Writing Help
From emails to discussion posts to research papers, you will write your way through college. Good writing requires a bit of extra effort but keep in mind that no one writes perfectly on the first draft. Writing can be messy, at first, as you think through what you want to say and get it down on paper in a logical format. Writing rarely happens in a straight line – you will loop back several times to different parts with new
thoughts/ideas/ways to say things better. Be sure to schedule several blocks of time so you are able to review, rewrite, and revise your paper.
The difference between writing and talking: The people who read what you write may not know or agree with you. You must provide solid evidence to support any point you make. Clear, specific details are a basis for the reader to understand what you are trying to say. The reader is not able to ask questions to clarify anything they do not understand. The reader will not believe what you say just because you wrote it – you must explain what you mean.
- Written communication is more formal than spoken communication – do not use slang.
- Writing is a skill that must be learned, just like cooking, driving, or typing. Practice, practice, practice.
- Writing is a process and your attitude is crucial. What you believe comes true.
- A good writer does not sit down and write a paper straight through. Writing is rarely linear. Revise, revise, revise!