Writing Right

A well-written paper is a worthy accomplishment and an arduous chore. Today’s college students often look at writing as a necessary evil. Far from it, writing done well can be one of the greatest learning tools. Those who take the time to thoroughly research, think through, and carefully write, will find that writing is not only rewarding, it can change people’s lives.

After you have thoroughly studied and brainstormed a project, it’s time to put pen to paper, or fingertips to computer keys in today’s world, and begin to write. If you have done a careful and complete study of your topic, writing will be much easier. However, there are still elements of writing to keep in mind. First and foremost, remember that you aren’t writing to yourself. Keeping the audience in mind is essential to write well.
A well written paper will both encourage a reader to read and enlighten them. It should be compelling enough to entice the reader and free of errors that would distract the reader. Avoiding redundancy, grammatical errors, and faulty logic will eliminate distractions that would detract from your central theme. A flowing organization that easily transitions from one topic to the next will also keep your reader’s attention.

Make it Clear

Think of your paper as a roadway, designed to transport your reader from one point to another. Like any good road, your paper needs to be clear of ruts, potholes, or other jarring obstacles. It also needs to flow continuously from point A to point B.
Imagine trying to drive on a road that frequently swerves in the wrong direction, stops abruptly and starts again several feet away, and doesn’t reach its intended destination. No one would ever use such a road. When a paper isn’t properly organized, it can be like this road. Difficult transitions and tangents are usually the result of improper organization and faulty logic. If you are having trouble organizing your paper, create an outline or revise an existing outline. Make sure you think through each of your topics and carefully consider how to introduce each new idea. If your paper is logical and organized in a logical manner, your transitions should be smooth and you will be less likely to include unnecessary or repetitive information.

Grammar and spelling errors can also detract from your paper by confusing your reader. Acquire a basic knowledge of grammar and spelling. Use your dictionary to double-check spelling and word definitions. Either have another person read through your paper and mark any confusing parts or check it yourself by leaving it for a few days and coming back to it for a fresh look.

Make it Readable

With all that logic and organization, papers can get pretty dry. Don’t forget to make your paper interesting. Let your personality show through your writing. You should also take a reasonable amount of trouble to avoid insulting your reader.
The first rule of style is inconsistency. If all your sentences are about the same length, all your paragraphs about the same number of lines, and all your thoughts presented in the most concise manner, your reader will probably fall asleep. Shake things up a little. Don’t always avoid the passive voice. Break a few rules. Use a few fragments. Throw in a metaphor or even a pun. Your reader will wake up and take interest in a paper that exhibits a human element.

No matter what you write, you will offend somebody, but it’s usually a good idea to avoid overt offences. Avoiding sexist and bigoted language will help. Also, keep an open mind. Don’t completely bash other people’s ideas. Logic and reason necessitate giving every idea a fair chance. Tact does also.

Write and Rewrite

You may have already figured out that writing a good paper isn’t a one-time deal. Effective writing requires rewriting. After you have written your first draft, you will have to go back and check for faulty transitions, bad grammar, confusing wording, and any other “roadblock” that might hinder your reader. For all the elements of great writing to come together, serious inspection is required. However, if you take the time to write, rewrite, rewrite again, and again, and again, until you’ve got it write, then you will discover that your writing is not only effective, it’s provocative.