The Writing Process Planning and Drafting

What will you write about?  Often, instructors assign a specific topic or provide some structure for your writing project.  Sometimes you will be free to choose a subject. Remember to consider what you know already. What aspects of the topic are you interested in? What will interest your audience? Why are you writing this paper to begin with?

Remember Axiom # 1  Understand your purpose, audience, and context.

5 Ways to Find a Subject  Journaling  Freewriting  Listing  Clustering  Questioning

5 Ways: Journaling  Journaling  Personal journals contain reflections on many different kinds of experience.  Although journal keepers usually write for themselves, the process of reading entries can help clarify thoughts, feelings, or interests.  A writer’s notebook records responses to reading material, classroom discussions, anything of interest.  Writer’s can combine the journal and notebook approach into one useful resource.

5 Ways: Freewriting  Freewriting exercises require writers to record whatever comes to mind in a prescribed period of time.  Writers should not stop writing, no matter how repetitious the writing may seem.  Writers must avoid the temptation to reread or correct their writing during the freewriting process. Directed freewriting helps writers clarify their thoughts and generate ideas on a given subject.

5 Ways: Listing  Listing is also called brainstorming.  Choose a general subject, like politics, then create a list of any subtopics that come to mind.  Listing allows writers to see several ideas on a page without the confusion of additional text.  Collect as many ideas as possible.

5 Ways: Clustering Clustering allows writers to create a map of ideas on a particular subject. The major advantage of clustering is that writers can see the relationship of one idea to another. Use a highlighter to link related concepts! PETS Dogs Cats Short haired Toy Sporting Long haired Working Pointers Field Trials

5 Ways: Questioning  Use journalists’ questions to explore a subject:  Who?  What?  When?  Where?  Why?  How?

5 Ways: Questioning Continued  Another version of the questioning strategy is known as the pentad.  The pentad explores five dramatic aspects of a subject:  Act What happens? What’s the story?  Actor Who is involved?  Scene What is the time, place,and setting?  Agency Why did the action occur?  Purpose What is the reason for the act?

Choose a Strategy  Narration  Process  Cause and Effect  Description  Definition  Classification and Division  Example  Comparison and Contrast  Argument These writing strategies can help focus your work. For example, instead of writing about your experience of college in general, you could explore the process of applying to college.

Finding Your Focus  Try to start out with a reasonable topic. Remember, broad or extremely narrow topics will make drafting difficult.  Here is an example of narrowing your focus:  The crisis of the Haitian middle class  The crisis of the Haitian middle class at the turn of the 21 st century  The crisis of Haitian middle class women at the turn of the 21 st century

The Experimental Draft  Once you’ve figured out your purpose, audience, subject, and focus, you are ready to write a first draft.  Try to write the first draft in one sitting. Don’t agonize over the introduction, word choice, or grammar.  Use the first draft as an exploration of ideas.

The Thesis  A clearly stated thesis is the best way to focus your writing.  A thesis is a formal statement of a theory or position backed up by logical argument.

Which Comes First  Developing a preliminary thesis will guide your first draft and provide much needed focus.  After you complete a draft of the paper you will want to re-examine your thesis.

Reviewing the Thesis  Questions to ask yourself: 1. Are the claims of the thesis substantiated throughout the paper? 2. Is there actual evidence to support the thesis?

Rules for Writing First Drafts  Relax! This draft is an experiment.  Remember to consider your purpose, audience, and context before you begin.  Even a rough thesis will serve as a guide.  Do NOT edit or proofread while you are writing the first draft!  If you find yourself in need of information or a quotation to complete a section, make a note to yourself and continue drafting. Write your first draft in the mode you find most comfortable. You can always word process subsequent drafts.

Still Having Problems Getting Started?  Find topics all around you:  Listen to the radio  Read newspapers  Brainstorm with friends  Keep a journal  Read the assignment again  Talk to your instructor  Visit the Writing Center!!