It may seem obvious, but to achieve a first you must attempt to satisfy the marking criteria for a first-class essay. If you do not believe you can get a first and thus do not attempt to hit the criteria, you will not get a first. However, at university prior attainment is irrelevant and the key to getting a first is trying to hit the criteria (and potentially failing), reflecting on your efforts, and taking actions to refine how you complete your assignments to improve. Many students have come to the University of Derby with poor A-Levels and come out with a first-class degree. Listen to the podcast titled from A-Level failure to University Success to hear about recent graduate Joel Boulter’s experience in getting a first.
The main criteria for a first can be broken down into the following headings: (taken from Roberts, J. (2017) Essentials of essay writing. What markers look for. UK: PALGRAVE. PALGRAVE Study Skills.)
Knowledge and understanding
Critical thinking
Referencing and Synthesis
Grammar, expression, and layout
Answering the question
Structure
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key works, relevant facts, problems, debates, theories and concepts.
Awareness of complexity of the issues. This includes using hedging, as discussed in an earlier section of the guide to highlight the certainty of your writing.
Reading goes beyond what is required. Often this means reading more than the text given to you by your lecturer. Note that wider reading is done alongside reading and understanding the key works on the area.
See our Critical Thinking Skill Set guide on 'Evaluating Information and Understanding Biases' for information on how to check the reliability of a source. Some factors for checking reliability of a source include asking:
Is the source peer reviewed?
Is the information up to date?
How old is the information?
Is the source from a respected publisher or author?
Is this an accurate representation of other peoples views too?
A first-class essay requires:
Strong reasoning and evidence used to support arguments..
Clarity of ‘voice’.
Independent bold analysis is undertaken.
Obvious objections/counter arguments are anticipated.
Assumptions of others are identified and tested.
For further ways to enhance your Critical Thinking skills, take a look at the Critical Thinking Skill Set guide.
Critical Thinking for Better Judgement and Decision-Making
In this course, you will learn different techniques to improve your decision-making and critical thinking skills. These skills will be useful for your studying techniques to improve your judgement and problem-solving abilities within group-work and activities, as well as improving your essay writing skills through developing your own critical and individual voice.
Your referencing should be accurate and consistent. As a student at the University of Derby, you will have access to Cite Them Right, which provides guidance on how to reference over 150 different types of sources. It also includes a step-by-step referencing tutorial to help you develop your skills.
For further support, take a look at our Referencing Guide, or check the schedule for our upcoming referencing workshops hosted by the Library.
Using Strong Evidence and Examples
Effective academic writing often includes a range of approaches to using evidence, such as:
What Is Synthesis?
Synthesis involves combining information from two or more sources to support a single point or argument. It’s especially useful when sources agree or overlap in some way.
For example:
If two authors make the same point, avoid repeating both arguments separately. Instead, paraphrase the shared idea and cite both sources together.
If they agree on the idea but offer different reasons, summarise the shared point first, then explain the differing perspectives.
Using synthesis demonstrates a strong understanding of your sources, improves clarity, and makes your writing more efficient. It also helps you avoid repetition, saving words that can be better used elsewhere in your essay. Markers often view synthesis as a sign of higher-level thinking and academic skill.
The style of your essay should be fluent and engaging. Take a look at the Structure and Flow section of this guide.
At a first-class level, the grammar and spelling should also be flawless. For further information on grammar, reflect on the earlier Grammar and Exploring Grammar pages of the guide.
Presentation guidelines should also be followed, your academic should inform you of this.
The written content of your essay should be:
Ensuring that the question is answered also requires you to proofread your work regularly to make sure that you are on track and not getting distracted. Spending time reflecting on your work, and looking at your original plan can also help you to maintain your focus on the question.
Structure provides a sound basis for addressing the question, you should reflect on the essay structure as you write to ensure that you are successfully maintaining your flow, and that the structure is coherent throughout.