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Worried about your end-of-term papers? You’re not alone. Writing can be a daunting task, especially when you don’t know where or how to begin. When you’re stuck, remember these three tips to ease the stress of acing your written projects.

Start in the middle, write the beginning last

It’s easy to get caught up in writing the perfect introduction. It should be clear, concise and engaging. But how do you pull that elusive combination out of thin air? Simple answer: You don’t.

Consider starting with an outline. Begin with a bulleted list, then fill in the details. Once you have captured the big ideas for your paper, it’s much easier to connect the dots and form a logical argument.

Not ready to write an outline yet? Pick one idea that’s interesting to you and just start writing down your thoughts as they come to you. Don’t worry about punctuation or correctness—just freewrite. This approach opens up your creativity and helps you to capture your ideas on the page without the pressure of your inner editor getting in your way before you know what you want to say.

Crafting an introduction is a much simpler feat when you give yourself time to articulate a clear sense of purpose.

If possible, read your writing aloud

Reading your writing aloud isn’t the only way to edit, but it’s one of the best. First and foremost, you are more likely to catch mistakes when reading aloud. It’s common to subconsciously gloss over words while you read in your head, especially when you already know what you intended to say.

Reading aloud creates a necessary layer of separation from the work that helps you pick up on grammatical errors and awkward phrases.

Reading aloud also helps you slow down and pay attention to your word choice. This process can help you tidy your sentences of superfluous words and better communicate your meaning.Ìý

Reading aloud to a peer or a writing consultant is even better because they can offer feedback and ask questions that may help you improve your clarity and argumentative impact.

Visit the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Writing Center

Whether you’re working on a research paper or preparing for a test, the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Writing Center is an excellent resource to enhance your writing skills.

The Writing Center consultants are happy to be a final set of eyes before you submit your project. However, if you want to write the best possible paper, stop by the Writing Center before you write a single word. The consultants also will help set you up for success by teaching universal tools that make writing every future paper easier.

The Writing Center is a free support service available to all ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ students, faculty, staff and alumni. There are remote sessions and in-person options offered at locations across campus, including Norlin Library and some residence halls. Appointments are recommended, but drop-ins are always welcome. Keep in mind the schedule fills up quickly around mid-terms and finals, so plan ahead!

Visit the Writing Center website for more information or to book an appointment.