Writing in College - A Short Guide to College Writing

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Writing in College:
A Short Guide to College Writing

by Joseph M. Williams and Lawrence McEnerney

This guide is intended to help first and second year students at the University of Chicago write effective papers in the Humanities Core and Social Sciences Core. If you wish to learn more about the principles of organization and argumentation you find here, you may consult with your Humanities Intern in your first year. After your first year, you may take the Writing Program's advanced course in academic and professional writing, the Little Red Schoolhouse (English 130/330).

Contents to "Writing in College"

I. Some crucial differences between high school and college writing

From high school to college
Argument: a key feature of college writing
Interpreting assignments: a guide to professors' expectations
Another key feature of college writing: what's your point?
But what's a good point?

II. Preparing to write and drafting the paper

Preparing to prove your point: the process of gathering evidence
Planning your first draft: styles of outlining
Beginning your first draft: the draft introduction
After your draft introduction: a common danger
Two styles of drafting: fast vs. slow
The crucial part of writing: revision

III. A strategy for analyzing and revising a first draft

Finding your best point -- and making sure your readers can find it
Creating coherent sections
Ensuring your evidence fits your claims
Making your case without oversimplifying it

IV. Revising the introduction and conclusion, and polishing the draft

Effective introductions
Effective conclusions
An effective title: previewing your key concepts
The last tasks: proofreading and formatting

V. But what if you get stuck? A good solution and a terrible solution

A productive solution to a block: ways to prepare for a meeting with a Tutor
The pitfall to avoid at all costs

Site designed and maintained by Tracy Weiner. Please direct technical questions or comments to her at writing-program@uchicago.edu; questions about the Writing Program's courses may be directed to Tracy Weiner or Kathy Cochran at the same address.

This page has last been updated in September, 1998