Essay: Tips and Tricks

Essay: Tips and Tricks

By Kateryna Shulha

​Describe

​Explain

​Argue

​Discuss

​Critique

​Compare and contrast

Describe: Write about the facts, process or event. Write in a systematic order, and emphasize the most important points. You are not expected to explain or interpret.

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Explain: You will need to analyse, not simply describe or summarise. You need to focus on the ‘why’ or ‘how’ of a particular issue, to clarify reasons, causes and effects.

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Argue: If you are asked to argue, you need to systematically support or reject a point of view by presenting evidence. You also need to show that you are aware of the opposing point of view.

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Discuss: You present a point of view. This will include both description and interpretation. Your opinion should be supported by argument and evidence from other writings.

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Critique: A critique is where you identify and discuss both the positive and negative aspects of a topic.

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Compare and contrast: Find the similarities and differences between two or more ideas, events or interpretations.

Two Aspects Within Essays

1.    Cognitive component            •the knowledge required

 

·       Main topic- the main theme studied

·       Sub topics - Group of ideas, points or issues, which are linked in some way

 

·       Key ideas, key points or issues - Areas of interest within these sub topics

 

·       Key words - Specific words which re-present key points or issues

 

2.    Linguistic component           • the layout & format of the essay​

ESSAY STRUCTURE

Introduction             – 10% of total essay length

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Body                               – 80% of total essay length

• Paragraphs usually 100-150 words long

Conclusion               – 10% of total essay length

  

Example 1500 word essay:   150-word introduction

1200 word body (how many paragraphs?)

150-word conclusion​

Fruit is an important part of a healthy diet. However Jones (2010 p, 12) states that people are eating less fruit because it is becoming more expensive. This paper will argue that one way of combating the rising price of fruit is for local council’s to plant more fruit trees in local parks and public areas. Firstly, the paper will identify key terms in the literature around food prices. Secondly, the paper will focus on fruit, and examine its role in healthy diets and evaluate recent consumption of fruit. Finally I will use my personal reflection of the current situation in my home town to explore a possible response.

The rise of food prices in the last five years is indisputable. Jones (2010) makes it clear that across Australia the price of food has increased more than people’s wages have increased which makes it difficult for people to access food the way they did five years ago. Doolan (2012) highlights that fresh food, in particular fruit, has been the most effected. She claims that the price of non-perishable items such as flour and sugar have increased by only 5% while the price of fruit and vegetables have increased by 20% (Doolan 2012, p 4). This kind of price rise is what food theorists such as Manhood (2011) call a “perishable price hike”, which is when the price of fresh food like fruit and vegetables increases further than the price of non-perishable items.

According to some authors (Leah & Cameron, 2011) the perishable price hike we are currently experiencing in Australia has to do with what they call the “diminishing farmer population”. This means that as farmers get old and retire, they are not being replaced by younger ones and therefore there are fewer farmers growing food in the country (Leah & Cameron, 2011). Because there is less food grown, Australia is forced to purchase food grown overseas which is more expensive and therefore raises the price of food that we see on the shelves. Perishable items such as fruit and vegetables require refrigerated transport, unlike sugar and wheat, and the costs associated with refrigerated transport are much higher (Leah & Cameron, 2011).

Because of the “diminishing farmer population”, Australia is currently experiencing a rise in the cost of food in particular a “perishable price hike”. The evidence suggests that as a result of this people are not eating as much fruit as they were five years ago. This change in how much fruit people are eating is having a negative impact on health as people are now being severely affected by things like the common cold. Some authors say economic development is needed to give people more money but others say this won’t work and the source of food needs to change. I have suggested that planting fruit trees in parks and along the streets will change the source of food and give people a greater access to fruit and help reverse the negative health impacts we are seeing as a result of the perishable price hike.