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So you think you can’t write?
Let’s get past some myths.
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Myth #1Writing is only for geniuses
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Writing takes years of training.
Myth #2
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You can’t write when you’re scared.
Myth #3
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You don’t know what to write. Myth #4
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You know what to say, but not how to say it.
Myth #5
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The words start, but then stop, for no reason.
Myth #6
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Your English skills are too poor to write.
Myth #7
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You haven’t got time. Myth #8
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You can do this!
Nonsense
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How do I start
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The idea is …
… to calm down, get the question straight, and gather whatever seems relevant.
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So here’s what you do:
Take your pencil and paper for a walk.
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While you’re walking: Jot.
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What’s ‘jotting’?
Scribbling every thought that comes to mind, in any
order, until the thoughts stop.
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Now go back to your workspace.
Dump it all onto your screen, each thought on its own line.
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If you haven’t got enough thoughts:
Then you ‘research’. But it’s a lot like jotting.
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Great! A bunch of piles!
Now what?
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Your piles need handles. Handles are for moving
the piles around.
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Start with the easiest one. Say what the pile generally says.
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Where to put the handle …
… on your screen system.
… in your card system.
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You’re getting ready to start writing!
And notice, no writer’s block. (Nor will there be any.)
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You’ve got a pile of information!
But now what?
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It’s time to make piles.
You’re separating kinds of information.
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A couple ways to do it:
With cards.
On your screen.
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For really big projects:
I use my living room floor.
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Now stop.
Don’t move the piles around.
Don’t try to organize what’s in each pile.
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labelled
Can’t I start writing now?.
Great! I’ve
all my piles
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Sure. Just do this first. Remember what the original question was.
(Got it?)
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Now look at your handles.
Your handles, not your piles.
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What do your handles agree on?
Whatever order they happen to be in,your handles are all pointing to a general answerto the assigned question.
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Take your time.
What do they all seem to say?Whatever it is, that’s your essay’s point.
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The rest is easy.
Next, we’ll yank the piles into order – ‘handles’ remember? –
and we’ll manufacture some high-speed words.
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Still think you can’t write?
It’s a system.
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Find out more:
http://www.academicessaywriting.org
