Essay Writing Tips --

the 3 File System

(based on a lecture delivered by Professor Dean Jaensch to Flinders University politics students, 31st of March 1994)

Professor Jaensch has written extensively on Australian politics and electoral behaviour patterns. As a politics lecturer at Flinders University he instructs his students in note-taking and composition. He recommends a “3 File System”, the key feature of which is an “Ideas file” in which notes can be shuffled and grouped and themes allowed to emerge by themselves. It’s the system he’s employed in writing all of his books. It's not computerized, but it works!

1. METHOD

A Bibliographic File:

Before you begin to read a book or article write the bibliographic details (author or editors, title, edition, publisher, place and date of publication, page numbers) on a card. Also record which library the book or journal comes from. File this card alphabetically in a box.

An Ideas File:

Write ideas on separate cards -- any point, concept, statement, argument you think about or find while reading.

• Clearly indicate if a paraphrase of quotation
• Include an abbreviated reverence (thus linking it to the Bibliographic File).
• Don’t copy out great slabs – longer notes go into the Photocopy and Notes File with a cross-reference from the cards.

Photocopy and Notes File:

Arrange by subject, and then alphabetically & chronologically.

• Include an abbreviated reference (thus linking it to the Bibliographic File).

Using this system he gives the following advice to students on writing an essay or paper:

• Set a reading deadline three weeks before the essay is due. No more reading after this!
• Plan to do three drafts of an essay

-The hardest thing is to write the first sentence.

DRAFT 1

Don’t go near the 3 files AT ALL. Write the first draft off the top of your head.

DRAFT 2

Then pick up the cards from the Ideas File and "play cards". Spread them out. Arrange them according to theme. A logical order will emerge and become the structured logical argument of your essay.

• Read through the first draft and re-write using ideas cards.
• Bring in photocopies and longer notes linked to them.
• By sorting notes in this fashion you will identify gaps in your knowledge. At this point you can go back to the library and read to fill in the gaps.

DRAFT 2b

After the second draft you may want to do an intermediate draft, tidying up logic etc., making it more cohesive

DRAFT 3

Read the essay aloud and make appropriate alterations.

2. FILING

When the project has been completed the three files should be filed under the title of the essay, but dated and kept in separate folders e.g.

Racism in Australia in the 90’s—Bibliography

Racism in Australia in the 90’s—Ideas

Racism in Australia in the 90’s—Notes

& this material filed under the subject heading for Racism – Australia, in your main subject file.

Alternatively, once the essay or thesis is completed, it is possible to incorporate the Bibliographic File into a larger Bibliographic Index (a master bibliographic file of all books and articles read or referred to over the years) and likewise to redistribute the notes and photocopies made for a particular project into a general subject file under appropriate headings. Professor Jaensch advises against this: in his opinion all work for a project should be kept together.

He also reminds students to put references on all notes and photocopies (they can be abbreviated, but the complete reference must be in the Bibliographic File).

modified from: Brittain, Craig Note-taking and research methods Flinders Library Publications Series no. 1, 1994, pg 28-29

Research guide for Education