1. Overt
One method is by explicitly writing yourself into your own essays. For example:
- 'I will argue that …'
- 'In this essay, I argue that... '
- 'From our investigations, we conclude that …'
By drawing such a clear distinction between your voice and the voice of your sources, the marker is more able to 'hear' what you are trying to say.
WARNING: Some disciplines and schools don't allow their students to use 'I' in their written assignments. Check with your lecturers and tutors before you adopt this strategy.
2. 'Original' research
The content of lectures and weekly readings can only ever give you the basics: you are expected to go beyond the material presented in class when you are producing a research-based assignment. Some students never go beyond lecture material and/or the set readings when doing research.
By branching out on your own and reading more widely, you'll have many more ideas to draw from and be able to include ideas and information not discovered by others who've not read as widely as you have. This will allow you to construct a different argument from other students and, in turn, give your argument a more individual quality.
3. Organisation
The way you put your essays together may give them a distinctive quality. Although you must always engage with and answer the question, the question itself does not dictate the structure of your essay. It does not give you the 'correct' sequence of paragraphs: the order of the paragraphs is your choice.
Impose your framework over the question, and don't let your sources dictate the structure of your essay.
4. Integration: choosing the right words
What transition signals and reporting verbs e.g. states, argues, asserts, writes, etc. do you use to show your relationship to the ideas expressed by other writers? By carefully selecting your reporting verbs, you can use the words/ideas of others to express your considered opinion of their view.
A hypothetical
The direct quote you wish to use is 'The sky is red' (Evans, 2001:8).
How can you integrate it with your own prose and, simultaneously, demonstrate your own view?
Some examples
| Evans states that 'the sky is red' (2001:8) | 'states' indicates that you have a largely neutral stance toward the idea expressed. |
| Evans argues that 'the sky is red' (Evans, 2001:8) | 'argues' indicates that you think that Evans supports his opinion with argument & evidence. |
| Evans asserts that 'the sky is red' (Evans, 2001:8) | 'asserts' indicates that you think that Evans does not fully support his idea |
| Evans claims that 'the sky is red' (Evans, 2001:8) | 'claims' indicates that you think that Evans does not support his idea at all |
| Evans rightly argues that 'the sky is red' (2001:8) | 'rightly argues' indicates that you agree strongly with the view |
| Evans wrongly argues that 'the sky is red' (2001:8) | 'wrongly argues' indicates that you disagree with conclusion that Evans has drawn |
| Evans is partially correct when he argues that 'the sky is red' (200 1: 8) | 'partially correct' suggests that you agree with some, but not all, of Evans' view |