Begin early.Start thinking about an assignment the day it is given, and take a few minutes to jot down some notes or questions. If the assignment itself is unclear, you'll have time to seek clarification from your instructor.


Realize that writing is a process before it is a product.No writer sits down and composes one perfect sentence, then a second, then a third. More commonly, writing involves some combination of thinking, writing, gathering new information, rewriting, organizing, adding, deleting, and editing. Determine what you need to do first--read a chapter, decide your opinion, etc.. Make notes to help you keep these things in mind, and don't worry about form (you can revise later).


Find a new place to work.If your last writing experience was less than successful, start fresh. Choose a place which makes you comfortable and allows you to concentrate. Try the library, or one of the study rooms in the Memorial Union.


Use writing to help you think.If your major thesis is clear to you right from the start, then begin by writing your introduction. But remember that introductions are often written last, once the writer is sure about the paper's main points. In the meantime, begin by writing something you're reasonably sure of--an example, a point you agree with (or one you disagree with). In short, build on what you know.


Get help.Writing Assistants at the OSU Writing Center are students too, so they've probably had the same sorts of assignments you're working on. Writing assistants can help you brainstorm your topic, evaluate and organize your rough draft, and clarify points of grammar. Perhaps most usefully, they can offer you an objective reading of what you've written so far. Many writers routinely benefit from such responses; you can too. To make an appointment at the Writing Center, call 737-5640.