I like to find the origin of circumstance. Going back to the roots of such and then looking from the bottom up gives an understanding of cause and effect.
I've always enjoyed writing and attribute this proclivity to my high school English teacher, Brother Felix. He was a relentless taskmaster and stole a witticism of Mark Twain, insisting, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” Brother introduced me to George Orwell's essay, “Politics and the English Language.” It's my guide to writing. Under his tutelage I became a persnickety writer.
For the past 38 years I have been helping my students write the university essay. I sit with them analyzing, editing and restructuring, helping them find their voice.