A Brief Guide to Effective Writing What do you need to do to write effectively?

Step 1: Explore your topic through informal writing. Explore the topic you have been assigned to write about. You can examine your topic through informal writing, which usually means one of three things. You can freewrite about your topic for at least ten minutes. Write whatever comes into your head about the subject. Make a list of ideas and details that could go into your paper. Do not worry about putting the items in any special order. Write down a series of questions and answers about it. Your questions can start with words like why, what, how, when, and where.

Step 2: Plan your paper with an informal outline. After exploring your topic, plan your paper, using an informal outline by doing two things: Decide on and write out the main point of your paper. It is often a good idea to begin your paragraph with this point, which is known as the topic sentence. List the supporting reasons, examples, or other details that back up your point. In many cases, you should have at least 2 or 3 items of support.

Step 3: Use transitions. Once your outline is worked out, you will have a clear “road map” for writing your response. Use transitions to introduce each of the separate supporting items (reasons, examples, or other details) you present to back up your point. Avoid using the same transition with each new piece of support that you present.

Step 4: Edit and proofread your response. After you have finished drafting a response, you should edit and proofread your paper. To evaluate your paper, ask yourself these questions: Does all of the material in the paper truly support the opening point? Is there plenty of evidence to back up the opening point? Does the material proceed in a way that makes sense? Do transitions help connect ideas? When the paper is read aloud, do the sentences flow smoothly and clearly? Has the paper been checked carefully for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes?