The DOs and DON'Ts of Writing

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I recently came upon a list that described the Do's and Don'ts of writing a paper from the University of Tartu. I wanted to share this list, not because I found it amusing, but also because it seemed pretty relevant to what I see here in the Writing Center.

Here is my (abridged) version of 10 Do's and Don'ts when writing a paper:

DO be conscious that  phases of writing exist and differs person to person. One person may benefit from writing a complete introduction first while others like to dive right into the body.
DON'T go into a paper without any plan!

DO define your topic! Then refine it with a good hypothesis.
DON'T attempt to cover everything that your class has taught you within the semester.

DO collect information that is relevant to your topic and make sure you take good notes. This will make the highly feared citation process easier.
DON'T copy word-for-word from a resource. It's not cool and it's plagiarism.

DO write on a regular basis. Pace through the paper.
DON'T write the night before a paper is due or "when you're in the mood".

DO organize your arguments and explain each step.
DON'T accumulate facts without any explanation.

DO write first, correct later.
DON'T expect a perfect rough draft. It's rough for a reason.

DO realize writing is a learning process. Hence the existence of the WC!
DON'T set high standards for the first draft. It'll frustrate you more.

DO be trouble-shooting oriented when writing. Go back one phase in your writing process and re-work it until you have overcome the issue. If you get stuck ask others for advice or see us at the WC!
DON'T work through issues you have questions on alone.

DO build confidence as a writer!
DON'T be hypercritical of yourself when writing or set unrealistic goals.

To see the original list, go to http://blog.ut.ee/10-dos-and-donts-to-solve-your-writing-problems/.
-Lindsay

Thesis Statements: As Easy as 1, 2, 3

             One of the most common roadblocks in writing an effective paper is a strong thesis statement. Yes, the same dreaded thesis statement that your Professor told you to make sure you had in your paper. As a writing tutor, I very much agree with your Professor. A thesis statement is a great way to unify and “nutshell” your argument or analysis.

      Before I continue, I wanted to clarify what a thesis statement is exactly, because while your Professors may urge you to write one, they often do not explain how it should be written. Instead they may tell you to visit the Writing Center to get help from a tutor. I decided to make this learning process even easier by showing you how to write a thesis statement right here on the computer.

So here it goes…

 A thesis statement should accomplish three major goals:

1. State a condensed interpretation of the main idea of your paper (Topic)
2. Assert your position on the claim or argument your paper presents (Focus)
3. Provide the reader with a “guide” so they know what to expect from your paper (Main Points)

By reading over these goals, you might be able to correctly conclude that writing a thesis statement should not be the first step of your writing process. You may have to conduct some research, clarify your argument, and find relationships between the main points of your paper. Once you know what direction your writing will take, you can construct a “working thesis” which you will support with evidence in the rest of your paper.

All in all, while a thesis statement may appear difficult and tedious, it gets easier as you continue your research and make an opinion about the topic. The best part is that after you have worked hard formulating a strong thesis statement, the rest of your paper will become that much easier to write because you will have a distinct direction and an easy-to-follow plan.

For more detail and specific examples on this topic, you can visit the following links:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/1/

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/

Recipe for Organization

  ** Written by Lindsey Burke**

       To produce a powerful and complete discussion on a topic, we know that organization plays a key role in its overall success.  Just as in cooking, we need to know when to introduce certain ingredients so that together, everything can be cooked to absolute perfection.  And, of course, the more tasty the dish, the more “wowed” the chef leaves the audience of diners. 

            When a chef is creating an original dish, he or she might begin by composing a recipe that they expect to follow and perhaps modify along the way.  Similarly, writers can create an outline.  In academic writing, teachers often provide students with an assignment sheet that details all of the essential components that must be present in the paper.  Do not underestimate the importance of this document!  That is your list of allergies and special dietary information for your audience (after all, we know how grumpy someone can be when they notify the chef of specific necessities or requests, but the chef makes the order incorrectly and includes the wrong things).  In addition, this sheet illustrates all of the major subtopics and components of the “main course,” that is, the different foods that your teacher wants you to have on your plate. 

In your outline, you can list each of these subtopics separately (and leave some space between each one).  Try giving each of these sections a title, or try wording each one in the form of a short answer question if it makes writing easier.  Also, be careful to make sure that your list is in a logical order.  By doing this, each topic will be able to build off of the information provided in the one before it. 

Then, when you have considered each of these subtopics or main groups of food that will make up your plate, think about what ingredients are needed in the making of each item.  In terms of writing, think about how that subtopic relates to the overall subject of your essay.  How can you address that idea by using information from your sources?  Do you use any of the same ingredients in this subtopic, as you do in another?  Does that relationship mean anything? 

Once you’ve written a paragraph or two for each main component, and when all subtopics are cooked to perfection, think about an appetizer (introduction) and a desert (conclusion) that might go well with your main dish and fit nicely with the theme of your paper.  Your thesis should introduce each of your subtopics or food groups that will appear in your paper or on your plate.  Then, put everything together and serve by compiling all sections into one word document.  And voila! Bon appetit!  The finished product is a paper where nothing is over or under-cooked, and instead, everything’s developed just right.  Yet, in order to create a paper that’s well organized, it’s important to first spend time thinking about the topic and planning.  If a chef didn’t do this and improvised instead, their meal would probably turn out gross!