The Writing Assignment

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Explain an important and interesting concept, one you already know well or are just learning about. Consider what your readers are likely to know and think about the concept, what they are likely to find interesting about the topic, what you might want them to learn about it, and whether you can research it sufficiently in the time you have.

This Guide to Writing is designed to help you compose your own concept explanation and apply what you have learned from analyzing other concept explanations. Use the Starting Points chart to help you find answers to questions you might have about explaining a concept.

STARTING POINTS: EXPLAINING A CONCEPT

Click the Starting Points chart to download.

A Focused Explanation How do I come up with a concept to write about?

  • Consider possible topics: Examining other aspects of love.

  • Consider possible topics: Examining how emotions influence behavior.

  • Consider possible topics: Correcting a misunderstood concept.

  • Choose a concept to write about.

  • Test Your Choice: Considering Your Purpose and Audience

How can I decide on a focus for my concept?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: A focused explanation.

  • Conduct initial research on the concept.

  • Focus your explanation of the concept.

  • Test Your Choice: Evaluating Your Focus

  • Conduct further research on your focused concept.

How can I make my concept clear and interesting to my readers?

  • A Focused Explanation: Excluding Other Topics

  • A Focused Explanation: Using an Example

  • A Focused Explanation: Presenting Established Information and Your Own Ideas

  • Focus your explanation of the concept.

  • Test Your Choice: Evaluating Your Focus

  • Write the opening sentences.

  • A Troubleshooting Guide: A Focused Explanation

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A Clear, Logical Organization How should I organize my explanation so that it’s logical and easy to read?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: A clear, logical organization.

  • A Clear, Logical Organization: Creating Closure

  • Draft your working thesis.

  • Create an outline that will organize your concept explanation effectively for your readers.

  • A Troubleshooting Guide: A Clear, Logical Organization
What kinds of cues should I provide?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: A clear, logical organization.

  • A Clear, Logical Organization: Cueing the Reader

  • A Clear, Logical Organization: Creating Cohesion

  • Draft your working thesis.

  • Design your writing project.
Appropriate Explanatory Strategies What’s the best way to explain my concept? What writing strategies should I use?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: Appropriate explanatory strategies.

  • Appropriate Explanatory Strategies: Using Visuals

  • Appropriate Explanatory Strategies: Using a Variety of Strategies

  • Appropriate Explanatory Strategies: Using Comparison-Contrast

  • Consider the explanatory strategies you should use.

  • Use summaries, paraphrases, and quotations from sources to support your points.

  • Use visuals or multimedia illustrations.

  • A Troubleshooting Guide: Appropriate Explanatory Strategies

Smooth Integration of Sources How should I integrate sources so that they support my argument?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: Smooth integration of sources.

  • Smooth Integration of Sources: Establishing Credibility

  • Use appositives to integrate sources.

  • Use descriptive verbs in signal phrases to introduce information from sources.

  • A Troubleshooting Guide: Smooth Integration of Sources