Unit three

Planning

Unit contents

Planning

What is in this unit?

This unit covers two kinds of planning for essay-writing: planning how you are going to write and planning what you are going to write.

You will learn about some of the differences between writing with your computer and writing with pen and paper. You will also learn how to use your computer to start writing a rough draft using freewriting and outlining techniques.

Writing with your computer

Think about these two questions. Then click to read the Turbocharger's answers.

• How are university essays different from school essays?
• How is writing with a computer different from writing with pen and paper?

Writing habits

Although you have written many essays before, you may not have thought about how you go about the writing process. The Turbocharger Writing Habits Questionnaire will help you to think about how your habits may change when you start to use your computer to write.

Planning to write

Read these tips on planning how to go about writing an essay with your computer.

Freewriting

Freewriting is one way to get started on writing an essay. Find out what it is and how your computer can help you to do it.

Outlining

Outlining means making a rough draft of an essay in note form. The Turbocharger will tell you how to make a Microsoft Word outline that you can later use as the framework for your essay.

Review

Find out if you have covered everything in this unit, before you move on. Use the hyperlinked checklist to review anything you have missed.

Evaluate this unit

Please tell us what you think about this unit of the Turbocharger.

Note: For clear advice on planning essays, try the book, "Writing Essays - Guidance Notes for Students", by Roy Johnson in the Meng Wah Language Resource Centre.