University of Texas at San Antonio
Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success
Basic Approach to Organized Writing
Type of
Energy
Creative
Critical
Creative
Critical
Creative
Patience
Critical
Patience
Critical
To Do
How
Note what interests you in
lectures, readings, and in
conversations.
Narrow your
Read about your topic and
topic
frame research question.
Get help from prof and
others.
Collect your ideas Research articles, take
notes, keep citation info.
Whatever you use
(notecards, electronically,
paper) be able to shuffle…
Brainstorm
Organize your
Identify what is valid,
ideas
important, relevant.
Organize your structure
and make an outline.
Write thesis statement.
Get ideas on
Make connections- think,
paper
talk, pre-write.
Work quickly- don’t stop
for grammar, etc.
Expect Aha moments!
Allow time to be
objective
Revise rough
Check unity, paragraph
draft
organization, rethink major
issues. Make sure
conclusion matches your
thesis.
Allow time to be
objective
Edit/Polish final
Now check sentence
draft
structure, word choice,
grammar and citations.
Read out loud making sure
it doesn’t sound awkward.
Target
Date
Choose a topic
Adapted from UT Learning Center website, Resources section
At least 24
hours
At least 24
hours
University of Texas at San Antonio
Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success
Basic Approach to Organized Writing
Type of
Energy
Creative
Critical
Creative
Critical
Creative
Patience
Critical
Patience
Critical
To Do
How
Note what interests you in
lectures, readings, and in
conversations.
Narrow your
Read about your topic and
topic
frame research question.
Get help from prof and
others.
Collect your ideas Research articles, take
notes, keep citation info.
Whatever you use
(notecards, electronically,
paper) be able to shuffle…
Brainstorm
Organize your
Identify what is valid,
ideas
important, relevant.
Organize your structure
and make an outline.
Write thesis statement.
Get ideas on
Make connections- think,
paper
talk, pre-write.
Work quickly- don’t stop
for grammar, etc.
Expect Aha moments!
Allow time to be
objective
Revise rough
Check unity, paragraph
draft
organization, rethink major
issues. Make sure
conclusion matches your
thesis.
Allow time to be
objective
Edit/Polish final
Now check sentence
draft
structure, word choice,
grammar and citations.
Read out loud making sure
it doesn’t sound awkward.
Target
Date
Choose a topic
Adapted from UT Learning Center website, Resources section
At least 24
hours
At least 24
hours
University of Texas at San Antonio
Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success
Adapted from UT Learning Center website, Resources section