Writing essays, term papers, lab reports, etc.  no matter the topic, is a process: Establish, narrow, and define your topic State your thesis or theme in a sentence or two at most Define your audience Is it your instructor who grades you or a teaching assistant?  Your classmates who will critique your work?  A conference of professionals for review?          Keep your audience in mind as you write Plan ahead Set a time line and allow for unexpected developments and planned revision Gather resources People:  instructor, teaching assistant, research librarian, tutor, subject matter experts, professionals References:  text book, reference works, web sites, journals, diaries, professional reports Research: read, interview, experiment, gather data, etc. and take notes completely as possible and document sources.  Either use index cards or a system in word processing... Organize your notes with a prewriting exercise: focused freewriting, brainstorming, mapping, and/or outlining Write your first (rough) draft Determine how you will develop your argument: Use good logic in a reasoned argument to develop the theme and/or support the thesis.  Will you compare or define?  Will you criticize or describe? Your first paragraph Introduce the topic! Inform the reader of your point of view! Entice the reader to continue with the rest of the paper! Focus on three main points to develop The first paragraph is often the most difficult to write.  If you have trouble, just get it down with the intention of re-writing it later, even after you have finished with the rest.  But remember this first entry draws your audience into your topic, your perspective, and its importance to continue with the rest.  So: Development Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph transition sentences, clauses, or words at the beginning of paragraph connect one idea to the next (See the page on transitional words and phrases) topic sentences in each paragraph, also near the beginning, define their place in the overall scheme avoid one and two sentence paragraphs which may reflect lack of development of your point Keep your voice active "The Academic Committee decided..." not "It was decided by..." Avoid the verb "to be" for clear, dynamic, and effective presentation (Avoid the verb "to be" and your presentation will be effective, clear, and dynamic) Avoiding "to be" will also avoid the passive voice Use quotations to support your interpretations Properly introduce, explain, and cite each quote Block (indented) quotes should be used sparingly; they can break up the flow of your argument Continually prove your point of view throughout the essay Don't drift or leave its primary focus of the essay Don't lapse into summary in the development--wait until its time, at the conclusion Conclusion Read your first paragraph and the development Summarize, then conclude, your argument Refer back (once again) to the first paragraph(s) as well as the development do the last paragraphs briefly restate the main ideas? reflect the succession and importance of the arguments logically conclude their development? Edit/rewrite the first paragraph to better set your development and conclusion Take a day or two off! Re-read your paper with a fresh mind and a sharp pencil. Edit, correct, and re-write as necessary Turn in the paper Celebrate a job well done, with the confidence that you have done your best. This last is very important. Portions adapted from K. Austin Kerr, Some Tips on Writing Papers for History Courses, Ohio State University.

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Study Guides and Strategies was created and is maintained by Joe Landsberger, Supervisor, ISS/Learning Center, University of St.Thomas (UST), St. Paul, MN.  Permission is granted to freely copy, adapt, print, transmit, and distribute Study Guides in educational, non-commerical, settings to benefit learners.