LibGuides: SPARK: Student Papers and Academic Research Kit: Writing Step by Step

Writing Step by Step

As you prepare to write, review the assignment instructions carefully and be sure you understand your instructor’s expectations, such as:

The length of your paper should be
The sources you should be using (like journal articles or other scholarly sources) and the sources you should be avoiding (like random websites)
What kind of paper are you supposed to write (a lab report, an essay, an analysis, a discussion)
What your professor is expecting your paper to be about.

Many students imagine the writing process is a single path: they think writing involves reading a bit, reflecting a little, then sitting down to write continuously from beginning to end. While there might be a few writers who work this way, in most cases, writing is a much more complex process.

Assuming that writing is a smooth, linear process can hold you back; it can lead to feelings of confusion and incompetence, making it challenging to get started. It is perfectly normal to have false starts, second thoughts, and multiple revisions. These aspects are typical of a productive writing process. Refer to the Time Management module for strategies to support your planning.

Where to Begin

A common assumption is that writing should proceed in a series of distinct steps: create an outline, write an introduction, develop several body paragraphs based on the outline, and craft a conclusion.

Assumptions like this focus on the structure of the final product rather than on the thinking process that lies behind the creation of a well-structured essay. These models give the mistaken impression that essay writing requires a structure before one can write.

Most experienced writers, however, allow the structure of the essay to emerge later in the writing process. They view writing as an act of thinking, a means to understand a topic, and a way to “try” and “test” what can be said about it. They try out many different ideas and make decisions about what to include and where to include it as they proceed. Where they begin varies from writer to writer and assignment to assignment, and may be focused on any aspect of the writing.

Essay Format

There are many different essay forms that might be acceptable or expected for the assignment you are working on. Clarify any confusion about your instructor’s expectations as early as possible.

The most common form of essay you will find in North American universities repeats its main ideas three times with different degrees of depth and length: once in an introduction; again in the body; and finally in the conclusion.

An introduction tells your reader what they should expect the essay to discuss (the topic), how the discussion will proceed (a road map for what’s to come) and what conclusion you will reach (in the form of a thesis statement).
The body of the essay contains the detailed presentation and discussion (analysis) of information, evidence, models, alternatives and reasons for the positions you or the authors being considered are taking.
A conclusion reminds your reader of the most important points of discussion and analysis, and comes to a decision (or decisions) about them.