Modern Languages: Writing Help

1. Start early!
   • Give yourself as much time as possible to brainstorm, research and write. And don't forget to save time for revisions!
2. Write first, then revise.
   • Revisions are important, but revising as you go can suck time and energy from actual writing, and make it harder to write if you're overly worried about word choice, organization and so on. Get your ideas down first, then make them sound good.  
3. Write your introduction last. 
   • A working thesis does help organize your thoughts and focus your draft, but we recommend writing the full introduction after you have a draft of the essay. That way, the introduction is for the paper you actually wrote, rather than the one you imagined you would write.
4. Include time to revise and edit! 
   • No one produces top-tier writing on their first draft! Give yourself plenty of time to improve your draft before you submit. 
5. Visit the Writing Center at any step of the process for another set of eyes!

The body of your research paper should be made up of clear, well-organized paragraphs. 

Many of us were taught to write five-paragraph essays in high school, however this format is typically considered too limiting for college-level writing. See this video for helpful information about developing your paragraphs. 

A strong research paper will include a strong thesis statement. 

Once you have done some research, you may be ready to develop a working thesis for your paper. See the following video for information about thesis statements--what a thesis is, possible formats for thesis statements, and some things to watch out for.

You're finally ready to finish your draft! But what belongs in a conclusion?

See this video for a general overview of what to include in your final paragraph(s).