Monday, 7 November 2011

Guidelines That Can Help With Writer's Block

By Michelle Conner


If you are taking an English Composition class, writer's block is inevitable at some point. College can be so demanding that at times you will lose your mental focus. Writer's block can be frustrating, and can cause you to dread your writing assignments. Fortunately, there are many ways to overcome the problem of writer's block so that you can get started writing quickly and productively.

Successful writers usually have one thing in common - they make an outline of their papers before they begin to write. An outline will serve as a map of your essay and as a way for you to organize your ideas before you begin the process of constructing your paper. You can refer to the outline when you get stuck. Though the outline is not set in stone, and you can change things around when you are writing, it is a great starting point for a successful paper. Speed your success by learning more about ENC 1101.

Your outline can even be in pictorial form, which is a great strategy for people who are visual learners. Draw an idea map with interconnecting points. You can even make sketches or doodles of what you would like each paragraph to contain. This may seem silly, but it is a great way to get your brain thinking creatively so that you are unhindered when you begin to write.

Discussing your paper with a friend is a great way to organize your thoughts and brainstorm the main point of your essay. Having a great idea is excellent motivation to get started writing. Perhaps your friend or classmate will have some ideas as well. Many students find that it is easier to explain their thoughts to someone else than to write them down, but be sure to take notes so you don't forget what you talked about.

Writing a research paper can be the most difficult writing assignment you experience in English Composition. A helpful tip is to avoid getting too specific with details, facts, statistics, and quotes until you have a rough draft of your essay completed. This will allow you to formulate your argument without worrying about inserting quotes and citations just yet, which can distract you from the point you are trying to make. Later, you will go back and substantiate your argument with the necessary evidence from your research.

When you do the actual writing of your paper, make it a point not to stop and start. If you take the time to reword sentences and correct your mistakes, you'll lose your concentration and your flow of ideas. Instead, write the paper from start to finish and proofread later. It is fairly easy to polish and correct a paper after the bulk of it is complete, but being nit-picky from the very beginning can make the assignment seem interminable. Weighing the value of college scholarship may be key to your success.

Perhaps the most difficult step to achieve in an active college environment is to find a quiet space to work . If you are free of distractions, it will be easy to focus on your difficult assignment. Of course, a roommate talking on the phone or a dorm neighbor watching loud TV is not an environment conducive to concentration. Try moving to a quiet place such as the library or a study lounge. You can also listen to lyrics-free music, such as classical, both to reduce background noise and to create an environment that foster concentration and reflection.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment