The Writing Process

The first thing I do when writing a paper is to carefully read the prompt a few times so that I know what specific things the paper needs to address. Next I brainstorm and write down examples that I can use in the paper this can take anywhere from half an hour to a day or so. Using these examples I try and come up with a few main points that I can use for my thesis. Coming up with a thesis is usually the hardest part of the writing process for me because without a strong thesis I can’t finish writing the paper. This is because the entire paper hinges off the thesis for me. Without it, I can’t write a proper introduction nor write the body paragraphs because I am not as confident in the arguments I am making. Once I have a thesis I am satisfied with, the rest of the paper isn’t too bad because the introduction can lead into the thesis nicely, and I already have specific examples that I can use in my body paragraphs from when I brainstormed. Finally, after finishing the paper I proofread for grammar mistakes briefly then put the paper aside for a day or so. This helps revision because your ideas aren’t as fresh in your mind and areas where the paper isn’t clear are exposed. The time it takes for me to write a paper usually varies, but I find putting it off till the last minute works alright, because it forces you to finish the paper right away(because you have to).

As for the environment that I write in, it needs to be reasonably quiet and have an outlet for my laptop. I don’t mind listening to music or being in a place with a little noise as long as no one is constantly talking to me. I actually like an environment that has some movement going on because I get too bored sitting in a cubicle or in a place that is absolutely quiet.