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Writing: Three Stages of Good Writing Practice

Plan

The planning stage of writing includes defining your purpose, gathering support, and organizing your argument.

  • Conceive a topic
    • Understand the assignment.
      • Read the assignment carefully to determine its specific requirements. If necessary, seek clarification from the instructor.
    • Brainstorm on the subject.
      • Make lists, take notes, and use other brainstorming techniques to make connections and associations within the broad material.
    • Limit the focus.
      • Use connections that you made when brainstorming to limit the subject to a manageable paper topic that is relevant to you and the assignment.
  • Determine your purpose
    • Consider your audience.
      • Consider your purpose in terms of a clear, defined audience.
    • Take a stand and define your purpose
      • Take a clear stance and make sure that it is an arguable assertion. Make it account for "because" and "so what?" Consider if it is possible to take an opposing stance by trying to argue against it 
  • Gather Support / Research
    • Find supporting evidence, use your library resources to conduct research.
  • Outline
    • Follow the main points of your thesis.
    • Balance the sections of the paper to ensure that you have sufficient supporting points and illustrations for each argumentative point. 
    • Note and revise any weaknesses in the thesis.

This information comes from the Campus Writing Program "The Three Stages of Good Writing Practice" document.