Tips on Effective Writing
1. Before you start writing, create an outline that shows the
logical progression of your piece. Start by brainstorming
ideas; then put them into relevant categories, and finally
organize them into a logical order.
2. Use the introduction of a piece to provide context, establish the theme of the piece, and indicate how it will be
organized.
3. Create an executive summary for long or dense documents that describes the big picture so that readers short
on time can understand the main points.
4. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence presenting its
main idea. You want your reader to be able to read off
the tops of the paragraphs if he or she is skimming.
5. Don’t use your conclusion to merely summarize the piece;
provide the reader with additional insight, such as broader
implications or suggestions for future actions.
6. Use effective language. This means short sentences, clear
relationships between clauses, and proper use of antecedents
for pronouns.
7. Proofread your paper for grammar and spelling mistakes.
When you’ve finished, proofread again. One error is one
too many.
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8. Accept that your first draft won’t be perfect. Don’t try
to write and revise at the same time, or you’ll get hung
up on every sentence.
9. Use as many words as you need to cover your topic to
your audience’s satisfaction, but don’t add length for
length’s sake.
10. Don’t try to write a long piece in one sitting; write regularly every day for an hour or two in an environment
that best suits you.
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