If done correctly, the smaller ideas (in sentences) all build (in paragraphs) to support the main point (suggested in the title). The ideas are not identical, of course, but they’re all related. Each of these parts should be dedicated to just one idea. There are three components you’ll be working with throughout your piece: the title, the paragraphs, and the sentences. Once you identify what that argument is, the “one-idea rule” can help you develop, revise, and connect the various components of your writing in a clear and convincing way.įor instance, let’s say you’re writing an essay. In persuasive writing, which we will focus on here, your one idea is often the argument or belief you are presenting to the reader. After all, every great essay, article, or written work is grounded by a foundational idea - one that equally inspires the author and their audience. You may be familiar with some of the variations of this rule, like the Pyramid Principle or Purdue’s rules of thumb for paragraphs. I call it the one-idea rule: Every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea. Luckily, there is a (memorable) strategy that can help any level of writer greatly improve their work. There were just too many of them to digest at once. It’s not that their ideas weren’t valuable. Often, students would begin with strong ideas, but have trouble focusing their thoughts when it came time to translating those ideas into words - resulting in essays with loose, distracted, and ultimately, confusing arguments. During my time in academia, teaching composition at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I saw many people struggle with this. Most advice about writing looks like a long laundry list of “do’s and don’ts.” These lists can be helpful from time to time, but they’re hard to remember … and, therefore, hard to depend on when you’re having trouble putting your thoughts to paper.
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