The Writing Process

What is it? Have you heard this phrase before? What do you know about “the writing process”? Have you heard this phrase before? What do you know about “the writing process”?

It’s not simple! The writing process isn’t linear. It doesn’t go from point A to point B like a nice, straight line… Think of it as something more circular... like a roller coaster. The writing process isn’t linear. It doesn’t go from point A to point B like a nice, straight line… Think of it as something more circular... like a roller coaster.

But before you get on the ride-- Stop! Go back! Read the assignment at least two times and be sure that you understand it. Stop! Go back! Read the assignment at least two times and be sure that you understand it.

Next: Choose a general subject What’s your paper going to be about? (Sometimes your instructors do this part for you… they might tell you what to write about.) What’s your paper going to be about? (Sometimes your instructors do this part for you… they might tell you what to write about.)

After you have your topic… Think about it Ask (and answer) questions about it Brainstorm Cluster Freewrite

Next: Write a (tentative) thesis statement. A thesis statement is the main idea for the entire paper. Everything else in the paper is connected to your thesis statement (or “thesis”) in some way. We’ll work on these in class. Your thesis might change a bit as you write. That’s okay! Write a (tentative) thesis statement. A thesis statement is the main idea for the entire paper. Everything else in the paper is connected to your thesis statement (or “thesis”) in some way. We’ll work on these in class. Your thesis might change a bit as you write. That’s okay!

Know your audience In college, you are usually writing for an “academic” audience. You need to use academic language. No contractions. No “gonna”, “wanna”, spoken English. You need to be careful about spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. In college, you are usually writing for an “academic” audience. You need to use academic language. No contractions. No “gonna”, “wanna”, spoken English. You need to be careful about spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Make an Outline Planning an essay before you write will help you enormously. An outline helps you plan and know what will be in the essay before you write. There are different ways to organize an essay, like there are different ways for a paragraph. Each method requires different details. Know your organization method. Planning an essay before you write will help you enormously. An outline helps you plan and know what will be in the essay before you write. There are different ways to organize an essay, like there are different ways for a paragraph. Each method requires different details. Know your organization method.

Finally! Write your first draft. Write it fast. Get your ideas down. (This is not the paper you will turn in.) Write your first draft. Write it fast. Get your ideas down. (This is not the paper you will turn in.)

Take a break. Go away. Take a walk. Call a friend. Watch a movie. Distract yourself. Go away. Take a walk. Call a friend. Watch a movie. Distract yourself.

Then come back! Read your paper. Does it make sense? Where can you make it clearer? Check your grammar. Check your spelling. Check your punctuation. Make changes. Read your paper. Does it make sense? Where can you make it clearer? Check your grammar. Check your spelling. Check your punctuation. Make changes.

THIS… … is the first draft you will bring to class. It should be something you’re happy with. It should be something you’d get a passing grade for. … is the first draft you will bring to class. It should be something you’re happy with. It should be something you’d get a passing grade for.

But you’re not done yet! You will get feedback on your first draft. Maybe from me Maybe from a Page One tutor Definitely from a peer You will get feedback on your first draft. Maybe from me Maybe from a Page One tutor Definitely from a peer

REVISE! THE CIRCLE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN… After you get feedback…