Paper writing season is upon us—or at least, will be very soon—and so it’s the perfect time of year to share some writing hacks. Many students are nervously beginning their research papers, wondering how they will ever fill five or six pages with legible prose. Others haven’t even picked a topic yet, and struggle to fathom how they will find something interesting enough to write about. A small number are excited by this challenging project, eager to flex their writing skills.
Whether you have a reluctant writer or an eager beaver, writing is a skill which requires practice and patience—and a lot of attention from mom and dad. Sometimes, however, homeschooling parents aren’t sure where to start, especially when their teens hit high school and the writing projects become more complex.
The three writing hacks below will help all writers no matter the stage they are in.
Address Topic Troubles Early
Students often don’t know where to start in the process, which causes them to procrastinate and then rush to complete things at the last minute. In my experience, writing dread begins here—making this arguably the most important of my writing hacks. You can counteract this tendency by engaging your students’ attention early.
Ask them questions as they read. Force them to identify interesting tidbits or, worst case scenario, the things which irritate them. Is there a character they can’t stand? Ask them why. Do they recognize recurring ideas in the narrative? Ask them why. All of these “whys” are potential thesis statements. Writing hacks begin before the actual writing occurs.
Give Detailed Writing Prompts
Writing hacks sometimes require you to go back to the basics. Despite your best efforts, high school students often need writing prompts to help them develop a manageable thesis. Don’t be afraid to provide a prompt. The prompt will stretch the student if it’s detailed and draws on topics covered clearly in your lesson plans.
Asking a specific question involving a particular character can be a good place to start. For instance, rather than saying, “Discuss self-sacrifice in A Tale of Two Cities,” say, “Sydney Carton famously sacrifices himself for Charles Darnay at the conclusion of A Tale of Two Cities. Discuss the ramifications of this sacrifice from a Christian worldview. Could Sydney be called a Christ-figure? Why or why not?” Using this writing hack helps focus a young writer’s attention and ensures the topic isn’t too broad.
Try to keep your prompts short but thoughtful. Many students will be overwhelmed by a paragraph of text. And remember, detail is key!
Mini Assignments Before the “Big” Assignment
Sometimes, no amount of discussion will focus an overwhelmed student. That’s where this last writing hack comes in. If your student needs to write a long essay this year, start preparing them early with mini assignments that build toward that final paper. These assignments could include an outline, a character analysis, an exploration of themes, symbolism identification—whatever you believe will help them with that final paper.
I recommend keeping these assignments short and manageable (think 250-300 words, tops). They could also include just listing bullet points or answering brief questions. Remember, the purpose of these assignments is to make the larger assignment easier.
The frequency is up to you and your student’s needs. For some students, three or four supporting assignments might be sufficient. If your students really struggles in this area, consider assigning one weekly. (And if they need help organizing their assignments, consult this recent blog post.)
Learning to write clearly and concisely is a lifelong journey. Our high school experiences often impact our excitement for (or dislike of) this skill. It’s hard work for everyone involved, but you’ll find the dividends well worth the effort.
Bonus: Looking for some additional writing hacks? Check out our guest lecture with Elizabeth Russell of World Magazine and this article I wrote for The Court Report. Happy writing!
