Writing Papers: Writing

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You’ve brainstormed and have come up with a topic. You’ve done your research and arranged your ideas. Now it’s time to face that blank page. Here’s where most students freak, because they don’t know what to say. Often, this leads to a paper in which the writer includes other people’s thoughts strung together with a few connecting words. But that paper (and that writing method) is weak. Instead, you need to take your research and interpret in your own way. How do you do this? Start by quizzing yourself.

Ask yourself the typical journalism questions: who? what? when? where? why? how? Think about what makes the topic unique. Summarize why the topic is important.

Identify any tension or controversy about your topic. What are the main issues? What are the conflicting sides or the pros and cons? If there is controversy over the topic, decide on what the consensus is and then ask yourself, “Do I agree? Disagree?”

Think about how your topic relates to similar ideas. How does it fit within the overall big picture? Look into how your topic is structured or covered. Consider how your topic has changed or developed over time. Think about what your topic impacts or influences. Ask yourself whether things might have turned out differently for any reason and if so, what are the implications of a different turnout.

These queries should generate your own ideas on the content. You can then sit down and put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

When you start writing, don’t worry about being perfect in your first draft. Just get the words on the paper. Let it flow. Tell a story. Be yourself.

Readers = Writers

Good writers are good readers. When you read, you notice what makes a piece effective. You think about what details stand out and how the work is structured. Some writers may even mimic a certain author’s writing style as they go through the process of finding their own unique voices.