Concentric Writing

Concentric writing is an effective way to write about a topic. You start with a key idea, taught to a beginner, and keep expanding in complexity, yet returning and circling on the initial concept. That way, you're reinforcing an already known concept, but with some novel connection (i.e. the added complexity)

Imagine you're writing a book that teaches you about Kants philosophy. How should you organize it? By chronological order? That would be the easiest to write, but by no means the easiest to consume.

Advantages of Concentric Writing

By starting with simple, intuitive ideas and gradually building in complexity, you can create a sense of momentum and curiosity among your readers. This approach also allows you to return to and reinforce key concepts throughout the text, making sure that readers don't get left behind.

Examples and Variations

Concentric writing can be applied to any subject area where complex ideas need to be conveyed in a clear and engaging way. For instance, a math textbook could start with simple algebraic manipulations and gradually introduce more advanced techniques, returning periodically to review and refine key concepts. By embracing Concentric writing, educators and writers can create rich, engaging, and easy-to-follow content that meets the needs of learners at all levels.