Tips for writing my first MSc essay! How to get good marks?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Writing my first proper essay for MSc and I love it but am also a bit terrified

How do I know if it's good enough quality to pass? Everyone bangs on about the jump from undergrad to postgrad, but it's ages since I did my degree.

Ideally, I want to get a decent grade and not just pass - I think the key to this is good critical analysis, but I feel like I don't have enough words to do that with a complex topic. My word count is 2500.

Any tips or ideas for writing good essays at postgrad level?

Can you arrange to see your tutor to talk through?

Not really - I can email, but we have finished the semester now.

I’m also in first term of a MSc and hae done one assignment so far. It’s 16 years since i was at uni and i was worried about the jump too

I found this useful

Use a logical structure

Don’t try and cram too much in - better to focus on a few things and properly critically analyse them than skim over lots of lots of concepts for example

Also make sure you reference properly using whichever method your uni requires - dont lose marks unnecessarily

I had a massive wobble the day before my assignment went in - thought I’d missed the point and hadn’t answered the question. I did a bit of a tweak and submitted - I got 78%

They are looking for coherent, evidenced argument, so I would decide on my core argument/response to the question, then think of five or six supplementary points which build that argument. I used to spend ages getting the introduction right, as that set out my argument, but some people prefer to write the introduction last.

At masters level you are also expected to be aware of and take account of other academic theories and responses to the topic. Often a good starting point is to find an academic essay that you disagree with and argue against it, using appropriate evidence.

It is the first essay and at 2,500 words they won’t be expecting the world, so try not to get too stressed!

I’m also in the first semester of an MSc. The advice above sounds good. I thought I’d add that my tutors seem to love it if you identify limitations or omissions from the papers you reference. Oh, and they’re always on about the “so what?” test - ie what value does your argument have, who would benefit from the analysis you’ve done, or the points you’ve made? Hope this is helpful. Good luck!

I have an MRes.

Short sentences that contribute something towards a point help to cut the waffle and keep within the word count. Reference your points extensively. Don't waste time with signposting your argument or building to it like a mystery novel. State your view, then get on with justifying it.

Look carefully at the marking criteria and make sure you’re covering what they’ve asked.

Also referencing - if you don’t do it right you’re throwing away easy marks.

One of the commonest criticisms when going from Bachelor’s to Masters level is being too descriptive.

Apologies if its obvious but don't rely mainly on the textbooks.
Use journal articles/policy papers etc for most of your references.

Does it count toward anything, or is it just an opportunity to see if you’re on the right track?

In the same boat, my first esssy of Psychology MSc is due in January and I’m really nervous about it. Watching with interest. Good luck OP

I'm doing an MBA at the moment. The best essays I've done I have researched loads and not stayed with the set reading, but related the extra reading to the subject. So when I did economics I looked at GDP in relation to the company but then took it further and related it to the product like the specific taxes and material costs that affect it comparing it with other manufacturers.
For one with an SME I found research about SMEs

Google scholar is great link it to your university account and then you can download articles.

I've found for referencing that the program Mendley is amazing I have it on my laptop and phone and use it to for collecting all types of references. It's great cause if you read something but don't use it then it's still there in the library and you can add it to a later essay.

Thanks so much all, brilliant advice here! There's a few of us in this position too!

I have a few essays due very close together - I sort of wish I'd have time for feedback after the first before ploughing into the next, to see how I get on, but that's not the way it works at my uni.

It very much counts - if I screw it up, I am STUFFED I keep swinging between thinking I'll be ok, to thinking I'm a complete imbecile.

I'll check out Mendley for referencing. Many years ago I did download Zotero but never really used it.

Massive congrats to the poster who got 78%, that's fantastic

You need to have an argument or critically analyse someone else’s (depending on the question). Some of my MSc students who have come straight from undergrad just regurgitate. Post grad isn’t about proving you can regurgitate it’s about proving you can really think.

Reference everything that you are basing your opinion on. I often have 2-3 references in every sentance. I also suggest you structure your essay around your tutor’s fb. It’s so easy to lose easy marks if they don’t agree that your essay flows logically. Also, if you can, publish as soon as your msc is complete!

"Post grad isn’t about proving you can regurgitate it’s about proving you can really think."

Sometimes I have a flash of thinking I can think, then it turns on a sixpence and I'll feel very stupid

Seriously though - I'll think of an argument/ idea and get eager, then once I start to think about it too much I start to feel it doesn't make sense/ isn't relevant/ can't believe I ever thought it was interesting.

Am hoping confidence comes with practise.

I did my first essay at level 7 earlier this year (It was a module from the masters programme but I'm not doing the full thing yet).

Read the marking criteria, then read it again. Seriously I kept that thing with me at all times to remind me what they were looking for. I'm lucky that I've never been one for waffling so I find it easy to get straight to the point in my essays.

Can you get academic supervision? We could submit 500 words prior then meet with our supervisor once before hand in. I found this very valuable. I submitted my outline and the feedback told me.i was largely on the right lines but needed to read wider. I got a 72%.

Good luck

"Reference everything that you are basing your opinion on. I often have 2-3 references in every sentance. I also suggest you structure your essay around your tutor’s fb. It’s so easy to lose easy marks if they don’t agree that your essay flows logically. Also, if you can, publish as soon as your msc is complete!"

Around the tutor's fb? What's this, sorry?

I thought the only masters students who published were those who contribute to a piece alongside established academics?

Some great advice here - OP it might be worth asking MNHQ to move this to the Higher Education topic so it is doesn’t get lost

What is your MSc in?

I have a sciencey MSc and found the science type essays easy and the more arts weighted ones difficult.

However my key point would be: Answer the question.

This may be obvious but sometimes you can get carried away with all your lovely facts and lose sight of the question being asked. Keep referring back to how you are answering the question.

Also make a plan. The plan may only be 4-5 words jotted down but it is still better than nothing. Write in accordance with your plan, hopefully as your work takes hold your argument still works and then at the end go back and write the introduction and finally the conclusion.

Lastly, hopefully you are using a reference manager software such as Endnote. If not, start now. It will make your life sooo much easier even if it does take you a weekend to figure the damn thing out.