One of the most difficult aspects about writing is being able to stay on topic. With so much information now available through the Internet, it is really not easy to stay focused on the subject that you are to going to explore. Being aware of this and following a few tips on successful academic writing will help you to get past the writing stumbling problem.
Decide on the Topic
The first thing you have to decide is the topic you are going to focus on. It may revolve around a broader context if you are writing a blog post. If you are writing an essay then you should have a specific subject that you are going to write about. Once you know what the main focus has to be it sets the grounds for your research.
Choose the Type of Writing
The type of writing is also going to be an indicator of how close to the topic you must stay. If you are writing an essay, a thesis or a white paper then you must stay concentrated on the subject. If you are writing a blog that has as an informative style, however, then you may have the liberty of being able to stray from the topic throughout the writing as long as it still relates to the theme.
Draft an Outline
Drafting an outline of the parts you want to cover in your specific topic will help you stay on track. You may have one subject that you want to explore but it could take you in many different directions. For example, you may want to write on the harmful effects of consuming too much sugar and it might get you into the medical problems like being overweight or a certain diabetes type perhaps. It would be easy to go off the road and delve into one of these issues and not focusing on your original subject of the sugar consumption. By developing a draft, you outline all the major points that the reader would be interested in with regards to sugar consumption which would help you stay on topic.
You can also use the subtopics in your outline to assist  you in narrowing down your research.
Start Your Research
While the internet is a great source for your research, it is important to look at other sources whenever possible too. For example, your local library: look for topic specific books and journals. During this time you also want to be on the lookout for additional pertinent information that you may be able to add into your writing, but always ask the question as to whether it corresponds directly with the topic or may take you a bit far away.
Work with Your Title and Content
If you have the room for flexibility in your writing assignment then your title should reflect it. The readers always expect the title of their reading to be accurate. For example, if you are writing about the effects of sugar and find out that you have drifted away from how it harms the human organism, then you would need to reflect this in your title.
Staying on topic when writing is a skill you can develop over time by always keeping in mind what the main purpose of the content is and narrowing down your research to make it as specific as possible. Also, using resources that are pertinent to your subject is going to help you stay on track too.
About the Author: Kimberly Austin is a contributing writer at DoMyPapers.com. She finds great pleasure in teaching English and helping students across the globe adopt creative approach to essay writing.
Be the first to comment