FLC Writing Program / Writing and Research Process
Reader-Centered Writing
Often, we have a tendency to write for ourselves when we draft. However, as you develop your ideas, make sure your writing anticipates the needs of someone who hasn’t read the paper and/or isn’t an expert on the subject. This is called “reader-centered” writing. Here are some strategies for creating reader-centered writing.
Titles
A clever title catches a reader’s interest before they even start the essay, so you should always use a descriptive and creative title in your work. Just keep your cleverness related to your topic.
Thesis Statements & “Forecasting”
A thesis statement can do much more than simply state the main point or argument of your paper. Just like a weather forecast lets people know what it will be like outside over the next few days, a thesis statement should forecast what will be covered, in what order, in your essay.
· Example: Although his introduction is irrelevant to his thesis, Andrew Weil’s “Is Heroin as Dangerous as White Sugar?” effectively uses analogy, repetition, and expert testimony to persuade his readers that white sugar is not the harmless food additive we think it is.
· This thesis suggests that the first body paragraph will tell us why Weil’s introduction is flawed. Then we’ll get a paragraph each on analogy, repetition, and expert testimony—all of which will reinforce this student’s thesis that despite the flawed introduction, overall Weil’s argument is convincing.
Organization
No matter how good they are individually, your ideas won’t be as effective as they could be if they’re given in any old order. Instead, they should be in the order that makes the most sense.
· Example: chronological/sequential, most important to least important (or vice versa), compare/contrast
Transitions
Transitions connect the current idea to those that come before or after. If you’re having trouble coming up with effective transitions, then maybe the problem is the order of your paragraphs (see Organization). Once you’re confident with organization, try these common transitions:
Repetition of Key Words
This technique can help readers identify the importance of key words to your argument. In addition, it can help readers remember those important things. However, unnecessary repetition or repetition of words that are unimportant can clutter your writing and make it confusing. Therefore, you should make sure you’re repeating strategically.
· Tip: One way to make sure that you’re repeating key words is to make sure they’re nouns or variations on the same noun, rather than repeating pronouns (it, they) or verbs like is.
· Example: In this section I repeat the terms importance, the phrase important things, and unimportant to emphasize that not just anything can be repeated.