How to Write a Composition with P.O.W.E.R. Method
Introduction
A composition (or an essay) is a non-fiction piece written to introduce a topic and then look into it in some detail. An Op-Ed piece is a composition, an essay, for example. Most essays and articles are compositions also. It is a generic term that applies to a wide variety of non-fiction prose.
Some compositions will make a point in the end too (like an Op-Ed piece). But the point is not as tightly argued and documented as in a research paper.
Not a Research Paper
Let’s repeat: a composition is NOT a Research Paper. It is not solely written to “prove” a “thesis statement.” It does not rely as much on references, quotes, and footnotes. It is a more relaxed form of writing.
When we read a research paper we are either persuaded about the correctness of the “thesis statement” or not.
When we read a composition, on the other hand, we are informed, enriched, and hopefully entertained as well.
Here are the basic steps to follow (sometimes also referred to as the P-O-W-E-R method):
1) PLAN (P) your composition
• Decide on the overall effect you’d like to have on the reader. Would you like your readers to be fascinated? Inspired? Enraged? Take action? Do some soul searching? Informed? Challenged? Etc.
• Select a topic. It should be something that you care about. It would help if you already know a few things about the topic. That would cut down the research time.
• Decide on the preparations you need to make to write this composition. Do you need to read a book or an article or check something out in the library? Do you need to talk to or interview someone? Place a phone call? Visit a museum or a historic site?
2) ORGANIZE (O) your composition
• Brainstorm without fear or any prior conditions. Lay out your ideas in the form of a CLUSTER DRAWING. Do not censor yourself at this point. Let everything that comes to your mind around your central concept appear as a separate circle on the paper.
• Structure these concepts, ideas, thoughts into a formal outline. Start with the main idea, followed by related sub-ideas. See these interesting Composition Outline Samples written by Sarah Annie Frost back in 1885.
3) WRITE (W) your composition
• When you start an idea, a train of thought, or an exposition, finish that before jumping off to something else. Human mind can jump very easily from topic to topic. Try to maintain a mental discipline. If you keep jumping from one idea to another before finishing off the previous, your readers will be confused and frustrated.
• Write your composition in a style and voice that is neither too academic and rigid (as might be with a research paper) nor relaxed and informal as in a short story or blog post.
• Alternate your sentence lengths by following short sentences with longer ones.
• Read what you’ve written aloud. If you cannot read it comfortably or if it doesn’t sound right, change it.
• Try to stick with Active Voice whenever possible. Take a look at the English Tips provided for your convenience.
• Try to hit a balance in chapter and section lengths. If one chapter is 4 pages, don’t follow that with a 50-page chapter. The reader should feel that all chapters are more or less of equal importance and that’s why they are there.
• Take advantage of these English Tips for writing better.
4) EDIT (E) your composition
• Re-read what you’ve written for typos and for words that are spelled correctly but are still wrong (like writing “they’re” instead of “their”).
• Decide if your chapters, sections and points follow one another logically.
• At the end, try to assess truthfully if you’ve delivered the “promise” you’ve made in the Introduction chapter (or introductory paragraph) of your composition. If you are arguing a point: have you made a good job of defending your point? If you are writing to inform: have you talked about enough interesting points so that you reader is now more informed than before?
• If you can, have your composition read by someone you admire and trust. Ask that person to give you an honest feedback on what you’ve written. A second pair of eyes is always better and always brings up points that you’ve never considered earlier.
5) REVIEW (R) your composition
• Allow your composition to sit there for a few days. Don’t do anything about it. Don’t even read it. Allow a “cooling off” period. Then go back and revise your composition on the basis of review feedback(s) and your second and third thoughts about the job you’ve done. When you convince yourself that that’s the best you can do, send it in. You’ve done your “personal best.” Now you’re ready to benefit from the reader reactions and enjoy the critical acclaim that your excellent work will hopefully bring you.
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