Finalist Structure Quiz

1. Good structure… (select all that apply)

is crucial to developing a strong argument

helps your analysis come across with more nuance

means you can incorporate literature confidently

is a key part of any assessment (not just essays)

2. Good structure is not… (select all that apply)

an afterthought

a simple formula

clunky and jarring sentences

always linking back to the question at the end of each paragraph

3. Key parts of an argument are… (select all that apply)

a clear introduction that introduces key ideas, themes, or questions

an introduction that immediately introduces key terms and then gets on with it right away

a body which has bullet pointed ideas or lots of subheadings

a body where ideas flow logically and naturally, developing as the essay progresses

a conclusion which sums up the argument, points to the wider importance of your argument, and leaves the reader with a final important message

a conclusion which lists all your paragraphs again to make your point clear

4. For a dissertation, good structure links to a strong argument because… (select all that apply)

it lets you use PEEL paragraphs to make your points easy to follow and relevant to your overall title/question

it lets your argument develop over the course of the dissertation, allowing room for growth and/or comparison

it gives your original source analysis space to be properly deployed with room to breathe

it makes your complicated argument nice and obvious so that over 9,000 words the reader doesn’t get lost

5. An dissertation introduction should…

be flexible based on your topic but still introduce your key ideas, the wider themes at play, and ultimately why the reader should ‘care’ about your argument and points

list your argument’s points with explicit signposting so they don’t get lost

be quite brief so you can get into the body of the dissertation quickly

be a list of definitions and historiography so it’s clear you understand the topic

6. A dissertation conclusion should…

be only a few lines long – you don’t need to reiterate the points you already made

sum up the main threads of your argument and point to the wider importance of what you’ve been arguing

list all your points and analysis one after another so it’s clear what you’ve argued over the 9,000 words

introduce new points that leave the reader interested in what else you might have argued if you had more room

7. Good structure also means well structured sentences. Whilst this obviously varies based on writing style and your own original voice, well-structured sentences are generally clear and concise without compromising the sophistication of your argument or points. Below are four examples of some sentences all saying the same thing – which one do you think is most successful in getting the point across?

Pan-Africanism is both a movement and an ideology because it has been shown to be manifested within institutional structures whilst also being the ideology that underlines these structures, hence it is both a movement and an ideology.

Pan-Africanism is both a movement and an ideology. It has operated as an institutionalised movement for political change whilst also existing as the ideology that underpins such manifestations.

Pan-Africanism is a movement and an ideology. It is used in political movements. It is also an ideology for these movements.

You could say that Pan-Africanism is a movement but you could also say that it is an ideology. Some people have argued it is more of a movement whereas others have suggested it is actually an ideology. My own thinking is that is combines both, and is both a movement and an ideology at different points in time.

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Department of History

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