Common Writing Problems

A survey of CRC Consultants reveals that the following (in no particular order) are the most common problems in our clients' writing:

• Thesis/focus: writers generally tell all they know about a topic.
• Organization: keeping each paragraph focused on a separate idea is difficult.
• Purpose: writers generally cannot identify a reason for writing.
• Audience: little or no attention is given to audience because the teacher is seen as the only audience.
• Revising: a first draft is usually considered a final draft.
• Assignment: writers have difficulty understanding the requirements of the assignment.
• Development: ideas are generally underdeveloped.
• Documentation: writers are confused about or unaware of the type of documentation style to use.
• Conclusions: conclusions are generally foregone.
• Conventions: grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage errors are prevalent especially when writers are unclear about the assignment.