Chapter 5: Wrapping Up a Consultation

Writing a ‘Next Steps’ Plan

Providing writers with a ‘next steps’ plan can help develop clarity for both the consultant and the writer, especially if dealing with a complicated paper riddled with many errors and clarity issues. The act of writing the ‘next steps’ plan forces the consultant to imagine the scenario of a student sitting down to revise the paper, and, as a result, the consultant will more likely offer concrete revision suggestions.

Something that often frustrates instructors is when they see their students picking and choosing which next steps they want to implement into their writing, and which they want to ignore. It’s annoying for an instructor to think they’ve written a clear ‘next steps’ plan for their students to follow. But students picking and choosing speaks to their ownership of their writing. Revision choices are ultimately up to the student. The same principle applies in Writing Center consultations. And, better, consultants aren’t responsible for assigning a grade to a piece of work, unlike the writer’s instructor!

Here are some pointers for writing a ‘next steps’ plan:

• Write the ‘next steps’ plan at the end of the client’s document.
• While a consultant can write a ‘next steps’ plan, the client can take notes themselves (in video and in-person appointments).
• Choose only 3-4 big-picture tasks for the writer to focus on.
• Arrange the next steps from ‘most important’ issue to ‘least important’ issue to indicate where a client should spend their time.
• Write each task as a direct speech act, not just saying what to do, but also how to do it.
• Make sure that each task is clearly explained and doable in the next revision draft.
• Close the next steps plan with a positive statement that encourages a repeat visit to the Writing Center.

It is always up to the writer to decide whether to take this advice, and, if the consultant has been clear and straightforward, it’s generally not a reflection on the feedback if the writer decides not to follow the advice.

Example ‘Next Steps’ Plan

Hi Annie,

Great work today thinking through your argument on universal basic income. Below are four specific revision tasks to focus on as you revise, listed in the order I’d recommend tackling them.

• 1. Revise your thesis statement so it makes a specific, arguable claim. Right now, your thesis (“UBI would help a lot of people and fix many problems”) is too broad and vague. Try narrowing it to reflect your stance and two concrete reasons. For example: “Universal Basic Income should be implemented in the U.S. because it reduces poverty and provides a safety net during economic downturns.” A more specific thesis will give your paper a clear direction and help you stay focused in each paragraph.

• 2. Reorganize Paragraphs 2 and 4 so your strongest evidence appears earlier in the paper. Right now, you introduce the Alaska Permanent Fund in Paragraph 4, but it’s buried too late in the draft. Move that paragraph up so it becomes the second body paragraph. This way, your argument starts strong and builds momentum. You should also add a transition sentence at the end of your introduction to preview this: something like, “One way to see UBI in action is to look at real-world examples, such as Alaska’s Permanent Fund.”

• 3. Revise the opening sentence of each body paragraph to include a clear topic sentence. Some of your paragraphs currently begin with a quote or a general observation, which can make it hard for readers to follow your argument. For example, instead of starting Paragraph 2 with “A recent study found…,” you could say, “One major benefit of UBI is that it reduces income inequality.” Then, use the rest of the paragraph to develop that idea.

• 4. Work on framing and interpreting your sources more clearly. In Paragraph 3, you quote the Brookings Institution but don’t explain who they are or why their opinion matters. You might add a sentence like, “According to the Brookings Institution, a respected economic think tank…” to give the source credibility. After each quote, be sure to follow up with a couple of sentences that explain how the evidence supports your argument. Ask yourself, “So what?” and answer that question directly in your writing.

You’ve got a strong foundation already and these changes will help guide your reader more effectively through your essay. Feel free to come back to the Writing Center once you’ve revised, especially if you want to talk through the thesis or paragraph order. I hope to see you again soon!