The Caribbean Studies

essay

TIPS FOR ESSSAY WRITING IN CARIBBEAN STUDIES

Essay writing brings into focus your communication skills: vocabulary, fluency,
sentence/paragraph structure and use of supporting material. All these come into
play in essay writing even under the time constraints of the examination room.
(All the skills you would have honed in CSEC English Language and even CAPE
Communication Studies.) Generally, careful consideration should be given to each
word in the question underlining the content/the directive/critical moderating
words like ‘always/never’ or ‘to what extent’.
 1. Properly interpret the question

a. Determine the issue to be addressed and how it is to be

addressed

b. Make sure you understand the key commands in the essay

question such as “Discuss” and “Assess”.

c. Determine the context and scope of the essay;

d. Bear the audience for the essay in mind.

2. Determine the types and sources of information that
you need to complete the essay/answer the question
asked.

a. Primary and or secondary sources;

b. Statistics;

c. Evidence from research

d. Theory

e. Key terms
3. Consider multiple perspectives and
approaches.

Note that essays in this course usually require DISCUSSION;

that is, the examination and evaluation of different
perspectives or view points. For example, the positive effects
of a phenomenon must always be conditioned by an
examination of the negative effects of that same phenomenon.
4. Pay attention to the big
picture

Consideration of the political, environmental, social,

cultural and economic factors (causes, effects,
manifestation, and implications) is always advised.
Also, Caribbean development is an overriding theme
in the unit and should be considered in all
discussions.
 5. Determine what your thesis
statement will be.

Consider what is the basis of your argument and how

you will it using topic sentences.
 Developing points for an essay

1. State the point – this is similar to a topic sentence (smaller thesis

statement). This may be quoted from a text (with the appropriate
referencing) or a paraphrased idea. It may also reflect a conclusion
you have drawn from your own observations and reading of relevant
materials. Usually these statements include jargon and or key terms
related to the topic
2. Explain the point. Use your own words to explain the
topic sentence, define the key terms in ways that the reader
can understand. Assume that the reader knows little or
nothing of the topic and therefore make the explanation as
clear as possible.
3. Provide supporting evidence for the point made. The
evidence should be empirical and as much as possible
also theoretical.
4. Evaluate the evidence. The evidence presented must also be
evaluated as suggested above (attend to source, assumptions, biases,
authority of the source, relevance and currency of and purpose for
which it was initially presented). While you need not spell out all of
this in full detail, (at least) a summary evaluation of the evidence
must be given.
5. Determine the value of the point particularly as it relates to answering
the question at hand.

a. Does it support the overall thesis of the discourse?

b. Is the support offered weak or substantial?

c. Importantly, what counter argument(s) could one put forward?

6. Use key words or phrases to:

a. Identify what skill is being demonstrated such as knowledge, assessment, evaluation

and comparison. The term “According to” shows knowledge for example. Of course,
mere use of the term does not make the information correct.

b. Show the link between paragraphs or the transition from one issue to another. “On
the other hand” at the beginning of a new paragraph for example, shows that you are
about to explore another side of the issue covered in the preceding paragraph.
 Pulling it together:
Conclusion

1. Your conclusion should be a summary evaluation of all the points

considered.
2. It should be stated in a way that answers the initial question directly
(and which of course should reflect the thesis statement).
3.No new arguments should be introduced at
this point.
4. Markers are impressed by critical thinking.
Always think of the implications of the
conclusion drawn and strategies for dealing
with them.
 Themes to consider

Social – education, health, family, recreation, social

stratification, social order
Cultural – consider all elements of culture

Expressive culture –music, dance, art and craft,

norms,

Official /institutional culture – similar to social in

many ways
Political – having to do with the distribution of power,
decision making and the allocation of resources in society
or in institutions in society
Economic – anything having to do with the economy and methods used
to adapt to our physical as well as our global environment in order to
survive economically. Also includes the ideologies or underlying
principles governing the production and distribution of commodities to
sustain society.
Environmental – having to do with the natural
environment. Issues of sustainable use of resources,
pollution, and human ecology among other things are
considered here.