Worldly Writing

Five Steps to Writing an Efficient International Relations Essay

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Writing an essay for an international relations course or outside organization can be a tough task. There are a lot of specifics to keep in mind such as what sources to use, what issues to address and when to include your personal opinion. Below are some tips to help you write your way to an A on your next international relations paper.

1. Outline and organize.

Sitting down to write a 10 page paper sounds like a daunting task, but sitting down to write a rough outline seems a lot easier to tackle. It is much easier to actually start writing when you have basic ideas and a guide in front of you to keep you on task. If you keep your sources, thesis and general ideas organized you will end up writing a much more efficient essay. You will be more relaxed and finish the assignment quicker as well. Here are some tips for writing an outline.

2. Spend time researching. Pick your sources carefully and CITE EVERYTHING.

It is important to be able to distinguish between scholarly and non-scholarly sources. Many international relations essays require scholarly articles only, so make sure to be mindful of that. You must always choose sources that are credible, even if they are not scholarly. News articles and government websites are usually good sources even though they are not scholarly. Some good starting points for international relations research are the UN website and databases such as Proquest Worldwide Political Science Abstracts and SAGE Journals. Many high schools and universities will give you free access to databases like these, so be sure to inquire within your school.

3. Get help when you need it.

Professors, mentors, experts and even other students are all great resources when you are stuck on a paper. Sometimes international relations essays can be overwhelming and have multiple tasks. It is perfectly acceptable, if not encouraged, to go to your professor or teacher’s office hours for clarification and guidance. More often than not they will give you detailed advice and point you in the right direction. It is easy to get lost and lose track of the thesis or argument you are making. Getting feedback from others will help you write a clear essay and eliminate irrelevant information that you may have thrown in.

4. Write professionally.

Readers should never be able to tell that you’re a student. You should never try to fluff your essays to meet a word count or use language that is too casual. Remember if you are making an argument or stating an opinion, it should always be supported by facts and research (and don’t give your opinion unless it is specifically asked of you). If you are writing about a general topic, event or issue, make sure that you are presenting all perspectives and viewpoints, not just your own. If you are making a specific argument, make sure to address the counter argument and refute it. This will make your essay a lot stronger.

5. Just start (revise later).

Sit down at your desk in pajamas with a cup of coffee and just start writing. Don’t worry about grammar and wording every sentence perfectly, just get your ideas out for your first draft. Writer's block happens when you overthink, so try to avoid procrastinating and revising the same sentence five times. You can (and you should) go back at the end to fix everything. Grammar and spelling are very important, but you will catch more mistakes and edit your work more efficiently if you do it at the end instead of losing your train of thought every five minutes to revise a previous sentence. Websites like Grammarly and Spellex serve as good starting points when you are ready to edit your essay. You can also use websites like EasyBib to check your bibliography format.

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