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A (Very) Simple Way to Improve Your Writing

• Mark Rennella

It’s called the “one-idea rule” — and any level of writer can use it.

The “one idea” rule is a simple concept that can help you sharpen your writing, persuade others by presenting your argument in a clear, concise, and engaging way. What exactly does the rule say?

• Every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea.
• In persuasive writing, your “one idea” is often the argument or belief you are presenting to the reader. Once you identify what that argument is, the “one-idea rule” can help you develop, revise, and connect the various components of your writing.
• For instance, let’s say you’re writing an essay. There are three components you will be working with throughout your piece: the title, the paragraphs, and the sentences.
• Each of these parts should be dedicated to just one idea. The ideas are not identical, of course, but they’re all related. If done correctly, the smaller ideas (in sentences) all build (in paragraphs) to support the main point (suggested in the title).

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

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. During my time in academia, teaching composition at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I saw many people struggle with this.

• MR Mark Rennella is Associate Editor at HBP and has published two books, Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders and The Boston Cosmopolitans .  

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Write & improve.

Improve your English writing online

Want to improve your writing skills? Our free online tool helps you to practise your writing and get valuable feedback instantly. Write & Improve is simple to use: just choose a task, write or upload a written response and use the feedback to quickly improve.

It shows you how to improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Join over 2 million learners of English who have used Write & Improve to improve their writing.

Start practising now

Improve your writing now – it's free!

• There is no limit on how many times you can use the tool – keep practising as much as you need to and build your confidence.
• Encourages you to think about what to improve.
• Keep improving and see your progress.

When I was preparing for my B2 First exam I practised really hard and I succeeded, so I'm in love with this tool that I still use almost every day. Aaron from Ecuador

With Write & Improve my grades get better and I am inspired to do more. It is really graphical and easy to use, highlighting your mistakes in a very visual way. Victoria from Uruguay

Write & Improve helps when practising writing particular types of documents. I've been able to see my progress and how my learning has changed. Jorge from Switzerland

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Essay and report writing skills

Course description

Course content, course reviews.

Writing reports and assignments can be a daunting prospect. Learn how to interpret questions and how to plan, structure and write your assignment or report. This free course, Essay and report writing skills, is designed to help you develop the skills you need to write effectively for academic purposes.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• understand what writing an assignment involves
• identify strengths and weaknesses
• understand the functions of essays and reports
• demonstrate writing skills.

First Published: 10/08/2012

Updated: 26/04/2019

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Free English Writing Lessons

Improve english writing – video.

Learn how to improve your English writing in this video lesson. You’ll see how you can make your written English clearer, easier to read and more effective.

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Formal and Informal English – Video

Learn how to use formal and informal English in spoken or written English. You can learn the differences between formal and informal English in this lesson.

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The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

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Searches related to writing

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular writing courses.

• Writing in the Sciences :   Stanford University
• Creative Writing :   Wesleyan University
• Academic English: Writing :   University of California, Irvine
• Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation :   University of Colorado Boulder
• Good with Words: Writing and Editing :   University of Michigan
• Introduction to Technical Writing :   Board Infinity
• Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music :   Berklee
• Teach English Now! Second Language Reading, Writing, and Grammar :   Arizona State University
• Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order :   University of Michigan
• Business Writing :   University of Colorado Boulder

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Years 10-12 Course: Essay Writing

Years 10-12 study and essay skills. the smart way to prepare for your hsc..

This two-day Essay Writing course focuses on the essay form and related critical thinking, language and punctuation skills for students in Years 10 - 12. The course is relevant to a range of subjects that require the writing of essays for assignments and exams.

We will study how to structure essays, organise ideas and information, and write in appropriate language for assignments and exam essays. There will be an analysis of the essay form and the need for an organised, logical argument with evidence and analytic discussion of the evidence. This will include a focus on appropriate language, rhetoric and punctuation as well as study of the nature of a formal voice, appropriate educated vocabulary for different courses, and the range from a formal to a more conversational voice. Sophisticated punctuation is introduced as a mode of complex thinking. The sections on the body of the essay focus on critical thinking and argument as a combination of a sequence of ideas, evidence and extended analytic comment about evidence.

This will be followed by an overview of the traditional structure of introduction, body and conclusion. The course then provides an introduction to critical thinking and argument in relation to Bloom’s taxonomy and syllabus outcomes and questions and marking guidelines for examinations in New South Wales.

There will be detailed teacher presentation and student discussion and practice writing the introduction, body and conclusion of an essay on a topic of their own choice. Your writing will be reviewed individually in one-on-one sessions, with the teacher providing advice about your individual work as well as the form of the essay. The discussion of the body and the related practice writing includes special focus on making connections between ideas, evidence and different texts, areas and authorities (synthesis).

The timing of research and writing is explored throughout the course and stressed in the discussion of the essay conclusion, along with the fact that an appropriate conclusion is essential, and with guidance about to how write a successful conclusion.

Throughout the course, students are advised about the importance of genuine interest in order to write genuinely interesting essays. Discussion of related examination material – including examination papers and high-ranking English essays - provided by NESA further supports individual student responses and individual student practice in writing essays.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• plan and structure an essay in relation to a research assignment or examination question and with awareness of the significance of learning for any essay
• write an essay with an introduction, body and conclusion
• write an essay with a focus on critical thinking and a sustained argument that combines ideas, evidence and analytic exploration of evidence in relation to the development of the argument
• write an essay with the advantage of analysis and discussion of Bloom’s taxonomy and its relation to advanced critical thinking, syllabus requirements and examination standards, including making connections between parts of texts, between texts, and between areas of knowledge and learning (synthesis)
• develop appropriate vocabulary, rhetoric and punctuation in a formal and individual written style suitable for essays and subjects in Stages 5 and 6
• respond to research essays and examination essays with appropriate discussion and practice about the importance of timing
• develop a focus on individual responses and essays written in an individual, educated voice
• write essays with understanding of NESA syllabus and prescription requirements, marking guidelines and previous exam answers
• improve essay writing across a wide range of ability and a high level of achievement
• analyse and respond to NESA material about syllabus and prescription requirements, and previous examination questions and essays.
• Planning an essay in relation to a research or examination question and in relation to the importance of knowledge and learning for an essay
• Discussion, analysis and written practice of the structure of an essay in relation to the introduction, body and conclusion
• Discussion, analysis and written practice in critical thinking and the development of a sustained argument that combines ideas, evidence and analytic exploration of evidence in relation to the development of the argument
• Discussion and written application of Bloom’s taxonomy in relation to essay writing, including use and discussion of evidence and synthesis, and in relation to examination standards
• Discussion and written practice about a formal essay voice and appropriate vocabulary, rhetoric and punctuation, including focus on sophisticated punctuation as a mode of complex critical thinking
• Discussion and written practice in relation to NESA syllabus and prescription requirements, marking guidelines and previous exam answers combined with advice about exam conditions and timing
• Advice about successful essays based on HSC marking experience
• Teacher reading and advice about students’ essay writing in order to define individual areas for improvement and strengths

Intended audience

Students in Years 10-12 English and other essay based courses.

Delivery style

A combination of tutor presentation, group discussion, reading and writing practice and tutor advice about your writing. You should be prepared for interactive learning and should bring your own “fully charged device” plus writing materials. You will need access to self-selected school texts for practice essay writing as the course progresses. Online activities supplement learning activities.

You will be provided with a course booklet (electronic copy) which includes previous examination questions and answers.

Bring your own device

You are required to bring your own device (Windows or Mac) and a power cord. Please ensure your device is fully charged as access to power is limited.

Please note that University does not carry any responsibility for your lost, stolen, or damaged devices whilst on the University premises.

NESA English Advanced Syllabus 2017 EA12-1, EA12-2, EA12-3, EA12-4, EA12-5, EA12-6, EA12-7, EA12-8, EA12-9

Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide

While you progress through this journey and also the conclusion of your schooling life, we know you’ll have a lot on your mind – exams, future study, careers – but remember, while keeping focused on these bigger goals and aspirations, it’s also important not to forget your own health and well-being.

For tips on staying motivated and keeping focused, dealing with anxiety, keeping healthy, relaxation, pre-study exercise and more, read our article Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide .

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Years 10-12 HSC Essay Writing Course - Exam preparation Enrol in a two-day essay writing course for Years 10-12. Develop an in-depth understanding of essay form, critical thinking, language & punctuation skills. Face-to-face in Sydney. Enrol now.

Class schedule

<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Years 10-12 Study and Essay Skills"}</p>

<p>{block name:"Block - COVID 19 updates"}</p>

<p>This two-day Essay Writing course focuses on the essay form and related

2024-07-08 Mon 8 Jul 2024 - 2024-07-09 Tue 9 Jul 2024

8:30am - 4:30pm 8:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)

2 sessions, 16 hours total

Alison Cardinale

Mon 8 Jul 2024

8:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)

Face-to-face (venue TBA) - Face-to-face (venue TBA)

Tue 9 Jul 2024

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Sat 20 Apr 2024

Online via Zoom - Online via Zoom

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2024-04-15 Mon 15 Apr 2024 - 2024-04-16 Tue 16 Apr 2024

Mon 15 Apr 2024

Room 303 - Face-to-face (CCE Building, Newtown)

Tue 16 Apr 2024

If there isn't a class to suit your preferred time or delivery format, please JOIN the waiting list.

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Dr Alison Cardinale is an experienced secondary English teacher with a B.A. (Hons) in English Literature and a Master of Teaching qualification from the University of Sydney, along with a PhD in...

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Gig workers are writing essays for AI to learn from

• Companies are hiring highly educated gig workers to write training content for AI models .
• The shift toward more sophisticated trainers comes as tech giants scramble for new data sources.
• AI could run out of data to learn from by 2026, one research institute has warned. 

As artificial intelligence models run out of data to train themselves on, AI companies are increasingly turning to actual humans to write training content.

For years, companies have used gig workers to help train AI models on simple tasks like photo identification , data annotation, and labelling. But the rapidly advancing technology now requires more advanced people to train it.

Companies such as Scale AI and Surge AI are hiring part-timers with graduate degrees to write essays and creative prompts for the bots to gobble up, The New York Times reported . Scale AI, for example, posted a job last year looking for people with Master's degrees or PhDs, who are fluent in either English, Hindi, or Japanese and have professional writing experience in fields like poetry, journalism, and publishing.

Related stories

Their mission? To help AI bots "become better writers," Scale AI wrote in the posting.

And an army of workers are needed to do this kind of work. Scale AI has as many as tens of thousands of contractors working on its platform at a time, per the Times.

"What really makes the A.I. useful to its users is the human layer of data, and that really needs to be done by smart humans and skilled humans and humans with a particular degree of expertise and a creative bent," Willow Primack, the vice president of data operations at Scale AI, told the New York Times. "We have been focusing on contractors, particularly within North America, as a result."

The shift toward more sophisticated gig trainers comes as tech giants scramble to find new data to train their technology on. That's because the programs learn so incredibly fast that they're already running out of available resources to learn from. The vast trove of online information — everything from scientific papers to news articles to Wikipedia pages — is drying up.

Epoch, an AI research institute, has warned that AI could run out of data by 2026.

So, companies are finding more and more creative ways to make sure their systems never stop learning. Google has considered accessing its customers' data in Google Docs , Sheets, and Slides while Meta even thought about buying publishing house Simon & Schuster to harvest its book collection, Business Insider previously reported.

Watch: Nearly 50,000 tech workers have been laid off — but there's a hack to avoid layoffs

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