A template for an essay

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This is a template for an essay on Advanced software design course. When using the template, replace its content while preserving overall stucture.

You may find the following reference useful in writing essay

  1. Essay writing basics (Univ Sydney)
  2. Strategies for writing academic essay (Harvard)
  3. Academic essays (Wikipedia)

Expected size of the essay is about 4-6 pages (8000-12000 characters).

Structure and presentation

Please divide your essay into recognizable sections so that its structure be evident

The structure may follow any of the common essay patterns found via the links above.

For example, ChatGPT 4o [6] suggests the following structure, which I believe is a bit detailed:

  • Introduction: Introduce the topic, provide background, and state your thesis.
  • Literature Review: Summarize relevant research and highlight gaps your work addresses.
  • Methodology: Describe the methods you used for your research or analysis.
  • Results/Findings: Present your findings clearly, using charts or graphs if necessary.
  • Discussion: Interpret your results, discuss their implications, and relate them back to your thesis.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your main points and suggest areas for future research.

…

Figures and citing

Please upload any figures and pictures along with your text into the 'arch' namespace on this wiki. Do not use external image hosting services.

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This material is licensed under the Public License Attribution-ShareAlike, SberBank©, 2024. All rights reserved

Fig. 1. A student is writing a good essay in software engineering. Generated with [3].

Writing good essays

The whole section has been generated with ChatGPT 4o [1].
Do not include in the final essay.

Writing a good research essay in software engineering involves several key steps. Here’s a structured approach to help you succeed:

1. Understand the Assignment

Read the Guidelines: Make sure you understand the requirements, including formatting, length, and citation style.

Clarify the Topic: If a specific topic is not assigned, choose one that interests you and is relevant to current trends in software engineering.

2. Conduct Preliminary Research

Literature Review: Start with a broad search to understand the existing research. Use academic databases like IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar.

Identify Key Themes: Look for recurring themes, methodologies, and findings in the literature.

3. Formulate a Thesis Statement

Narrow Your Focus: Based on your research, develop a clear and concise thesis statement that reflects the main argument or contribution of your essay.

4. Create an Outline

Organize Your Ideas: Structure your essay into sections, typically including:

  • Introduction: Introduce the topic, provide background, and state your thesis.
  • Literature Review: Summarize relevant research and highlight gaps your work addresses.
  • Methodology: Describe the methods you used for your research or analysis.
  • Results/Findings: Present your findings clearly, using charts or graphs if necessary.
  • Discussion: Interpret your results, discuss their implications, and relate them back to your thesis.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your main points and suggest areas for future research.

5. Write the Essay

Drafting: Start writing based on your outline. Don’t worry about perfection in the first draft; focus on getting your ideas down.

Use Clear Language: Write clearly and concisely. Avoid jargon unless necessary, and explain any technical terms you use.

Cite Sources: Properly cite all references to avoid plagiarism and to lend credibility to your work.

6. Revise and Edit

Review Content: Ensure that your arguments are coherent and that each section flows logically into the next.

Check for Clarity: Make sure your thesis is clearly stated and supported throughout the essay.

Proofread: Look for grammatical errors, typos, and formatting issues. Consider using tools like Grammarly or asking a peer to review your work.

7. Finalize Your Essay

Format According to Guidelines: Ensure your essay meets all formatting requirements (font size, margins, citation style).

Submit on Time: Make sure to submit your essay by the deadline.

Additional Tips

Stay Current: Software engineering is a rapidly evolving field. Incorporate recent studies and technologies into your research.

Engage with Your Audience: Consider who will read your essay and tailor your writing to their level of expertise.

Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask your professor or peers for feedback on your topic or draft.

By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and insightful research essay in software engineering. Good luck!

Conclusion

The last section should clearly state your grounded view on the topic

References

Provide 10-20 references to the academic sources (Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, SemanticScholar, etc.). These references should justify, support your analysis or provide alternative viewpoints. Use web links and bibliograpy-style references, use Google scholar to format references (Harvard style), provide a clickable DOI link (except AI assistants).

Refer to an AI assistant as if it were a Internet source and provide a prompt, e.g.

  1. ChatGPT 4o, How to write a good research essay in software engineering at a university? https://chatgpt.example.com
  2. Warburton, N., 2020. The basics of essay writing. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003060925
  3. Kandinskiy 3.1, A student is writing a good essay in software engineering. https://rudalle.ru/