Whatever format your finished product takes, remember to follow your outline.

Begin with a strong introduction that includes your thesis statement or essential question. It’s important to capture your audience’s attention, but don’t try to be too clever.

The body of your work should flow from your introduction. Present your arguments and points concisely. Support them with strong evidence. Use quotes as necessary. Make certain you cite all quotations and unique ideas. Be certain the body of your paper delivers what you promised in your thesis statement.

Your conclusion should summarize your key points. Don’t introduce new concepts at this point. Restate briefly your main ideas and their supporting arguments. Synthesize all you have learned and reveal your new, deeper understanding of your topic. Sum it all up with finality.

When you’ve finished writing, make certain you go back to edit and proofread. This is a critical step. Don’t rely on the spell-checking program in your computer. Use your own eyes! Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Examine the logic and structure of your work. Determine if you’ve made the best word choices.
Don’t let your brilliant ideas get lost in sloppy writing.