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Planning Your Writing

After collecting details about your topic, you need to complete two tasks before you start a first draft: (1) find a focus for your writing and (2) organize the appropriate details to support your focus.

Finding a Focus

A focus is a special thought or feeling that you want to communicate about your topic. A clear focus tells the reader what you are writing about and keeps you on course. Without a focus, you won’t know what to include and what to keep out of your writing. This formula will help you establish a focus for your writing.

Sample Focus Statements