Writing Skills: Six Things to Improve Your Writing

Six Things to Improve Your Writing
from http://writing.umn.edu/tww/discipline/physisci/Ast1001act.pdf
Eric Hallman
Astronomy 1001: Exploring the Universe

1. Use Active Voice. Rewrite all passive verb constructions (was done, would be, is
thought) using active verbs. This brightens your writing; the reader will have a better,
clearer impression of your subject and exposition.
2. Develop a thesis before you begin writing. For part C of the first essay, for example, the
thesis could be as simple as "There is a strong well-coordinated program of impact
prevention in the United States today."
3. Develop a logical framework to support your thesis. For part A of the first essay, for
example, you could organize your thoughts as follows
1. Topic/thesis sentence to give overall preview of paragraph
2. Summary of evidence from craters
3. Summary of evidence about known impactors
4. Models of origins and early stages of solar system and why impacts fit into this
picture
4. Spend time writing your conclusion! The conclusion offers a last impression to your
readers, so it is important to end well. Use an interesting fact or introduce a concept that
helps draw the content of your paper together.
5. Remove unnecessary clauses. They obscure your point and chop up the flow of your
writing.
6. Read your paper out loud. Then have someone else read your paper out loud. This will
allow you to identify awkward phrases or paragraphs. I can not emphasize enough how
important this is: if you choose to do only one thing to improve your writing, READ IT
OUT LOUD!