HOW TO WRITE CLEARLY 1. Find a subject you care about and keep it simple. 2. Outline what you want to say. Try this method: On 3" x 5" cards, write all the points you need to make about the subject you have chosen. Use a separate card for each point. Divide the cards into piles - one pile for each group of points that are closely related. Arrange your piles of points in a sequence: Most important to least, or least to most important, or by deciding which points you must present before others in order to make the others understandable. Within each pile, do the same thing: Arrange the points in logical, understandable order. You have your outline. 3. Develop a thesis (purpose) statement. This sentence simple states your subject and your opinion about that subject. 4. Begin writing using your outline and your thesis statement to prevent you from rambling and to guide you in what you want to say. Include your thesis statement in your first paragraph (introduction). 5. Keep it simple. Simple language can convey profound thoughts. Flowery, wordy writing can confuse and infuriate. 6. Stick to the point. Ask yourself if each sentence relates to a point in the outline. If it doesn't, either add it to the outline or get rid of the sentence. 7. Present your points in logical order as briefly as possible. You've already arranged your points in your outline, so work from there. Devote one paragraph to each point. These become your supporting paragraphs. 8. Avoid wordiness. Say “now” rather “at the present time,” “because” rather than “due to the fact that,” “if” rather than “in the event of,” and so on. Most writing texts give list of wordy phrases if you are unsure of what others might be. 9. Conclude by summarizing what you've already said and answering readers who ask, “so what?”. 10. Check your essay for unity and completeness. Do you have: An introductory paragraph with thesis statement? Supporting paragraphs? A concluding paragraph? Are they related? Are they adequately supported?