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Home > Griffith University > Griffith Health > Learning and Teaching > TTP Program > Writing Essay Body Paragraphs

Writing Essay Body Paragraphs

Transition & Tertiary Preparedness (TTP) Program

• What to Expect in Your First Few Weeks
• How to Succeed at University
• Tips for Time Management
• Avoiding Procrastination
• Tips for Reading Journal Articles
• Tips for Reading Textbook Chapters
• How do You Learn Best
• Working in a Group
• Wellness and Coping Video Resources
• Audio Exercises
• Self-Help Websites
• Navigating myGriffith
• Navigating Learning@Griffith
• Pebblepad Help for Students
• Deconstructing Assignment Questions
• Critical Thinking and Argument Development
• How to Think Reflectively
• Library Research Techniques
• Essay Planning and 'Doing the Math'
• Preparing for a Structured Clinical Assessment (e.g. OSCE, OSCA, VIVA)
• Exam Preparation and Study Tips
• Writing Essay Introductions
• Writing Essay Conclusions
• Guide to Writing Research Reports
• Referencing
• Tips for Proof-Reading and Editing
• Using Evidence and Academic Integrity
• Tips for Writing Reflectively
• Writing Comparative Paragraphs
• Interpreting and Applying Assessment Feedback
• Oral Presentations
• Exam Technique on the Day

The video presentation for this session outlines the 6 Golden Rules for writing an essay body paragraph and then takes you through a practical example to demonstrate these rules in action. Additional resources to further assist you are also provided, including a model of the 6 Golden Rules, an annotated exemplar of the paragraph example outlined in the video (both available for download) as well as some useful weblinks and helpful English language resources to assist you with your essay writing.

Below are two resources you can download to help you with writing essay body paragraphs. The first is a model which outlines the 6 Golden Rules for Writing an Essay Body Paragraph. The second is an annotated exemplar of the sample body paragraph mapped out in the video presentation which takes you step-by-step through the 6 Golden Rules.

• Writing Essay Body Paragraphs ANNOTATED EXEMPLAR
• 6 GOLDEN RULES - WRITING AN ESSAY BODY PARAGRAPH

Griffith Health Writing and Referencing Guide – Writing your Essay – The Body of the Essay: https://sites.google.com/a/griffith.edu.au/griffith-health-writing-and-referencing-guide/essay-writing/writing-your-essay/the-body-of-the-essay

Griffith University Study and assignment skills – Write assignments: https://www.griffith.edu.au/library/study/write-assignments

Manchester Academic Phrasebank – Sentence starters and Phrasing for Academic Writing:   http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

Curtin University – Better Essays:   http://studyskills.curtin.edu.au/essays/

RMIT Learning Lab – Writing Skills: https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/writing-skills

RMIT Learning Lab – Linking Words: https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/linking-words-0

Library Connect

5 steps for starting your assignment

• by The Library
• posted November 9, 2020

Starting an assignment can be stressful. Not sure where to  begin ? Here are  5  steps t o help you get  on track :  

Step 1 : Read the task instructions  

There are many different types of assignments, so knowing the type of assignment and the assignment requirements will help . Reading the task instructions will allow you to plan the word count for an essay or report, or allocate the time  required  for an individual or  group  oral presentation.  Find out how to structure  essays ,  literature reviews ,  reports  and  reflective writing  on the  Assignment Writing  webpage.  

The  task  instructions also guide the  written  format :  font style ,  spacing and referencing style.  If the assignment is  a presentation,  they will tell you  whether  to   use PowerPoint, Prezi, Sway or video and present face to face online (live or pre-recorded).   

So be sure to read the task instructions carefully!  

Step 2: Unpack the question  

Unpack the assignment question by identifying helpful words. There are three types of words  that can guide your understanding:  

• Directive words   explain  how to approach the assignment.  
• Topic words identify the major concepts in your task. These are the keywords you will use to start searching for resources.  
• Limiting words narrow the scope of your assignment and include dates, locations and populations.  

Step 3: Research the assignment topic  

Use the topic words and limiting words to plan your research strategy. Record the searches you have undertaken, so you can refine the search and locate the best information. Get more  o nline search tips  for your assignments  on the Assignment Preparation webpage .  

Step 4: Organise your notes  

You need to read and note the information you have identified as potentially useful for your assignment. So, make sure you develop a process to organise your information in a way that makes your life easier. Record the reference material—if saving electronically, use file names that make it easy to locate the information and store the files under topics rather than course codes so you can locate them  again  for future assignments.  

Step 5:  W rite or present the assignment  

Most assignments expect you to organise the information logically, using an introduction, body and conclusion. The information needs to have an academic argument to communicate the overall point you are making on your assignment topic.   

For more help on getting started with assignments check out the  Assignment Preparation  and  Assignment Writing   webpages on the Library ’s  website  

If you also need help with referencing, take a look at our handy  Referencing Guides .  

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Assignment presentation formatting guidelines

To remain consistent with APA 7 th Edition conventions, ALL undergraduate written essay/report style assignments (for courses in Griffith Health programs) should be formatted using the following rules. To download a copy of these formatting guidelines and/or access an exemplar which demonstrates how your manuscript should look when following these guidelines, click on the buttons below.

Margins : 2.54 left, right, top and bottom (this is the pre-set default margin setting).

Font Type: ‘Times New Roman’.

Font Size: 12 point font only with no larger fonts used for headings (if used).

Line Spacing : Double line spacing should be used throughout the assignment and on the reference list with no additional spaces between paragraphs, assignment ‘sections’ or listed references. New paragraphs or sections are indicated by indenting of the first line of each new paragraph (see presentation formatting exemplar ).

Indenting: Each new paragraph should be indented 5-7 spaces (or one Tab space).

Justification: No justification of text on the right hand margin. Justify the left side of text in the body of essay/report against the left hand margin except for indents required for the first lines of each new paragraph (see presentation formatting exemplar ).

Page Numbers: Page numbers should be inserted in the upper right-hand side of the page header flush against the margin. Page numbers should start on the Title Page (starting at 1) and should be formatted with just the page number (see presentation formatting exemplar ).

Assignment Title: Devise a suitably descriptive assignment title to include on the title page. 

Footer: Your student number is to be inserted into the footer of the document (to assist with identification of lost pages if submission errors occur).

Title Page: Include a title page with the following information only (also see presentation formatting exemplar ).

  Student Name:

  Essay/Report title:

Word count: (excluding title page, reference list/bibliography and appendices).

Note : Your title page will also have a page number in the header (starting at ‘1’) and your student number in the footer (see presentation formatting exemplar ).

Word Count: Word counts will comprise all text material contained within the body of the written assignment. This will include in-text citations, quotations, and any headings (if used). This will also include any information presented in tables or figures which are included within the body of the assignment in addition to your Abstract or Executive Summary (if you are required to include one).  Information included outside of the main body of the assignment (e.g. university cover page, title page, reference list/bibliography, appendices) will NOT contribute to the word count.

You must adhere to the stipulated word count for your assignment. Assignments which go over this stated limit will be penalised, with the marker ceasing to read your paper once the word count has been reached.

Headings: Headings are generally used more in research reports than in essays. The following rules should be followed to format headings if used (see table below).

The above table has been adapted from the APA Style Guide to Electronic References (2012).

Note : In general, if you are using headings in an essay , you will format them using Level 2 heading guidelines. Headings in a research report will be mainly formatted as Level 1, 2, and 3 headings, however all five levels of headings can be used in research reports (depending on the size of your report and the nature of information you need to discuss in particular sections). 

When using Level 1 and  2 headings, your paragraph text will commence on the next line, indented by one tab space. When using Levels 3, 4 and 5, your paragraph text will commence two spaces after the full stop at the end of the heading (i.e. continuing on the same line as the heading). See the APA Annotated Exemplars (Essay and Research Report versions) in the APA Referencing Guidelines section for examples of how to format different levels of headings and associated paragraph text.

Important Tip: When writing research reports, do not include the heading 'Introduction' at the start of your report. The heading at the start of your Introduction should be the title of the report that you have included on your title page. It should be formatted as a Level 1 heading ( see table above).

Serial Comma : APA conventions require the use of a comma between elements in a series of three or more items. This is known as a ‘serial comma’. For example:

 Examining height, width, and depth indicated that ....

Use of numbers in assignment text:

·         Numbers between zero and nine should be represented in words. For example:

o   There were five experimental groups in the trial.

·         Numbers ten and above should be represented in numerical format. For example:

o   A total of 47 participants took part in the pilot test.

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Creative Writing, Forms and Structures

Undergraduate | GRF-CWR110 | 2024

Break down the fundamental elements that go into specific creative writing forms. Focus in on how poems are structured. Compare the way that scripts are written for the screen versus the stage. Write pieces of your own that demonstrate your knowledge.

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About this subject

What you'll learn.

At the completion of this subject you will be able to:

• recognise fundamental issues in creative writing - its practices, forms and industries
• discuss ideas relevant to creative writing craft and professional skills with reference to form and structure in a range of genres
• engage with the content of the subject through written skills, eg. in the production of an original creative folio (accompanied by exegetical writing) developed during the Study Period
• understand basic requirements for progress in a university creative writing major including, eg. writing creative products, essays, exegeses, referencing, bibliographies, etc.

Topics covered

• Introduction to forms and structures
• The academic essay
• The personal essay
• The short story
• The critical review
• Writing for new technologies
• Scriptwriting
• The exegesis
• Writing for alternative performance
• The feature article
• Workshopping and writing collaborations

Description

This subject provides an introduction to the fundamentals of contemporary practice in a range of forms pertinent to creative writing industries and the student's progress through a creative writing major in a bachelor's degree. The forms focussed on are: the poem, the performance script and film script, electronic literature forms, the critical review, the essay and the exegesis.

You will have opportunity to develop basic skills and understandings of the structures in each of these forms, and will be provided with a supportive environment for producing a folio of original pieces reflecting your development.

Assessments

• Academic or Personal Essay (35%)
• Creative Assignment (35%)
• Online Discussion (30%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).

About Griffith University

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

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What to study next?

Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses

Undergraduate | GRF-ART-DEG

Bachelor of Arts

Undergraduate | GRF-COM-DEG

Bachelor of Communication

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Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects , including postgraduate single subjects , without having to commit to a degree.

Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.

How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?

First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.

If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.

Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.

Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page .

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When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

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Writers’ guidelines

Griffith Review is published with curious, well-informed readers in mind. It aims to enrich public discussion, to provide a platform for both established and emerging writers and thinkers to publish well-written, informed and insightful writing.

Each edition is topical, so we do not accept general, unsolicited submissions that do not fit with an upcoming theme. You can find information about our upcoming editions at griffithreview.com/submit-to-griffith-review , along with the link to our submissions management software, Submittable. Have a read of some previous editions to get a general feel for what we like to publish – our entire back catalogue is accessible at griffithreview.com/editions .

We like new and creative ideas, and we like you , the writer. Don’t be afraid to let yourself shine through in your writing. Griffith Review is not an academic journal (although academics may be able to obtain research credits for their writing), and while we often tackle complex ideas, we are committed to giving our writers space for their own voice. Give us your provocations and opinions, so long as they are considered and backed up. Pieces generally range from 2,000 to up to 5,000 words, unless previously negotiated with the editors.

For all genres except poetry, we ask that you submit no more than one piece per edition; for poetry, you can submit up to four individual poems (each no more than two pages long), so long as they are all (at least loosely) on theme.

Essays are the staple of each Griffith Review edition. Lyrical essays, researched essays, creative non-fiction, analytical pieces – we publish them all.

Personal essays and ‘a letter to’ will be published under memoir. We love the genre for the more personal element it lends to our themes – keep in mind that we do want the reader to take something from your piece in relation to the theme. Let’s say the aim is ‘subjective universality’.

This can be the most incisive way to address a topic, and we certainly encourage it. If your investigating turns up any information that might have even the most remote legal implications, we ask that you have permissions sorted before coming to us.

The beating heart of creative literature, though as a culture and ideas quarterly we tend to only publish at most three pieces of fiction per edition, with the exception of novella or fiction editions (separate guidelines are generally published for these). Good fiction writing stands out immediately – polish, proofread and repeat.

We don’t publish a lot of poetry, though we do like to publish it where possible. Consider how necessary it is for you to submit an entire suite of poems, unless they are remarkably short (though haiku aren’t high on our to-print list).

Indigenous issues

Writing about the lives and affairs of Australia’s Indigenous peoples is important for fostering conversation and understanding, but it is something that needs to be done with awareness and sensitivity. We encourage writers pursuing this area to read the ‘Guidelines for the ethical publishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and research from those communities’ from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, which suggest ways for ‘writers and publishers [to] create new works in ways that are culturally respectful and appreciative of the diversity and richness of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their histories and cultures’.

We only accept online submissions as editable word documents (preferably Microsoft Word). Use 12-point Times New Roman type (we don’t score on personal font preference) with 1.5 lines spacing. The piece needs to begin with your full name, a title (and for essay, memoir and reportage, a subtitle) and a word count. We do not accept hard-copy submission – it’s fine if you still prefer to write by hand or typewriter, but typesetting has long since moved into the digital realm and someone needs to transcribe your piece. Include a short bio (50–100 words) at the end.

If you use references, incorporate them into the body of the text where possible – we do not publish references or footnotes in the print edition, only online. Not in-text referencing or footnotes, but written out – that is, not (Macfarlane, 12) or 1 Robert Macfarlane, Mountains of the Mind , p. 43, but, ‘In Mountains of the Mind (Granta, 2003), Robert Macfarlane says…’. If this becomes too awkward (you have too many long references to incorporate), make your references endnotes in the Harvard style.

For spellings and grammar, Griffith Review follows the Macquarie Dictionary and our own in-house style guide (available on request). With very few exceptions, we adhere to strict Australian-English usage.

If your work is accepted for print and/or digital publication, we will acquire the rights to it for three months from the date of publication of the edition, and it will be archived on our website. The copyright is then yours, but any subsequent publication must acknowledge the work’s initial appearance in our pages. Fees are negotiated by word length, except for contributors employed by universities who, are paid a flat fee. Once we’ve agreed to publish and negotiated any editing changes, you will be sent a contract and payment will be made within twenty-one days of returning a completed version along with an invoice.

For any enquiries, please email [email protected].