• Click here to read a detailed explanation of the process of constructing an effective thesis sentence.
• click here to read a detailed explanation of the process of constructing an effective introduction.

     Different writers have different process of writing. If you want to be an effective writer, you will learn to understand what process of writing works for you and try to follow that method every time you write. Some writers like to plan carefully before they begin writing. Others like to start writing and then stop of read what they have written and think of new ideas based upon their first draft. Whatever method works for you, at some point you should stop to reflect on what you have written with the following principle in mind: Each paragraph in the essay should be unified, coherent, and well developed.

     Unity is the quality of consistency in point of view and focus throughout the entire essay. If you are writing to recommend a person for a job promotion, you may have different reasons for your recommendation, but the reasons are unified if they all logically support that promotion. Ideally, you would write at least three paragraphs with each one stating a reason for your recommendation, followed by supporting examples for that reason. For example, if one of the reasons for your recommendation is innovations that the person has made, then each sentence in the paragraph should be an example or explanation of one or more innovations. Check each of your body paragraphs to make sure that each one consistently sticks to your main idea of the essay and develops the main idea of that paragraph before going on to the next paragraph.

     Coherence is the quality of sticking together in a logical and orderly manner. Coherent paragraphs contains sentences that stick together in a logical order. If a writer wants to write a paragraph to describe a room, he or she can describe it from top to bottom, from left to right, or in any other pattern so long as the order is logical. Similarly, reasons and examples written to support an argument should be arranged in a a logical order that builds from least important to most important. A challenge that all writers face is to re-read each paragraph to make sure all of the sentences are arranged in a logical order to support the main idea of the paragraph and then re-read each paragraph to make sure that each paragraph builds in a logical order to support or explain the thesis of the essay. Transitional words, phrases, and sentences are important tools to help make sentences in paragraphs and paragraphs in essay coherent.

• Click here for more information on transitions. Note: This information from The Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill will open in a new window.
• Using Transitional Expressions will give you instructions with application exercises.
• Finding and Using Parallel Elements will help you practice arranging phrases in a sentence in a logical order for clear communication with your reader.

• To learn more about well-developed paragraphs, click here.

     Point of view is not just your opinion that you explain in your essay. Point of view also means your narrative point of view: first person, second person, and third person. When you use the pronoun "I," you are writing from the first person point of view. Whenever you address the reader directly, as in writing instructions, you will often use the second person, "you" or the "you understood" point of view. When you talk about "people" or "a person" or "anyone," you are using the third person point of view. It is easy for an author to forget the point of view he or she used when beginning the essay. When you complete your first draft, go back and look at your introduction and first development paragraph. Ask yourself if you are shifting between "I" and "you" and "people" for a good reason or if you are accidentally losing your focus. You may need to change certain sentences so the point of view is consistent. You also need to keep in mind the intended audience or readers of your essay. Are you writing about yourself, are you writing instructions to someone else, or are you writing about someone else? Check your point of view and audience for consistency throughout your essay.

Also check your essay to make sure that your time sequence is consistent throughout a paragraph and throughout the essay. You may shift the time sequence for a good reason throughout a paragraph or throughout an essay when you narrate the events in a story. You may move from past to present, for example, or, as in a motion picture, you may create a flashback to a previous event. You can even shift the time sequence in one sentence, provided you have a good reason: "In 1492, Columbus discovered that the earth is round." Even though his discovery is in the past, the property of the earth is always in the present.

• For more information on being consistent in point of view, please click here.
• For more information on being consistent in verb tense, please click here.

     When you have completed the revision of your essay, you are still not finished. Now you need to edit one last time to check for spelling mistakes. Be sure to check "sound-alike" words such as "their, there, and they're" or "would" and "wood." Your computer spelling checker cannot determine which of those words is the one that you intended to use. You also should check for complete sentences, consistency in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, correct verb form, pronoun-antecdent agreement, clear pronoun reference, and appropriate punctuation.

Each of the following sentences contains a common grammar or punctuation problem:

1. By exercising regularly, it can have a positive effect.
2. By exercising regularly can have a positive effect.
3. Working, sleeping, and eating, are three activities most adults engage in almost every day.
4. A good plan for your week, may be anything from, looking after your family, preparing for classes, exercising, and shopping.
5. You can try to keep up with everything, or relax and do only a few things.

1. In the first sentence, "it" does not clearly refer to one word. One easy way to revise the sentence for clear communication is to remove both "by" at the beginning, and "it" at the beginning of the main clause: Exercising regularly can have a positive effect.
2. In the second sentence, the verb "can have" does not have a subject since the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase: "by exercising." The sentence can be revised by writing it this way: Exercising regularly can have a positive effect.
3. The third sentence contains an unnecessary comma before the verb "are." Notice that the sentence begins with three items in a series. Those three items together are a plural subject followed by the verb "are." The sentence can be revised easily by removing the comma that interrupts the complete subject and the verb: Working, sleeping, and eating are three activities most adults engage in almost every day.
4. The fourth sentence contains two unnecessary commas. One is before the verb "may be," and the other is after the preposition "from." The sentence also contains an incomplete comparison at the end. Revise the sentence by removing those commas and correcting the comparison by adding the word "to" to balance the earlier use of "from": A good plan for your week may be anything from looking after your family to preparing for classes, exercising, and shopping. A comma should not interrupt the subject and verb or separate a preposition from the word being linked to the rest of the sentence: "from looking."
5. The final sentence also contains an unnecessary comma. A comma is not needed before "or" unless it joins two complete sentences. In the fifth sentence in the list above, "or" joins two phrases instead of two sentences (main clauses). Revise the sentence by removing the comma: You can try to keep up with everything or relax and do only a few things.

6. For more information about commas or about punctuation in general, please follow these links:
   • Comma Guidelines
   • Comma Use with Application Exercises
   • Punctuation Guide
   • Semi-colon Use with Exercises
   • Capitals Letters with Exercises
   
   

7. For more information about grammar and sentence structure, please use the links below:
   • Pronoun Use with Exercises: This section explains how to recognize which word each pronoun refers to, understand how some pronouns change form when their role in a sentence changes, and make pronouns agree with the words they refer to.
   • Run-on Sentences with Exercises
   • Sentence Fragments and Run-ons
   • Sentence Fragments with Exercises
   • Using Transitional Expression will give you instructions with application exercises.
   • Finding and Using Parallel Elements will help you practice arranging phrases in a sentence in a logical order for clear communication with your reader.
   • For more information on being consistent in point of view, please click here.
   • For more information on being consistent in verb tense, please click here.
   
   
8. Grammar and Punctuation Practice: This section contains 130 sets of exercises of every aspect of grammar, punctuation, and usage.