HUNG UP ON WRITING PAPERS?

CREATIVELY... choose a topic. 

If you may choose your own topic...
 
Choose one that interests you.
Choose something you know about... either your own experience or something you can learn about quickly with the available resources.
To find ideas, check the index of your textbook. Ponder possibilities as you read. and think. Jot down ideas as they occur to you and keep them in one place.
If your teacher assigns the topic...
 
Be sure you understand it. If you're not completely sure, get clarification from the teacher, a T.A., or another student in the class.
If you're not interested in the topic, develop an interest by finding a good (that is, personal) reason for doing the assignment.

CRITICALLY... narrow your topic.

Write about something limited enough in scope that you can be detailed about it within the space you have. (this may take time and occur as you read or write.)

    For example, narrow your topic... from "history of Nova Scotia" to "history of
    Nova Scotia from 1925 to 1950"
 

CREATIVELY... collect your ideas. 

To collect ideas from reading, ask your librarian for help in locating materials.
 
Keep notes about separate ideas from your reading on separate 3 X 5 cards.
Include author, title, and page number on each card; make a separate bibliography card
or each source. (The librarian can advise you on form for these.)
To generate more ideas, recall your own experiences. Daydream about them; follow your thoughts.
 
• Brainstorm: write down as quickly as you can any ideas which might be connected to your topic. Don't worry about order, wording, or even whether or not you'll finally include these ideas in your paper. You can sort these out later.

 
• Talk to other people for more ideas.

 

CRITICALLY... organize your ideas. 

• Make an outline. This is essential. There is no better way.

 
Browse through your collected notes until you detect a pattern in them.
Put similar ideas together. Shuffle your note cards (or cut into pieces and shuffle them): how many ways can you see to relate these ideas? Arrange these groups of
notes to reflect how they are related. If no suitable pattern occurs, go away for a while; then try again. Or... ignore the data; make up an outline about how you want
things to be. See if you can fit your data into it.
• Make a thesis statement. Write a paragraph or two (or talk to someone for a few minutes) summarizing what you want to say. Use this like a bull's eye: be sure that each paragraph

you write is directed toward developing this thesis.

CREATIVELY... get your ideas on paper. 

• Gather all materials you need... notes, paper, pencils, typewriter, computer, etc...

allow yourself some time, and START WRITING. Allow yourself no excuses and
try hard.
 
• Work quickly. Don't worry about exact word choice or refinements of grammar: you can

edit and revise later when you have something to work with. Get main ideas, details,
examples, explanations, etc. down in the order you've already determined in your outline. Remember... you are simply putting into one draft the notes and ideas you've already formulated.
 
• If you freeze... "talk" your ideas to someone real or imagined or to a tape recorder.

 
 - Explain as simply and clearly as you can what you want to say. Then transcribe
onto paper what you've said.

- Or, very quickly, write out your ideas and the scrap them. Do this several times
until you feel easier about putting words on paper.

If you are fearful that your paper won't be long enough, repeat some of the
suggestions under "Choose a topic" above. Or ask yourself what you can do to
guarantee that your ideas have been accurately and thoroughly explained. Could
you explain more carefully, give an example, etc.?

CRITICALLY... revise your rough draft. 

Note: Complete your rough draft several days before the due date!
 
• Check organization: does one paragraph follow another logically? Provide transitions.

Cut paragraphs out and rearrange them like pieces of a puzzle.
 
• Check unity: do all of the paragraphs develop your thesis? Is your thesis clearly

stated somewhere, usually at the beginning or end of the paper? Is each paragraph unified around a stated or clearly implied topic sentence?
 
• Check sentence structure: are sentences grammatically correct? (if you have

trouble with grammar, ask your librarian or teacher for assistance or to suggest
a self teaching book.) Are your sentences varied in length and structure, designed
to emphasize key ideas? Do they indicate relationships clearly, express ideas economically? Are they punctuated correctly?
 
• Check word choice: are your words concrete? appropriate? Use a thesaurus for new ideas (but be sure you use them accurately).

 
• Read the paper aloud, or tape it. Does it sound awkward? Have a friend read the paper to see if he/she can follow your thought. Make necessary changes.

 

TYPE A FINAL DRAFT AND TURN IT IN!