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Write it Right!
Don't stress about writing English papers, it can be fun and interesting...I bet you could even be excited
about the next paper you're assigned!
Just follow these 6 easy steps and you're on your way to becoming a pro!
#1--Thesis Statement!!
What's this? Don't panic...A thesis statement is a sentence or two that outlines your argument for the entire paper.
This means that your first 2 or 3 lines have to be clear, specific, and argumentative statements which are to be well
supported by the rest of your paper.
Got your thesis statement? Well you're on a roll...on to step 2!
#2 Research
That's right! Even though it's an English paper you still have to do some research! This will help support your
argument and provide evidence for your thesis. Using quotes from others who support your thesis will only make your
argument stronger. This is why you should get to know your way around your Library...be it on the website or at your
local branch!
#3 Pay Attention!!
The most important thing when reading a novel, article, or short story is to pay attention.
You have to constantly be looking for evidence to support your argument.
This evidence can be found in the actions of the subject, or even in the language or tone the author uses.
Paying attention to these things will also give you the opportunity to choose quotes you would like to use in your
paper. Remember though, if you use quotes, make sure to write down where you found them and include them in your
Bibliography!! You wouldn't want to plagiarize!
#4 Jot it Down!
After all these steps, you are now ready to jot something down...well you should have been taking notes all along,
but now you are ready to form some ideas! What you should do now is write out an idea for every 100-150 words you need.
So if you have to write 1500 words then you need about 15 ideas. These are called topic sentences;
they are arguments supporting your thesis!
#5 Line em' up
Almost there!! Now that you have all those topic sentences, try placing them in order (the order you would like to write your paper). Remember it should flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next,
so put similar topics close to each other:)
#6 And You're Off!!
Now let's see if you can write 100 words on each of your topic sentences. I bet you'll find you will have too
many words by the end of it! When you're finished don't forget to edit your work and have someone else read it over,
for proofreading tips head over to the Research Process page (at the bottom:).
Make sure your writing is clear and concise and you have evidence to back up your thesis!
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