4 © 2005 Thomson South-Western THE WRITING PROCESS TECHNICAL WRITING FOR SUCCESS A Process for Technical Writing Planning Drafting and Revising Copyediting and Publishing Writing Collaboratively A Process for Technical Writing Planning Drafting and Revising Copyediting and Publishing Writing Collaboratively

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 2 IDENTIFY a writing process that suits your writing style PLAN your document DRAFT and REVISE your document EDIT your document COLLABORATE constructively with others Goals The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 3 The writing process contains five stages: –planning –drafting –revising –copyediting –publishing A Process for Technical Writing The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 4 To manage the stages of the technical writing process effectively, you should understand these features of the process: –Writing is recursive. –Writing takes time. –Writing is different for everyone A Process for Technical Writing The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 5 Writing is easier when you have a plan. –First, choose a topic. –Second, decide how to shape and organize that topic. –Third, conduct research to get more information Planning The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 6 To choose a topic, use one or all of the following strategies: –Freewriting Open freewriting Focused freewriting Looping –Journaling Choosing a Topic The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 7 To shape an idea, use one or all of the following strategies: –Questioning –Reading –Mapping –Outlining Shaping an Idea The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 8 When drafting, you will write a paper that will change. At this stage, you will write the: –introduction –subtopics –conclusion When revising, you will make changes to: –content –organization –word choice Drafting and Revising The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 9 Copyediting means proofreading for spelling, grammar, and consistency. Publishing means sending your document to the person who requested it Copyediting and Publishing The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 10 Many writing projects are done collaboratively. The more complex and longer your project, the more likely you are to work with others. Writing collaboratively allows you to use others’ strengths along with your own Writing Collaboratively The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 11 Collaboration: –Brings together different knowledge. –Brings together different talents. –Allows different perspectives and viewpoints. –Improves work relationships. –Is enjoyable. –Keeps one person from being responsible for the entire project Advantages of Collaboration The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 12 Collaboration: –Can be a dreaded event. –Can include conflict. –Can take longer than working alone. –Can take away personal motivation. –Can encourage groupthink. –Can lead to unequal workloads. –Can produce fragmented writing Disadvantages of Collaboration The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 13 A collaborative writing project can be organized in one or more of the following ways: –Different people submit data to a central person who compiles the information. –Different people write different stages. –Groups divide research tasks and come together to write Organizing Collaborative Projects The Writing Process

Chapter © 2005 Thomson South-Western 14 To apply good work habits and contribute to the group effort, you must: –Do your share of the work. –Come prepared to each meeting. –Be interested in the project. –Be on time to meetings. –Do not take criticism personally Using Positive Work Habits The Writing Process