Understanding Writing Assignments Adapted from McGraw Hill Handbook Pages 21-31

Writing is a process Nobody—and I mean nobody—writes one draft masterpieces every time they sit down to write. This goes for professional best-selling authors as well as students beginning to learn the craft.

Writing Process The writers to your left have sold more than $2 Billion dollars in product. All of them use the writing process.

Writing is a process In fact, the better the writer, the better he or she knows that writing entails a sequence of steps.

The Writing Process Understand the assignment (Chap 2) Begin by analyzing the assignment so you are clear about your writing situation your topic and purpose as well as the audience you will address…

The Writing Process the tone you will take and the genre—or type of writing—you will produce. Note other important details like deadline, length and format.

The Writing Process Generate ideas and plan your approach (Chapter 3) Give yourself time to explore your topic, using a variety of brainstorming techniques

The Writing Process Decide on a working thesis that will help you focus your draft, and sketch an informal or formal plan for the sequence of your ideas.

The Writing Process Draft paragraphs (Chapt. 4) Use paragraph development as a way of moving your writing forward. Use various such as description and comparison to develop and shape your ideas.

The Writing Process Choose the evidence and examples you will you to backup your ideas.

The Writing Process After you draft the body of your composition, develop an effective introduction and conclusion.

The Writing Process Revise, edit and proofread (Chap 5) Develop your first draft and tailor it for your readers in one or more subsequent drafts. Analyze the overall development from paragraph to paragraph…

Use revising and editing checklists in this process. The Writing Process then look at individual paragraphs, sentences, and words. Use revising and editing checklists in this process.

Understand the writing situation Whenever you write, whether you realize it or not, you shape your message to suit the purpose, audience and context of the situation.

Understanding the writing situation When you write an email to a friend inviting him or her to a party. When you write a profile on a dating website When you write a resume for a job you really want. You try to communicate in an appropriate manner. Writing essays is no different.

Understand the writing situation Exigence – the issue, idea, desire of the writer that is at stake in the message. Audience – those who will receive the message. An audience may friendly or hostile. Their backgrounds and cultures will influence their reactions to the message.

Understand the writing situation Purpose – the reason behind the message. A writer’s purpose may be to inform, entertain, convince, persuade, teach or any combination of these. Context – includes the means of communication, current events, and the environment which the communication takes place.

Understand the writing situation For more on this topic, see the Understanding the writing situation checklist on pages 22-23 and the in depth discussion of purpose, genre, audience, tone and context on pages 26-32 in the McGraw Hill Handbook.