Your introduction tells readers where they are headed, and your conclusion recaps where they have been. For this reason, some writers prefer to write their conclusions soon after they have written their introduction. However, this method may not work for all writers. Other writers prefer to write their conclusion at the end of the paper, after writing the body paragraphs. No process is right or wrong; find the one that best suits you.

The purpose of an informative essay, sometimes called an expository essay, is to educate others on a certain topic. Typically, these essays aim to answer the five Ws and H questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how

The conclusion is your opportunity to summarize the essay and hopefully spur the reader to want to learn more about the topic. Be sure to clearly reiterate the thesis statement. In your introduction, you may have laid out what would be covered in the essay. Offer a sentence or two reiterating what was learned about those topic areas. Finally, work to avoid adding any new information and questions in this final section of your writing.

A synthesis can serve different purposes, depending on the assignment. In a background synthesis, your goal is to collect and organize information from various sources by topic or theme, presenting an overview of what is known about a subject. This type does not require an argument or thesis—it simply helps readers understand the current state of research or information.

When citing electronic sources (such as articles from websites and databases), keep in mind that MLA, like all other style guides, was designed for books and journals (the paper versions!) Sometimes, making the entries for electronic sources feels like you are putting a square peg in a round hole

This material must always be cited:  A direct quote  A statistic  An idea that is not your own  Someone else’s opinion  Concrete facts, not considered “common knowledge”  Knowledge not considered “common”

Each topic has so many facets that it would be impossible to cover them all in a college research paper

thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic.

Finally, a third key reason for proofreading is because you likely have errors you typically make and proofreading gives you a chance to correct those errors.

When you are ready to write your introduction, there are multiple strategies available to help you craft a great first paragraph. Ideally the end of your first paragraph will clarify the thesis statement you will support in the rest of your paper.

Once you begin narrowing down your topic, depending on the type of paper, you may be ready to start drafting. The best point to begin writing your draft also depends on the genre of essay you are writing. If you are writing a research paper, then you will need to follow more steps, which are covered in detail later in this book.

When using flashback, the writer usually concludes by returning to the present and reflecting on the flashback or its resolution

When you begin prewriting consider why you are writing (to inform, to explain, or some other purpose) and for whom you are writing. With your narrowed focus in mind, answer the bulleted questions in the checklist for developing a good topic. If you can answer “yes” to all the questions, then you have a good topic. If you answer “no” to any of the questions below, think about another topic or adjust the one you have and try the prewriting strategies again.

Each one of these processes is perfectly acceptable–your job as a college writer is to determine which process works best for you

Vary your verb choices to create descriptive and engaging writing.

certain assignments teach you how to meet the expectations for professional writing in a given field. Depending on the class, you might be asked to write a lab report, a case study, a literary analysis, a business plan, or an account of a personal interview. You will need to learn and follow the standard conventions for those types of written products.

Ask yourself, What do I already know about this topic? Hint: Look at the title to learn the topic. Asking yourself what you already know about a topic activates your prior knowledge about it. Doing this helps your brain wake up its dendrites where that prior knowledge is stored so that it knows where the new knowledge will connect. Flip through the pages, reading the captions found under any pictures, tables, and other graphics. Pay attention to italicized or bolded Are these words defined for you in the margin or in a glossary? Read the comprehension questions you find in the margins or at the end of the chapter.

You decide to join a gym and consult with a personal trainer who uses specialized vocabulary to describe different types of exercise: aerobic, anaerobic, reps, plyometrics, and isometrics. You discover other gym members who share that same goal of becoming healthier, more flexible, and stronger. You become versed in a new language of fitness.

Some courses encourage students to share their research and writing with each other, and even offer workshops where students can present their own writing and offer constructive comments to their classmates.