Engage in pre-writing thinking

Good writers rarely sit down at the computer and simply begin typing masterpieces. Rather, good writers engage in a pre-writing thinking process which helps them collect and organize their thoughts before sitting down to write. Encourage your child to engage in pre-writing thinking by using a graphic organizer (which we recommend), making an outline, or even making a bulleted list. The key is that he thinks through the big ideas and supporting details, and maps out a thoughtful plan for his essay. This “advance work” will save him significant time during the actual writing process (he’s already done the heavy-lifting!), and the finished product will certainly end up stronger for his efforts.