1. Come to terms with your question. It is most important that the essay address the question posed in your chosen topic. Think about the question and make sure you understand what the question is asking before you proceed. In addition, as you are writing you should check continuously that you are in fact answering the question raised in the topic chosen and adjust your answer accordingly. Edit each draft carefully to ensure that you exclude material that is in fact irrelevant to your central question.

2. Tightly structure your work. Research papers must be organized so that one point leads to another in a logical sequence. Headings and sub-headings are of great assistance to the reader, who should be easily able to ascertain the logic of your arguments. Study the articles you read in the course of your research as a model for style and organization. In general, a research essay should be structured as follows:

(a) An introduction, clearly setting out the broad direction of the essay, its objectives, any parameters of the essay.
(b) A thesis and position statement and a summary of the way in which the assignment is structured (e.g., Part I describes the patent provisions of the TRIPS Agreement as they relate to the protection of pharmaceuticals, Part II analyses their impact on transitional economies etc.).
(c) A development that presents your arguments in light of the current law and literature and other compilations of evidence relevant to the topic.
(d) A conclusion, clearly summarising the arguments or findings and perhaps indicating or proposing future directions the law should take.

3. You are expected to employ your critical and analytical skills in this essay. Avoid mere description and do not quote excessively. Both your observations and your use of other people's writing should reflect this analytical dimension. In sum, your own voice or intellectual input should be clearly discernible in the paper.

4. The more drafts of the essay that are written, the better standard the final product will normally be. You should aim to find the time to complete at least two, if not three, drafts prior to handing the essay in. This will give you an opportunity to refine your thinking and structure.

5. Statements of fact must be supported by footnotes in proper form. Note if you quote the actual words of the author, you must provide quotation marks, or indent in the case of a lengthy quotation. There must also be a footnote indicating the exact source of the quotation. In addition, even though you paraphrase ideas or arguments from a book or journal article, you still need to acknowledge the original source in your footnotes.

6. You should include a bibliography or reference list, setting out all the books, articles and other sources you have referred to or footnoted in the course of writing the essay. You need not have necessarily read each reference from start to finish, but you should have at least looked up each reference. However, you should avoid over-reliance on three or four sources. You are expected to have read widely on the chosen topic, and not exclusively Internet as opposed to print materials.

7. You are graded not for the "correctness" of any particular position, but according to your ability to advocate your point of view, that is, to present coherent, rational and logical arguments, suitably supported by authority.

8. You are also marked by your ability to express yourself clearly, logically and succinctly. Poor expression, syntax and spelling will detract from your overall mark.

The following may be used as a guide to grading:
C: Somewhat organized, demonstrates a basic knowledge and reading of core materials only, some perfunctory arguments. Too much description and/or too derivative.

B: Fluency of expression and well-structured arguments, demonstrates reading beyond the core materials and some analytical and critical argument.

A: Fulfils all the above criteria, but also shows original and rigorous critical capacities, demonstrates a wide amount of reading and deep understanding of the subject matter.

A+: Fulfils all the above criteria, as well as being a particularly original and rigorous work.