Drafting explanations

Before you begin drafting, reconsider your purpose and audience. What you explain depends on what your audience needs to know or what would demonstrate or show your point most effectively.

As you work from an outline or from an organizing strategy, remember that all three questions — what, how, and why — are interrelated. If you are writing about causes, for example, an explanation of what the topic is and how the causes function may also be necessary to explain your subject clearly. As you write, balance your sense of plan and organization with a willingness to pursue ideas that you discover as you write. You need to have a plan, but you should be ready to change course if you discover a more interesting idea or angle.