Two major problems I face as a writer are staying clear and to the point, and giving too much detail. I tend to give too much detail and run on too long about one particular idea. This creates a problem because a reader will eventually become bored and lose interest. A person doesn't want to hear me go on and on about one little thing just because I get sidetracked.
The "secret" of good writing is to map out your main ideas and all the specific details that you wish to talk about ahead of time. Then, while writing a paper, stick to the ideas you mapped out, and do not stray from the "focus" you chose. This will help keep a paper clear, concise and organized, which should hold the readers" attention. .
When reading a paper, look for things that you stumble over reading and ask, could it be said more clearly? Maybe words can be cut out or rephrased to express your idea in a more concise manner. A very important idea to remember when reading a paper is "did I say this using the least amount of words as possible?".
One major cause of my difficulties as a writer was the many different ways in which I was taught to write. In grammar school they tell you to write an introduction paragraph, 2 or 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Once you"re in high school, they want you to be as detailed as possible, causing run-on sentences and poorly conveyed thoughts. If throughout the education process, writing was taught more uniformly, it would be easier to grasp the concept. .
Even at the college level, English is taught in different manners. Fordham University teaches English much differently than HVCC. The fact of staying clear and to the point was never discussed at Fordham yet at HVCC it is the main focus. Every English department at every university has a slightly different style of teaching. .
I would like to overcome the problems I face as a writer in order to succeed in college. I would like my writing to be more clear and concise, keeping the readers" attention.
