How to Write a Composition
How to Write a "Compare and Contrast" Essay with the Foolproof "Matrix Method" How to Write Education-Related Copy How to Write a Successful College Personal Statement How Use Stories to Support Your Article or Essay Thesis How to Write a High School Book Report How to Write an Academic Paper in 12 Easy Steps How to Create a Writing Schedule for a Research Paper" How to Select a Topic for a Research Paper How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper How to Conduct Research for Your Research Paper How to Sit Down and Actually Start Writing a Research Paper © Ugur Akinci A composition (or an essay) is non-fiction piece written to introduce a topic and then look into it in some detail. An Op-Ed piece is a composition, an essay, for example. Most essays and articles are compositions also. It is a generic term that applies to a wide variety of non-fiction prose. Some compositions will make a point in the end too (like an Op-Ed piece). But the point is not as tightly argued and documented as in a research paper. Let's repeat: a composition is NOT a Research Paper. It is not solely written to "prove" a "thesis statement." It does not rely as much on references, quotes, and footnotes. It is a more relaxed form of writing. When we read a research paper we are either persuaded about the correctness of the "thesis statement" or not. When we read a composition, on the other hand, we are informed, enriched, and hopefully entertained as well. Here are the basic steps to follow (sometimes also referred to as the P-O-W-E-R method): 1) PLAN (P) your composition. • Select a topic. It should be something that you care about. It would help if you already know a few things about the topic. That would cut down the research time. • Decide on the preparations you need to make to write this composition. Do you need to read a book or an article or check something out in the library? Do you need to talk to or interview someone? Place a phone call? Visit a museum or a historic site? 2) ORGANIZE (O) your composition. • Structure these concepts, ideas, thoughts into a formal outline. Start with the main idea, followed by related sub-ideas. See these interesting Composition Outline Samples written by Sarah Annie Frost back in 1885. 3) WRITE (W) your composition. • Write your composition in a style and voice that is neither too academic and rigid (as might be with a research paper) nor relaxed and informal as in a short story or blog post. • Alternate your sentence lengths by following short sentences with longer ones. • Read what you've written aloud. If you cannot read it comfortably or if it doesn’t sound right, change it. • Try to stick with Active Voice whenever possible. Take a look at the English Tips provided for your convenience. • Try to hit a balance in chapter and section lengths. If one chapter is 4 pages, don’t follow that with a 50-page chapter. The reader should feel that all chapters are more or less of equal importance and that's why they are there. • Take advantage of these English Tips for writing better. 4) EDIT (E) your composition. • Decide if your chapters, sections and points follow one another logically. • At the end, try to assess truthfully if you've delivered the "promise" you've made in the Introduction chapter (or introductory paragraph) of your composition. If you are arguing a point: have you made a good job of defending your point? If you are writing to inform: have you talked about enough interesting points so that you reader is now more informed than before? • If you can, have your composition read by someone you admire and trust. Ask that person to give you an honest feedback on what you've written. A second pair of eyes is always better and always brings up points that you've never considered earlier. 5) REVIEW (R) your composition. RESOURCE 1: How to Write Composition, a collection of Composition Outlines written by Sarah Annie Frost in 1885. RESOURCE 2: 101 Ways to Power-Up Your Writing Have a Great Tip, Photo or Comment About This Topic?Do you have a great tip or photo about this? Something that you believe we should read or see? Contribute and share it today! 
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