment that follows from it, and a forward-looking last line where the topic allows one.

Proportion. For 250 words: about 40 words of introduction, about 170 of body, about 40 of conclusion.