Don’t forget to think
1 Starting thoughts When an essay assignment arrives, read the title slowly. Put it aside for an hour then read it again. Take 15 minutes to ask yourself: • Do I understand what’s being asked of me? You might need…
Finding your faults
When we edit, most of us simply read the text, line by line, correcting as we go. But it can be more effective to read for one kind of fault at a time.
Smooth your reader’s journey
Provide guidance for your reader to help them to navigate smoothly through your document without losing the thread of your argument.
Make your writing flow
Flow is never a problem if you know what your argument is, you can identify the points and you know which order they should take.
Dealing with deadlines
Note all your deadlines on a planner and create false deadlines to allow yourself extra time.
Stuck in a rut?
Ideas tend to come when we’re not racking our brains. They surprise us when the mind is relaxed and wandering over our material.
How to write in short stints
Keep a notebook with you at all times to jot down ideas for your next writing stint.
The art and craft of editing
Use focussed tasks to turn editing from a fuzzy, depressing process into a proactive, task-based operation with clear goals.
Writing for visual thinkers
Academic writing is a significant challenge for predominantly visual thinkers. Here are some ways to help them to convert an explosion of connected ideas into a linear format.
Three key tips for effective proofreading
Trying reading your work aloud, recruiting a proofreading buddy, and converting your text into an unusual font to spot your errors.