Plan

• Choose a subject and narrow it so that it can be sufficiently developed within the limits of the assignment.
• Discover and abide by a controlling position statement or thesis.

Organize

• Organize the sequence of the composition so that it is clear, coherent, and persuasive, making apparent to the readers the logical progression within and between paragraphs.
• Begin and conclude the composition in interesting, engaging, and provocative ways.

Support

• Arrange details, examples, facts, and plausible conjectures to develop and to substantiate claims.
• Draw upon credible, pertinent supporting research when necessary.

• Use appropriate language in a given context.
• Abide by grammatical rules and recognized standards of formal usage.
• Learn to identify which occasions and contexts might warrant departure from such rules and usage.

Revise and Proofread

• Reconceive and restructure the argument, gathering and incorporating more effective evidence.
• Draft, edit, revise, and proof carefully.