Getting Started

Starting a writing assignment can be the most challenging aspect to it. There is a lot to think about. A topic needs to be established, supporting points of that topic need to be thought of, and there needs to be a hook to draw in readers. Facts/data may need to be gathered, and quite a few other things as well. Once you get the ball rolling, it may be smooth sailing, but getting started can sometimes be both intimidating and overwhelming. Professor requirements may vary from class to class, so you always want to consider what specifics they are looking for. Below you may find some ways to ease the writing process as you begin.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming continually proves to be an effective tactic when starting out the writing process. There are many ways to do this. It’s really a matter of finding what works best for you. Sometimes you have to try multiple things in order to get your best idea. In the process, you probably will come up with a number of good ideas that need to be revised, and that’s all part of it. No one expects you come up with a golden idea that doesn’t need any work while brainstorming. The process primarily exists so that you can feel open and not judged while throwing a bunch of thoughts on paper that can be touched up later.

Freewriting

Freewriting is one really great technique of brainstorming. This is when you set aside an allotted time (anytime that you are comfortable with, whether it be 5 or 20 minutes), and just write without editing. In freewriting, you shouldn’t worry about anything except the content of what you are writing. Punctuation and grammar are not important here, as long as you will understand what is on the paper at the end of the time; that is all that matters. If you feel blocked, you can even write about things that aren’t exactly relevant to your current writing assignment; you may be surprised at how writing something down that may not seem relevant can inspire the perfect idea. Below is an example of a potential freewriting session:

Don’t worry if you don’t think you’re making sense; you are most likely the only person who is going to see this anyway, unless you want to share it with others. Be silly, be serious, show all sides to yourself, or stay focused on only the current topic if you feel that’s what you need. The point of brainstorming is that it is for you and your work, so do what you want to do in order to feel confident.

Idea Map

An idea map is a brainstorming technique that may be helpful to those who like a visual representation of their ideas. This tactic is all about ideas working off one another in order to make connections and figure out which route is best to use.

The idea is writing down the topic, coming up with one idea, and then getting inspired with more as you keep extending what’s there. With the idea map, you should write the topic/question in the center and then circle it. Next, write down the first potential idea you think of based on the topic and connect it with a line to the center topic. With that idea, branch some supporting points off of that, and then repeat the process with other ideas you come up with. Below, you can find an example of what this looks like:

You can be as thorough as you would like. As long as you get some ideas and understand the direction you would like to go, it can be considered an effective tool. Sometimes ideas from different branches may connect back with each other, and you may decide to use parts of each branch for your overall idea in order to create an in-depth assignment.

Idea List

Similar to an idea map, an idea list is a number of different ideas built around the main topic in question. The difference here is the way the task is carried out; because an idea map was created more for visual learners, while an idea list is good for those who prefer simple, written out methods. At the top of the list, you want to write out your topic or question at hand. After this is completed, you can bullet, number, plainly write, or a number of other things to get out connecting ideas. There can be multiple topics and supporting points throughout your list; again, whatever works best for you. Below, you can find an example of what this looks like:

This list can be short or long and can be comprised of complete sentences or not. Again, it is up to you how you want to carry out these brainstorming tactics. The important part is that they get ideas flowing.

The Basic Questions

This may sound overly simple, but it can be surprising just how flustered and forgetful one can be in the writing process. Going back to the basics and asking yourself how to get specific is a part of the process one can often forget. If you think you have an idea but do not know where to take it, ask yourself the questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

After you answer these questions, build off of them. And if for some reason you are unable to answer each one, consider changing or expanding your idea. Papers sometimes have so much going on,yet lack basic aspects that make them readable. When writers try really hard to be complex, they may forget critical foundational components.

Organizing with an Outline

When you feel confident in an idea, or even maybe a couple, then you can start organizing your information to make it easier when it actually comes to writing. An outline is typically the best way to do this, and there are a few different ways an outline can be drawn up. An outline is basically a skeleton of what will become the finished assignment. It can have all the main points/topics that are to be discussed. An outline can be just simple bullet points or complete sentences. If you choose complete sentences, it may be easier when writing the paper; but you should choose what you’re most comfortable with. The formal outline format is done with roman numerals. However, if you’re just making the outline for yourself, then you are welcome to draw it up however is easiest, as long as you understand it. Below you can find the format for a potential outline:

Outlines will vary per assignment, so don’t feel obligated to structure it any specific way for every assignment you’ll come across. The idea is to help you organize your thoughts so that you aren’t scrambling to fit everything into an assignment as you write it. Coming across logical and coherent are important in writing for obvious reasons. Brainstorming and then outlining helps create this effect.

While creating your outline, think about how you want information to flow. There should be some sort of pattern to how you’re conveying your main ideas and supporting details. This can be chronologically, with varying levels of importance, geographically, etc. This will change based on content and different assignments you’ll have to do, but there should always be a conscious way information is portrayed.

Research

Research can be a taxing part of the writing process. Not every paper requires research to be done. However, papers that have been written utilizing some research tend to convey a stronger argument. Research allows for points to be supported and make you sound more credible overall. Some writers like to gather all their research before they even begin writing, but this can be done however you like. Performing research before writing results in one less thing to worry about as you are actually writing. Keep in mind, however, ideas can change, so performing research as you go is completely fine as well. Identifying the right resources can be the difficult part. You want research that provides solid evidence from a reliable source. There are many types of sources, like personal interviews, online articles, books, and more. The kind of research you choose will depend on your topic, your audience, as well as what sources your professor has advised as part of assignment.

Skimming

If you feel that you don’t have time to read every source in its entirety, skimming can be a useful tool. In order to do this effectively, you are going to want to know what to look for before starting. While you want to look at every heading, you also want to look at the beginning of each paragraph, even if the heading doesn’t look like it pertains to the focus of your search. Sometimes information ends up being where it isn’t expected. You will also want to look at how each paragraph/section concludes for any giveaways that may be specific to what you are looking for. Dates tend to stand out amongst words, so try to see what dates fall around information you are looking for, if possible, as well.

Benefits to reading whole sources

The thing about research is that it can be beneficial beyond just one subject. You can stumble upon research for one project that actually can be used down the road in something unrelated at the present time. Finding ways to continuously educate yourself is great, and researching for assignments is a way to accomplish that. Having to read and sift through source information may take a long time, but it can save time down the road if you familiarize yourself with different kinds of material. If you have the time to thoroughly read, it’s probably not a bad idea to do so.

Credible Sources

Finding credible sources can be a challenge, because finding anything that is 100% accurate is nearly impossible. Many people are told to avoid sources from Wikipedia because anyone can write on the site and present information as if it’s true when it may not be. Joyner Library has a good resource presence online. Within the physical library itself, you will find an extremely helpful staff that will assist you to the best of their abilities. Sometimes to ensure that a source is credible, you may have to perform research of your research. Fact checking can be tedious, but it also leads to a well-established paper.

Finding statistics and specific data can be a great source in an assignment if applicable to the topic because it provides insight into experiments/existing research that has already been performed relating to your subject.

Scholarly Sources

Scholarly sources are the best places to find research. A source is considered scholarly if it has been written by an expert in the field with provided credentials, and has been peer reviewed. These sources tend to be written for other experts, and often utilize technical language. Academic articles from periodicals/journals are another great source. Peer-reviewed sources are particularly beneficial because if the work has been published, it means it passed an exhaustive review by other experts in the field.

Provide Insight

Whatever evidence and research you may find, just always remember to elaborate on it. Research is great, but it’s not just a matter of copying and pasting. While it may seem like it should speak for itself, pulling information from an outside source, even when citing it properly, does not show your own voice. You want to make sure you give your opinion and back it up with your source. In this way, you are fulfilling your part of the assignment. If you were to craft a paper solely from resourced information, you are not showing you understand the information you are citing, and you are not allowing your voice to be shared. This is an important aspect of your paper. Think, “why am I writing this?”. Based on the answer, create a paper that has balanced parts of your voice and the supporting evidence that backs your opinion up.

The Introduction

Starting off the paper can be challenging when your head is in so many different places, but the introduction doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it tends to be. There’s no specific or expected length here, just ensure you have enough based on what you’re writing about.

As with everything else, what you’re writing about will cause things to vary, but in many places, you’ll want to start off with something that will get the readers attention. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but if your paper starts off without proper introduction, readers may be confused. The first sentence(s) in the introduction can be a fact with some sort of relative and interesting statistic, it can be an anecdote (a short story pertaining to the topic), it can be a question that will make the readers think about what’s to come, or a number of other things. The common theme between these options is the fact they not only get the audience interested, but they also make them wonder what is to come and how it all relates. The key to a starting sentence is that it will keep the audience intrigued.

After the hook, you’ll want to provide some background/context into your specific topic. Think about what is important for the audience to know about your topic before getting into the details of it. Is there history to it that is critical? What should the audience know right off the bat? This information is completely up to you and it should set the tone for what’s to come.

The last and most important part of the introduction will be the thesis. This should be crafted before starting anything else because it sets up what the rest of the paper is going to be based on. The thesis statement is one to two sentences that sets the direction for the rest of the paper by providing judgment on a topic. It shouldn’t only state what the idea is, but also briefly why (and that will be expanded on through the rest of the paper). It’s not always a personal judgement or opinion, sometimes it is based on events and other people, but the basic idea remains.

Transitions

When moving from paragraph to paragraph, you want to make sure you are guiding the audience through smooth transitions that are easy to follow. If you jump from one topic to another without warning, you may lose some of the audience. Transitions tend to be most effective at the end of the paragraph or beginning of the next when information from both topics can be put into one sentence together. Even though they may be two different topics, they should still be able to work together since they both relate to the overarching idea. If for some reason they don’t work together, ask yourself if they are really relevant to the main idea. Even conflicting views can have transitions in between with a simple sentence like “While *insert first topic* may be prevalent in one culture, another view is *insert second topic*.” Now this example sentence is obviously relevant to cultural ideas, but the point is to show that there are ways to make contradicting points mesh together in transitions. Transitions are simple once you get the hang of them, but it’s all about wording and helping the audience realize you are moving from point to point. They can be subtle or obvious, it is up to your writing style how you would like them to be.

The Conclusion

The conclusion is the piece of the assignment where ideas should be wrapped up and main connections to the topic should be made. The thesis should be restated in the conclusion and the audience should feel clear on everything that was mentioned. If this is a piece in a larger work, introducing something pertaining to a future piece may be beneficial; otherwise, no new information should be introduced that will create confusion for the readers. The conclusion should wrap up by reiterating the ideas that were touched on throughout without repeating anything word for word. These things are brought up just so the audience can remember the critical components without having to reread the entire paper. The conclusion doesn’t have to be overly long, but you should feel confident that you mentioned everything of importance. You want your closing sentence to be strong and something that the readers can reflect on. If possible, try to avoid the standard “in conclusion” or “in summary.” These statements tend to take away from what really matters which is the information itself. Ending with a call to action typically is a useful tactic. Tell your readers what they can now do with what they now know and why it is important to do so.

The writing process as a whole can seem difficult but the UWC is here to make it easier so if you have any further questions, please feel free to make an appointment with a consultant today.

References

CCC Library. (2020, December 2). Scholarly vs Popular: Characteristics of Scholarly Resources. https://libraryguides.chemeketa.edu/scholarly

IUP. (n.d.). Brainstorming. https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/before-you-write/brainstorming/

Purdue OWL. (n.d.). Brainstorm for the Essay. https://owl.purdue.edu/engagement/ged_preparation/part_2_lessons_1_5/index.html

UMGC (n.d.). Prewriting and Outlining. https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/writing-resources/getting-started-writing/prewriting-and-outlining.cfm

The Writing Center-UNC. (n.d.). Brainstorming. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/

The Writing Center-UNC. (n.d.). Evidence. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/evidence/