Writing Overview

Writing Overview The size and detail of this depends on the size of the paper. If you are writing a longer paper, this could be its own section. Mainly it addresses the main arguments and debates in the literature on your topic and how your line of argument is consistent or different from those. It will help you to pick up contradictions and weaknesses in your arguments before you start writing and it keeps you from going off-track. This is also a good stage to check with your professor or TA. The introduction is designed to lead people into the subject and simplify what the essay paper will particularly deal with. It usually involves one passage, but this will depend on the time you invest in the composition and the amount of history the situation needs. It is also a good idea to have someone else read your paper. Pretty much anyone will be able to catch small spelling and grammar mistakes that you have missed no matter how many times you have read over your paper. Someone in your class/field will be able to help you with the content, while someone not in your class/field is the best audience to test how well you explain your ideas and concepts. You should also look for someone who isn’t afraid to give you constructive criticism. Now prepare an outline and which includes introduction, conclusion and body. An Abstract is not necessary for an essay, although it essential for research papers and dissertations. Having said that, remember that everyone writes differently (i.e. has a different style), so you should also be critical of changes offered to you. However, to make your argument more clear, you also needwarrant. Sometimes, that logical connection will be clear and obvious, where no explanation from the writer is needed. More often though, the writer needs to supply the warrant, explain how and why a particular piece of evidence is good support for a specific claim. This will tremendously improve the clarity of your writing and will help people outside your discipline to better follow and understand your arguments. There are important stylistic guidelines you should follow in the body of your paragraph. Best case scenario is to take some time between finishing your final draft and editing to give you some distance from your work. When editing, you should read slowly and out loud to catch run-on sentences or unclear ideas. The beginning will contain key introductory phrase . If you want to generate a perfect essay then you should identify a motivation for your document. You can get advice from your supervisor about the topic. Now check the library and internet for information. You can also accumulate information from books and journals. For example, you should try and use the same terminology as you find in the literature in order to sound more professional and scholarly. You should also ensure that there is transition and flow between each paragraph and between each argument. Try to explain specifically and clearly how each argument relates to your thesis to make sure your essay sounds more cohesive. Also remember that paragraphs are limited to one idea and should also make a clear point that connects to your argument and thesis. Here is a very usefulhandouton paragraphs and transition. Structure your paper.Every academic essay will have an introductory paragraph, supporting paragraphs and a concluding paragraph. Choose ‘text structures’ that might work in your paper. The most common structures found in academic writing are comparisons, contrasts, causes, effects, and problems/solutions. In college, most of our writing is to inform or persuade the reader â€" most likely the professor â€" that a position you have taken has merit. Writing a persuasive academic essay involves conducting research, incorporating that research into your writing, and structuring your essay using paragraphs. Warrant is a fancy term that basically shows the relevance of the claim. It is the principle that lets you connect reason and claim. It is the logical connection between a claim and a supporting fact .