Four Steps Before Writing
1
Look up every abstract noun. Check the associations as well as the definition; a missed meaning can weaken your argument.
2
Map relationships between all the terms. If the topic names two concepts, address both in your thesis.
3
Paraphrase the topic in your own words before writing.
4
Check “and” and “or.” They change what you must prove.
Worked Example
January 2025: Discuss the idea(s) developed about an individual's longing for the comfort associated with a sense of place.
| Term | Meaning to account for |
| Individual | One person rather than a group. |
| Longing | Desire for something absent. |
| Comfort | Safety and contentment as well as physical ease. |
| Sense of place | A sense of belonging through family, identity, or community, as well as geography. |