Writing @ Conestoga

It is always recommended that you start with an outline before you write because it helps you organize your thoughts in a logical way. However, it can be easy to go off-topic as you start writing, even if you started with a great outline!

Once you finish a draft of your paper, check if you stuck to your original plan by creating a reverse outline. In other words, take your essay draft, and break it down into its component parts. See if you can easily identify the key pieces you would include in your outline, such as

• the thesis in both the introduction and conclusion,
• topic sentences,
• evidence,
• analysis, and
• concluding sentences.

If you find that any of these parts are missing, you can revise the structure and content of your paper accordingly.

It can be difficult to think critically about your own writing when your ideas are still fresh in your mind. Not only that, you can give yourself a break so you are more refreshed when you start the editing process. The more time you can give yourself between writing and editing, the more likely you are going to see issues such as

• illogical organization,
• ideas that are off topic,
• unclear explanations or analysis, and
• lack of connections between ideas.

Intentionally reading your work with your intended audience and purpose in mind will help you catch any issues with tone in your writing. As you read, ask yourself

• Are there any words/concepts that might need to be explained or defined?
• For an academic paper, am I using words or phrases that may be too conversational or unprofessional (e.g. slang, contractions)?
• Is there any obvious bias in my writing?
• Is my writing culturally/socially sensitive (e.g. avoids idioms, uses person-first language, etc.)?
• Have I followed writing conventions that are typical for my field or for this mode of communication (e.g. bulleted lists vs. full paragraphs, use of visuals, use of 1st/2nd person pronouns such as "I" or "you")?