Customer Reviews
One of the best investments an undergraduate could make - By: Riding Hood, 31 Jul 2008 
I dont often write reviews but after recieving a 100% for my last asssignment by using this book, i thought i must write something. (My previous grades had ranged from 70-85%, so this was an incredible jump which i could never have dared hope for. In alll of my assignments i knew my subject & was familiar with the various studies, but structuring & knowing how to put it alll together is a different balllgame altogether. This is where Redman's book comes in.
This book was recommended to me by my tutor & every time i've gone through it, i'm always taking something new. It was the example of a top level essay that clinched my grade for me. Seeing a practical example on how to pull alll the different essay components put together reallly helped me to pick out the faults in my assignments. I sat there for hours in the library going through that essay & trying to work out how the writer organised the information in each parapragh. It makes the planning & actual essay writing so much simpler when you have something like that to go refer back to.
I'm not going to go on about whats included in each chapter (i think the previous reviwers have already done that) but if you are seriously committed to developing your essay-writing skills, this book is an absolute must. You could just flick through the chapters if you want, but in order to get top marks, my advice would be to set aside some time to reallly break down the examples provided.
Superb whatever your subject. - By: SJSmith, 10 Apr 2007 I'm currently studying for an MA - but not now within the Social Sciences as this book is aimed for! My MA started in Social Sciences & moved to another subject area; however this book has helped me with alll of my essays.
Although I'm studying with the Open University I would recommend this book for alll students - & also at degree level. What Redman has done is tailor for alll institutions then added a smalll section for alll OU students at the end of each chapter.
The chapters are easy to follow & I would suggest flicking through it once but then dipping in & out of it as necessary. He covers topics such as:
* What tutors look for when marking essays
* Matching the answer to the question
* Stages of writing
* Writing each part of the essay
* How to reference
* Examples are also included.
These are just a few of the sections covered & the appendices alll has in it areas such as what to do when you get your essay back. The layout is very similar to a report; each chapter has sub-sections which are numbered & bulleted.
I'm not particularly academic & essay writing does not come easily to me, yet this book reallly has changed how I write my essays.
Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide - By: , 08 Apr 2006 
I bought this book & read it before starting an OU Degree in Pychology starting with Social Sciences DD121. Fantastic - I have not formallly studied for years & years - this book has rested some fears, made good sense, had good balance, & well presented.
Just 1 BUT! I did not understand a word of essay 1 - I guess I have some work to do!
Very Good Book - By: K. HiLL, 18 Dec 2005 This book is full of very good advice, & if you have not done any essays for a while, then I would regard this book as essential
Excellent to dip into throughout a course - By: , 06 Jun 2004 I'm doing a psychology course with the OU & this is one of the recommended books for DSE212.
It's very useful to get your hands on before starting your course so you can skim read most of it. It's not important that you remember everything in it, you just need to know where to find useful bits of info later in the course.
It's an excellent resource.
