Don't panic: organize!
Whether you are meeting a publication deadline, over-booked, or
procrastinatingStep 1: Get in the zone
- Think about it
Mentally organize and think about developing your "story"
Turn off the cell phone when driving, walking, waiting, etc.
- Keep a notebook to jot down
thoughts on development and good phrases
- Talk about the topic
Your approach can benefit from having a live person react to your
“story” or project
If the feedback is unclear, ask for clarification
Don’t get defensive, don’t argue—make a note and move on
(you don’t have time to debate: it’s a writing project!)
- Designate a distraction-free area to help you write
- Organize all you will need
to avoid hunting and disrupting your process
- Make a rough schedule working backwards from the deadline
Highlight major steps: due date, revision, draft, workspace organization,
resource and information gathering
If dependent on others, make your timeframe clear
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Step 2: Write It's as simple as that
- Don’t interrupt your writing process to edit or research
Avoid over-working a problem area and leave it to the revision
Don't get distracted by minor points--keep focus on the whole
- Draw up a quick outline or concept map
- Write out your thesis to be developed
Specific and suitable to the assignment
- Introduce your topic sentence in the first paragraph
Build it up with basic, relevant facts and context: who, what, when,
where, why, how
Appeal to and involve your readers
- Development:
Anchor your paper and each paragraph with a topic sentence. Revise later…
- As you write, note in bold, or color what you are unsure of
Revisit all comments when you revise
- Keep the “navigation” clear
In the introduction, tell your audience what you are going to do,
then do it
Revising
- Take the place of your editor or teacher:
critique your own writing.
Treat your assignment as someone else's product for review
- Spell check.
Use “search” to find words you overuse
- Print and read your project aloud
Printed text is easier to edit.
Does it sound right?
Highlight problem areas to revise after you finish.
(If you run out of breath reading a sentence, it is probably too long)
- Review sentences:
Focus on one idea in each
Short, focused sentences are clearer and reduce the need for commas
Ideal structure: subject – verb – object.
Avoid too many prepositional phrases
Convert negatives to positives
- Keep your voice active and verbs strong
Control/limit your vocabulary
Beware acronyms, slang, jargon
Special vocabulary should be kept limited, introduced early, defined, used
consistently
- Limit the use of numbers in each sentence
Double check numbers!
- Add graphics, illustrations, etc. with captions.
Visual information should reinforce verbal information, and vice versa
Website overview: Since 1996 the
Study Guides and Strategies web site
has been researched, authored, maintained and supported by
Joe Landsberger
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