Rev Up Your Writing ... Go From Zero To Essay In 10 Easy Steps

A common concern of students is the difficulty of beginning a writing project. This week, inspired by my teenage son's love of all things automobile, we break down the writing process into 10 simple steps that you can use in English class and beyond. The following will help you move from the dreaded blank white screen to a well-structured writing project in no time flat.

• Pick an interesting topic — for example, cars.

• Determine a purpose for the paper — for example, to persuade the reader why blue cars are better than red cars.

• Decide what “point” you are trying to make — for example, blue cars are better than red cars because ______. 

• Compose some paragraphs to support and illustrate why blue cars are better. 

• Perform a Google search for “why are blue cars better.” 

• Find three articles in which the author agrees with you or has interesting insight on the superiority of blue cars over red. 

• Quote those authors and passages in your writing to support the points you are making.

• Credit your sources throughout the essay per APA formatting guidelines.

• Include a conclusion restating your assertion of why blue cars are better, and provide a “way forward” for the reader by leaving them with additional food for thought.

• Add a Works Cited page listing the sources you consulted per APA formatting guidelines.