Writing Guides

🔍 Examine your writing situation 

Even before you start planning, it is important first to examine your writing situation. A good way to start your examination is through the lens of genre, as discussed in the guide on understanding assignment guidelines. Ask yourself: 

• What is the genre of the assignment? I.e., what type of text am I being asked to write? 
• Why am I being asked to write this genre? What are the learning outcomes involved? 
• How will my work be assessed? What are the assignment criteria? 

❓ Prewriting questions 

It's impossible to generalize about every possible genre students might need to write at university. But when thinking about the typical undergraduate essay, it's helpful to analyze your writing situation as follows (Lannon and Parsons 2004, pg. 22): 

• What, exactly, is my topic? 
• Why am I writing about it? What is my purpose? 
• What is my viewpoint, perspective, guiding question, or thesis? 
• Who is my audience? 
• What genre conventions apply? (E.g., essays typically have thesis statements) How can these conventions inform your writing? 
• What other constraints exist? (E.g., length, format, etc.) Why have these constraints been placed on your writing? 

You may not arrive at answers to these questions right away, and that's okay. But it's helpful to keep them in mind as you progress through the writing process and to consider them again at the end of the process, when answers should be more clear. 

As an undergraduate, you'll face many different writing assignments—from research papers to personal reflections, from literary analyses to lab reports. No single approach works for every writing situation. However, this guide presents four effective planning strategies to help you get started.

Outlining 🗂️

An outline is a well-organized list of your main points and supporting details. 

When to use it:

• For research papers and essays
• When your professor expects a clear, logical argument
• When organizing complex information from multiple sources
• When you need to meet specific requirements for sections or content

How to do it:

1. Start with your main thesis, research question, or statement of purpose
2. List your major points (these will become your paragraphs or sections)
3. Under each major point, list supporting details, evidence, or examples
4. Check that your claims follow logically from one to the next

💡 Tip: Don't feel locked into your outline. It's a starting point, not a contract. As you write, you may discover new connections or better ways to organize your ideas. You may find it useful to update your outline to keep you on track as you write, or you may decide that your outline is no longer necessary. 

Mind Mapping 🧠🗺️

A mind map is a visual diagram that shows relationships between concepts, starting with a central idea and branching outward.

When to use it:

• When exploring a new or complex topic
• When you're not sure how ideas connect yet
• For brainstorming before a more structured outline
• For visual learners who think spatially

How to do it:

1. Write your main topic or question in the centre of a blank page
2. Draw branches extending from the centre for major related ideas
3. Add smaller branches for details and examples
4. Look for connections between different branches
5. Use colors, symbols, or images to highlight relationships

💡 Tip: Don't worry about neatness or organization initially—mind maps are meant to capture the natural flow of your thinking. You can always reorganize later.

Mindmap example 

This mindmap corresponds to the annotated example essay on Shakespeare's Othello. 

Freewriting 📝

Freewriting means writing continuously for a set period (e.g. 10-15 minutes) without worrying about grammar, organization, or even staying perfectly on topic. 

When to use it:

• When you're experiencing writer's block
• For personal narratives or reflective assignments
• When exploring your thoughts on a new topic
• As a warm-up before more structured writing
• When you feel stuck or overwhelmed by an assignment

How to do it:

1. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes
2. Write continuously without stopping—if you get stuck, write "I'm stuck" until new ideas come
3. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, or perfect sentences
4. Don't censor yourself or worry if you go off-topic
5. When the timer ends, read what you've written and highlight useful ideas

💡 Tip: Freewriting works best when you truly let go of expectations. The goal isn't to produce perfect writing but to generate ideas and overcome mental blocks.

Templates and Genre Models 🖼️

Templates and genre models provide frameworks based on successful examples of the type of writing you're doing. If you've never read a biology lab report, for example, how can you be expected to write one successfully? Don't be afraid to learn through imitation in this way. 

When to use it:

• For unfamiliar assignment types (lab reports, case studies, research articles, literature reviews)
• When writing in a field with strict conventions
• When you're uncertain about expected structure
• For high-stakes assignments where formatting is key 

How to do it:

1. Find example genres or ask your professor for models of the assignment
2. Analyze the structure: What sections are included? In what order? Why?
3. Note the typical language, tone, and style
4. Create a template with section headings and brief notes about what goes in each section
5. Use this as a framework, but customize it to your specific situation and needs 

💡 Tip: While templates provide structure, avoid simply "filling in the blanks." Use the template as a guide but make thoughtful choices about your unique content.

Choosing the Right Approach 🤔

You don't have to pick just one strategy. For example, you could: 

1. Start with freewriting to generate ideas
2. Organize those ideas into a mind map
3. Convert the mind map into an outline
4. Reference genre models for final formatting

Or you might find that it's only helpful to: 

1. Reference genre models to understand the task that's being assigned 
2. Write an outline that adapts the genre conventions and organizes your thoughts 

💡 Tip: Remember that writing is a process of learning and thinking. Your planning approach might change as you learn more about your topic or clarify your thinking. Be flexible and willing to adapt your approach as needed.

Lannon, J.M. and Parson, D.B. (2004.) The Writing Process: A Concise Rhetoric, Canadian edition. Pearson.