wia1elp_ch02

Being direct and clear.

Being direct and clear. Your instructors will most often expect you to get to the point quickly and to be direct throughout an essay or other project. Research for this book confirms that readers depend on writers to both organize and present their material—using sections, paragraphs, sentences, arguments, details, and source citations—in ways that aid understanding. Good academic writing prepares readers for what is coming next, provides definitions, and includes topic sentences. (See 17c for a description of the organization that instructors often prefer in student essays.) To achieve directness in your writing, try the following strategies:

State your main point early and clearly.
Avoid overqualifying your statements. Instead of writing I think the facts reveal, come right out and say The facts reveal.
Avoid digressions. If you use an anecdote or example from personal experience, be sure it relates directly to the point you are making.
Use appropriate evidence, such as examples and concrete details, to support each point.
Make transitions from point to point obvious and clear. The first sentence of a new paragraph should reach back to the paragraph before and then look forward to what is to come (see 5e).
Follow logical organizational patterns (see Chapter 5).
Design and format the project appropriately for the audience and purpose you have in mind (see Chapter 8).
If your project is lengthy, you may also want to use brief summary statements between sections, but avoid unnecessary repetition.