Use of Narrative: Setting the Scene

Prioritise clarity

 A few questions:

Shall I explain the background to . . .?

Can I describe the history of . . . ?

May I describe how I collected my data?

Can I describe the results of my survey?

Can I illustrate the meaning of . . . ?

Answer:

Only briefly please!

As a student writing reports and essays you will often encounter the need to provide background information or additional narrative at the outset. This means giving an account of the events that relate to the question or the data you are presenting; it is necessary as long as context is retained. However it should always be brief and not take over the essay. Less than 10% of the essay should be something that could be referred to as a description or definition.

This is not to say that providing background information is not valuable, in fact providing brief, precise, targeted background information can set the scene, clarifying and defining the context and direction of your essay; contributing positively to your introduction. Unfortunately many of the essays that I read (at all levels) have rather a tendency to be taken over by elaborate descriptions of terms, or background information that wanders so far from the question that the purpose of writing is obscured.

As a former history undergraduate I often needed to provide background information when writing essays – I also frequently had essays returned with their second and third paragraphs scored out and the word ‘irrelevant’ scrawled next to what had taken me several hours to research, so I understand the frustrations. As a proof reader I find it relatively easy to judge what is answering the question and what is irrelevant, so I have pondered what advice to give on the subject carefully.

I personally found when writing down background information or describing the methodology used to carry out a study it is simplest to include all the details that you think are relevant – aiming for a summary rather than an epic. Once completed I leave it and finish writing the essay – focusing on the question and reaching a targeted conclusion (see future posts – there will be one on conclusions). Having finished the essay I then go back to the ‘narrative section’ with a red pen and a critical eye. Then by crossing out/deleting anything that was not referred back to elsewhere in the essay I create a skeleton of sentences that are relevant. Finally I stitch these sentences into a paragraph (or if there are not many left include them in the introduction). This method worked for me - hopefully it will work for you too.

 

Best wishes, and if you keep getting work returned with comments about too much description do not hesitate to contact me for help.