The Writing Process Created by D. Herring Edited by Prof. Bonkosky

Stages of the Writing Process There are several stages to the Writing Process. Each stage is essential. There are several stages to the Writing Process. Each stage is essential. Prewriting Prewriting Writing (Drafting) Writing (Drafting) Revising Revising Editing Editing

I. Prewriting Choose/narrow your topic Choose/narrow your topic Determine your Determine your Audience Audience Purpose Purpose Tone Tone Point-of-view Point-of-view Tense Tense Explore your topic Explore your topic Make a plan Make a plan

Choose/Narrow Your Topic Your topic should pass the 3- question test: Your topic should pass the 3- question test: 1. Does it interest me? 2. Do I have something to say about it? 3. Is it specific?

Determine Your Audience Your Audience is composed of those who will read your writing. Your Audience is composed of those who will read your writing. Ask yourself: Ask yourself: Who are my readers? Who are my readers? What do my readers know about my topic? What do my readers know about my topic? What do my readers need to know about my topic? What do my readers need to know about my topic? How do my readers feel about my topic? How do my readers feel about my topic?

Determine Your Purpose Purpose is the reason you are writing. Purpose is the reason you are writing. Whenever you write, you always have a purpose. Most writing fits into one of 3 categories: Whenever you write, you always have a purpose. Most writing fits into one of 3 categories: Expressive Writing Expressive Writing Informative Writing Informative Writing Persuasive Writing Persuasive Writing More than one of these may be used, but one will be primary. More than one of these may be used, but one will be primary.

Determine Tense Tense is the voice you use to designate the time of the action or state of being. Tense is the voice you use to designate the time of the action or state of being. Present tense Present tense Past tense Past tense Future tense Future tense

Explore Your Topic Pre-writing Techniques: Pre-writing Techniques: Brainstorming/Listing Brainstorming/Listing Freewriting Freewriting Clustering/Mapping Clustering/Mapping Questioning Questioning Discussing Discussing Outlining Outlining

Support Be sure to evaluate the information in your prewriting carefully in order to choose the best support for your topic. Be sure to evaluate the information in your prewriting carefully in order to choose the best support for your topic. Primary Support—major ideas or examples that back up your main points Primary Support—major ideas or examples that back up your main points Secondary Support—details which further explain your primary support Secondary Support—details which further explain your primary support

Order The Order is the sequence in which you present your ideas. The Order is the sequence in which you present your ideas. There are 3 types of order: There are 3 types of order: Time (chronological) order Time (chronological) order Space order Space order Emphatic order (order of importance: least-to-most, most- to-least) Emphatic order (order of importance: least-to-most, most- to-least)

Structure/Organization Consider how your essay will be organized; then create an Outline. Consider how your essay will be organized; then create an Outline. Sample Outline of standard Sample Outline of standard 5-paragraph essay: 5-paragraph essay: A. Introduction B. Body Paragraph 1 C. Body Paragraph 2 D. Body Paragraph 3 E. Conclusion

II. Writing During the Writing Stage, you should During the Writing Stage, you should Compose a draft Compose a draft A Draft is the first whole version of all your ideas put together; it’s a “dress rehearsal.” A Draft is the first whole version of all your ideas put together; it’s a “dress rehearsal.” You should plan to revise your Draft several times throughout the writing process. You should plan to revise your Draft several times throughout the writing process.

Creating Your Title Your writing’s title should: Your writing’s title should: Be original Be original Be a reasonable length Be a reasonable length Reflect your topic Reflect your topic Be lively and attention-getting Be lively and attention-getting Your title should NOT: Your title should NOT: Be generic/repeat the assignment Be generic/repeat the assignment Be in ALL CAPS Be in ALL CAPS Be in boldface, “quotation marks,” underlined, or italicized Be in boldface, “quotation marks,” underlined, or italicized Be followed by a period Be followed by a period

Titles, continued Capitalization Rules for Titles: Capitalization Rules for Titles: Always capitalize the first letter of the first word and the last word. Always capitalize the first letter of the first word and the last word. Capitalize the first letter of each “important” word in between the first and last words. Capitalize the first letter of each “important” word in between the first and last words. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) Do not capitalize coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) Do not capitalize coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at, in, off, etc.) Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at, in, off, etc.)

Writing a Draft Basics of a good draft: Basics of a good draft: Has a fully developed introduction and conclusion Has a fully developed introduction and conclusion Has fully developed body paragraphs, each containing a topic sentence, at least two examples, and detailed support Has fully developed body paragraphs, each containing a topic sentence, at least two examples, and detailed support Follows standard structure and uses complete sentences Follows standard structure and uses complete sentences

Write Your Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should develop one of the specific points mentioned in the thesis. Each body paragraph should develop one of the specific points mentioned in the thesis. Each BP should contain: Each BP should contain: Topic Sentence—main idea of BP Topic Sentence—main idea of BP Primary Support—examples Primary Support—examples Secondary Support—details Secondary Support—details

Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentence A Topic Sentence expresses the main idea of the body paragraph. A Topic Sentence expresses the main idea of the body paragraph. Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence that Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence that Narrows the focus of the paragraph Narrows the focus of the paragraph Accurately predicts the direction of the paragraph Accurately predicts the direction of the paragraph Refers back to the Thesis statement Refers back to the Thesis statement

Body Paragraphs continued Body paragraphs must have Body paragraphs must have Unity—everything refers back to main point Unity—everything refers back to main point Support—examples and details Support—examples and details Coherence—all points connect to form a whole; one point leads to another Coherence—all points connect to form a whole; one point leads to another

Write Your Conclusion The concluding paragraph should The concluding paragraph should Contain a minimum of 4 sentences Contain a minimum of 4 sentences Refer back to the main point, but not simply repeat the thesis Refer back to the main point, but not simply repeat the thesis Make an observation on what is written Make an observation on what is written NOT introduce any new ideas NOT introduce any new ideas Create a sense of closure Create a sense of closure

III. Revising Revising is finding & correcting problems with content; changing the ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more convincing. Revising is finding & correcting problems with content; changing the ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more convincing. Revising looks at the “Big Picture”— the Idea level. Revising looks at the “Big Picture”— the Idea level.

Revision Strategies Look for Look for Unity Unity Does everything refer back to main point? Does everything refer back to main point? Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis? Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis? Does each sentence in each BP refer back to the topic sentence? Does each sentence in each BP refer back to the topic sentence? Detail and support Detail and support Does each BP contain at least two examples? Does each BP contain at least two examples? Is each example followed by at least one supporting detail? Is each example followed by at least one supporting detail? Coherence Coherence Are all points connect to form a whole? Are all points connect to form a whole? Are transitions used to move from one idea to the next? Are transitions used to move from one idea to the next?

Revision Tips Take a break from your draft before attempting to revise. Take a break from your draft before attempting to revise. Read your draft out loud and listen to your words. Read your draft out loud and listen to your words. Imagine yourself as your reader. Imagine yourself as your reader. Look for consistent problem areas. Look for consistent problem areas. Get feedback from peers. Get feedback from peers. Get help from a tutor! Get help from a tutor!

IV. Editing Editing is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and punctuation. Editing is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and punctuation. Editing focuses on the “Little Picture”—Word level. Editing focuses on the “Little Picture”—Word level.

V- Publishing: The Final copy Share your piece of writing with the class. Share your piece of writing with the class. Turn it in to be graded Turn it in to be graded