Solid Articles Start With a Solid Foundation
Lay a little groundwork before you start building your next article set.
The first step in constructing a strong building is to lay a strong foundation beneath it. There are many strategies to consider when choosing just how to lay that foundation, and the choices that are made will directly impact the quality and stability of the building.
The same is true for your next article. Without a solid foundation, in this case a good writing plan, your article is in danger of becoming a heap of rubble lying in ruins on the Internet.
In previous Blog entries, we’ve presented some steps you can take to start the writing process off right when there is a shortage of ideas. For example:
But having your topic, title and motivation may not be enough to build that solid article foundation. Some articles require you to lay a little more groundwork before you start building the article itself. In those cases, you may need to generate a thesis statement, create an outline or do some research to further solidify your ideas.
3 Tips to Building a Solid Article Foundation:
- Decide on a thesis statement – Anyone who has written an essay remembers that the thesis statement is the main focus of your article. It’s the central idea that everything else needs to relate back to. Coming up with a thesis statement makes it easier to determine what to include in your article and what to save for a future one.
- Create an outline – With your thesis statement in mind, come up with 3-5 ideas that support or relate to your thesis statement. Think of it like categories and sub-categories on our website – each sub-category relates to the main one, but offers specific and unique information. Visual brainstorming is a good way to help this process if you get stuck – keep your thesis in the center and branch out to your supporting ideas. Creating an outline is a great way to collect your thoughts in an organized and useful manner.
- Do some research – Did your outline show you a couple of areas where you could use a little more information? Do you feel like some facts might help support the points you’re trying to make? Research is a great way to supplement the information you already know. Don’t limit yourself to online sources. Your local university, library, and government offices are great places to find the information you need.
By following these tips, you’ll assemble all the pieces you need for a sturdy article. The thesis statement makes an excellent summary, and support statements in the outline can each be turned into a paragraph (with help from the research you did, of course)! Create an introduction and conclusion and you’ll have an article with good, solid content!
Do some simple planning ahead, either in your head or on paper, before you just start writing. In the process, you’ll avoid writing an article with a flimsy structure and instead create a well-grounded plan with firm footing. Remember to implement these tips the next time you are sitting down to write your next set of original articles.
Leave us a comment to share how you blueprint your ideas into great articles.
I hope you know how envious thousands of Expert Authors are of that ability, Ed!
Feel free to do a little additional in-depth teaching of your methodology right here on the Blog if you’d like. I’m sure other members would love to learn more about how you do it.
July 8, 2010 at 3:30 PM[Reply]