English IV Composition Second Semester: The Writing Process

Pre-Writing Planning (outlining) Drafting Revising Editing

Pre-writing MYTH: “I don't need to do any prewriting. What works best for me is just sitting at the computer and writing the essay.” REALITY: There is a lot of value in completing focused prewriting and organizing. As you pre-write you begin to organize your ideas. This effort helps to ensure a firm foundation for any writing project.

Where to begin? Questions: What is my purpose? o Entertain? Explain ideas/information? Persuade? Express emotions or explore ideas? Who is my audience? o Knowing who your audience is will help you decide what and how much to say. What, exactly, is the writing task/project? o Deconstruct the writing prompt; what does the project call for: purpose, audience, overall organization, length, and draft due dates.

Pre-Writing Free writing: rapid, uncensored writing of five to ten minutes (can be focused to a specific topic) Clustering: make a web linking your central topic to additional related topics or subtopics. Brainstorming: list in a word or phrase every idea that occurs when thinking about a general topic.

Pre-Writing List of Questioning: who, what, when, where, why, how, what was the result? Journaling: idea books exploring and examining multiple topics without constrictions.

Planning: The Outline Outlining helps organize the thoughts and ideas developed in your pre-writing. At this stage, the central point of your paper should be determined and a working thesis sentence should be developed. o Thesis: consists of your topic plus a statement that expresses an opinion, attitude, or feeling about it.

Planning: The Outline Step 1: Develop a rough outline. Begin to think of possible topics and/or subtopics into which your ideas can be logically organized. List these numerically. Step 2: Develop a formal outline. Organize your topics/subtopics by Roman Numeral, Capital Letters, Numbers, then small letters.

The Formal Outline Thesis Statement (Essay’s Controlling Idea) I. 1 st Topic Sentence (1 st supporting idea) A. 1 st Supporting Example 1. 1 st specific supporting detail 2. 2 nd specific supporting detail a. Additional supporting detail b. Additional supporting detail B. 2 nd Supporting Example II. 2 nd Topic Sentence (2 nd supporting idea) 1 st body paragraph

Drafting and Revising A draft is an on-going work of writing that is constantly changing or improving. Editing & Revising does not consist of only fixing punctuation, grammar, and spelling mistakes, but also: o improving a line of thinking, strengthening a paragraph, adding cohesion, unity, and clarity. o This step requires a willingness to improve a piece even when you feel it is perfect.

Writing Considerations Purpose: why you are writing; AKA the controlling idea or the thesis statement Developing a clear purpose: o explain your ideas thoroughly and with examples o readers should see what you are saying and why you are saying it o what information or examples do readers need in order to understand the points you are trying to make

The Controlling Idea Controlling idea: the focal point to which all other ideas in an essay or paragraph point. Consider what you have to say to readers about your topic and what you want to leave them thinking, feeling, or questioning. Controlling idea = your topic (ex. school fitness center) + the reason you are writing (ex. The Career Academy should have a school fitness center.)

The Thesis Statement Thesis Statement: an arguable, focused controlling idea (argumentative writing) Common errors in writing a thesis: o substitute an announcement of the subject for a true thesis idea o write a thesis that is too broad o write a thesis that is too narrow o write a thesis containing more than one idea

Developing Your Controlling Idea controlling idea Supporting Point Details/Examples

Methods of Development Description Narration Exemplification Compare/ Contrast Classification Definition Cause/Effect Analysis

Developing a Formal Structure Introduction Body: use as many paragraphs as needed to develop thesis Conclusion Opening remarks to catch the reader's interest Thesis Statement (controlling idea) Plan of development Topic sentence 1 (supporting point 1) Specific evidence (details/examples) Summary (optional) General closing remarks Topic sentence 2 (supporting point 2) Specific evidence (details/examples) Topic sentence 2 (supporting point 2) Specific evidence (details/examples)

Constructing Effective Paragraphs The following all tie into the controlling idea: Topic Sentence ("lead-in"): expresses or leads into the topic to be discussed in the paragraph- 1st sentence of each body paragraph Supporting Sentences: "body" sentences of a paragraph that provide support for the topic sentence through details, evidence, or examples Concluding Sentence: Closing remarks on the or a sentence summation of paragraph's topic

Unity and Coherence A piece of writing is unified if it contains only those details that help develop (explain or support) the controlling idea. A paragraph is unified if all details within it help develop only that supporting point.

Unity and Coherence A piece of writing is coherent if the the writer made sure to create logical connections between paragraphs. The thought expressed in one sentence or paragraph should lead directly-without a break-to the thought in the following sentence. A paragraph is coherent if the sentences are connected clearly and logically in a sequence that is easy to follow.

Logical connections can be created in two ways: By making reference to words, ideas, and other details used earlier By using transitional words/phrases (see the transitional chart) Transitions should occur within paragraphs AND between paragraphs Transitional, or linking, sentences can help tie together the supporting paragraphs in an essay

Creating Voice and Tone Writing should present not only your experience, but what your experience, reflections, and/or suggestions have to offer others. The voice that comes through to the reader should have a deliberate and effective personality, tone, and style. Tone is the attitude your writing projects to your readers.

Creating Voice and Tone Writing should present not only your experience, but what your experience, reflections, and/or suggestions have to offer others. The voice that comes through to the reader should have a deliberate and effective personality, tone, and style.

Writing Introductions Introductions Should: Capture the reader's attention and make them read on. Reveal the essay's central idea as expressed in the thesis statement Guide readers to important ideas in the body of the essay Provide background or explanatory information to help readers understand the essay's purpose and thesis.

Introducing Essays: Common Methods Thesis Statement: begin with broad, general statement and narrow it to your thesis. Importance of Topic: explain the importance of your topic to the reader Idea or Opposite Situation: start with idea or situation that is opposite the one you will develop

Introducing Essays: Common Methods Ask Questions Use an Incident or Brief Story Use a Quotation Use a Startling Remark or Statistic Define an Important Term or Concept Address Your Reader Directly

Concluding Essays: Common Methods Re-phrasing or making reference to thesis Summarizing or re-phrasing your main points Making a call to action Looking to the future Explaining how a problem was solved Asking a rhetorical question Closing with a quotation Responding to a question in your introduction