Writing Resources
Learning Resources Writing Resources
Writing is a valuable skill to develop in college. It helps foster effective communication in our education, careers, and relationships. This page provides various writing resources.
Research And Writing Center
The Research & Writing Center provides trained online writing and research consultants for FREE. Research consultants help with any stage of the research process. Writing consultants help with any stage of the writing process, from understanding assignments to developing and organizing content to formatting.
Watch this video to learn more about the RWC:
Writing Strategies
When writing for an assignment or paper, make sure you're using writing strategies to help you convey your message. Using a structured approach while writing will help you organize and clarify your main points, making writing more efficient. Ultimately, these strategies can help reduce anxiety, prevent writer's block, and build confidence, making writing more enjoyable and successful for you. click the tabs below to learn more.
Before starting to write, create a detailed outline of your paper. This should include your main argument, key points, and how you plan to support these points. Outlining helps organize your thoughts and ensures a coherent flow of ideas.
Top-down, bottom-up, and mind mapping are three common outlining approaches. None are inherently better than the others, so use the technique that works best for you—but use one of them. The outline provides a clear roadmap to structure your ideas. Without an outline, your message is like a trip without an itinerary: an adventure for you, maybe, but maddeningly difficult for your audience to keep up. You can use the guide below to help you write your papers using the top-down method.
Top-Down Method
The top-down writing strategy is like building a house. First, you sketch out the big picture of what you want the house to look like. That’s your outline. Then, you build the frame, which are the main sections of your writing. After that, you fill in the walls and rooms with details. Finally, you paint and decorate to make it all nice and tidy. So, you start with the big idea and work your way down to the small details. Explore each level of the house to learn more.
The Bottom-Up Method
The bottom-up writing strategy is like putting together a puzzle. You start with small pieces, which are the details or specific points you want to make. Then, you connect these pieces together to form larger sections of your writing. As you keep connecting more pieces, you start to see the bigger picture emerge. This big picture is your complete story or argument. So, you begin with the small details and build up to the whole document.
Mind-Mapping
Mind mapping is like drawing a tree for your ideas. You start with the main idea as the trunk. Then, you draw branches for each big thought related to the main idea. Smaller branches come off these for more details. It’s a fun and easy way to see how your thoughts connect, just like looking at a tree with lots of branches! Use the mind map below to start connecting your ideas.
One tool that is commonly used for mind mapping has recently become available to you.
- Brainstorm, take notes and whiteboard in a digital space
- Collaborate with groups in real-time, communicate thinking
- Easily create diagrams, graphic organizers and other visuals
- Leverage pre-built, customizable templates, assignments, quizzes
Break the writing process into manageable stages: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Focus on writing one section at a time, making the task less daunting and allowing for more focused and compelling arguments.
Build on the outline you created by starting with the main point and adding more detail and sources to strengthen your argument and reasons.
Allocate specific times for writing and stick to a schedule! Breaking the writing process into smaller, scheduled sessions can reduce stress and help manage workload, especially when balancing multiple assignments.
Think about it: when you leave everything to the last minute, are you stressed? Usually, the answer is yes, and the same goes for writing. You want your mind to be calm and clear when writing, so write over a period of time rather than in just one sitting. Doing so helps you develop and refine your ideas, giving you more insights. Spacing out writing sessions also gives you more opportunities for reviewing and revising content, which can significantly improve the quality of your final draft.
Share drafts with classmates or friends to get feedback. Fresh eyes can catch errors and provide insights that you might miss. This feedback can be invaluable in refining your thesis and arguments. When you send a draft to a friend, give them clear instructions like, "Can you focus on the grammar?" "Is my main point clear?" "Do you know what my supporting reasons are?"
Don't expect to write the perfect draft the first time. Spend time revising and refining your work. Look for clarity, argument strength, and fluidity. Editing should also focus on grammar, punctuation, and style.
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