1. The POWER Writing Process
A system to get writers from blank page to finished product in five easy steps.
A way to help students create better quality writing projects.

2. Power helps students avoid this shocking scenario.

3. POWER is an acronym. P is for Prewriting O is for Organizing
W is for Write a rough draft
E is for Evaluate
R is for Revise and Rewrite

4. P is for PREWRITE Prewriting is defined as the search for ideas.
Ways to Prewrite
Brainstorming or Listing
Clustering or Mapping or Webbing
Free writing
5W-How questions (the reporter’s questions)
Create a timeline
Change point of view
Do not judge ideas as good or bad; just get as many ideas as possible.

5. Brainstorming or Listing
Brainstorming or listing involves simply making a list of whatever ideas come to mind about the subject being considered.
Brainstorm on the subject of summer vacation.
Sleeping late
Cubs games
baseball games
hot weather
children to pool
root beer

6. Assignment: Brainstorm on the
subject of Vacations.

7. Clustering or Mapping Boots Dress Shoes Other Shoe Uses Shoes Athletic

8. Assignment: Cluster ideas about Sports

9. Free Writing
Free writing is defined as writing for a certain amount of time in paragraph form without stopping
If you get stuck, you should ask yourself, “What should I write about next?”
For example, write without stopping for three minutes on the subject of who in history you would most want to spend an hour talking to and why.

10. The 5W-How Questions. These questions help students prewrite before research.
What
Where
When
Why
How
Who wants to be cloned? Who wants to stop cloning? Who was the first person to clone?
What was the first organism to be cloned? What is a benefit of cloning?
Where was cloning first done? Where is cloning experimentation occurring now?
When did the first successful cloning occur? When will humans be successfully cloned?
Why is cloning opposed by many religious groups?
How is cloning done? How long has cloning been possible?

11. Time line Time lines help students put events in order.
Time line for “Walter Mitty”
A surgeon
performing a
delicate
procedure.
Flying
Hydroplane
in a storm
Defendant
in murder
trial
fantasy
reality
Driving his
car to town.
Driving past
a hospital
Hears newsboy
yelling about
the Waterbury
Trial

12. Change the point of view. Look at
object or event from an unusual point of view.
Parent’s point of view
Football Game
Football’s
point of view
Cheerleader’s
point of view
Coach’s point of view

13. O is for Organize the Ideas
Organizing has two parts.
Students must select the ideas they will use Brainstorm on the subject of summer vacation.
Sleeping late
Cubs games
baseball games 1
hot weather
children to pool 4
root beer
Students must put those ideas in order.

14. Basic Organizational Patterns
Chronological (Time Order)
next, then, later, after that, first,
Compare or Contrast
Similarly, but, however, on the other hand, in comparison, in contrast
Give the process for …
Explain in order
Discuss the events that led up to
What are the steps of …
What are three differences between …
What are two similarities between …
Compare/ Contrast ...

15. Basic Organizational Patterns cont.
Order of Importance (student chooses the most effective order of ideas)
next, then, another, also, first, in addition
Spatial (logical order in space i.e. left to right, top to bottom, inside to outside.)
below, above, to the left, next to
What are three results of …
Discuss four elements of …
What are three solutions for the problem of …
Describe the appearance of …
analyze the structure of ...

16. W is for Write a rough draft
What is a
Rough Draft?
A rough draft is a practice copy.
It allows the student to write
without pressure because it does
not matter if the writer makes
mistakes. It also is allows the
writer to experiment with sentences
word choice, and organization.
Finally, it acts as a kind of free
writing and helps the writer come up
with additional ideas.

17. Really Important Rough Draft Rule:
There are no Rules!
Just Do One!

18. E is for Evaluate Evaluate means to look for ways to improve.
Students should focus on improving three aspects of the essay.
Each aspect should be examined separately.

19. We evaluate COS Content Organization Style Students examine FOCUS
Students look to improve SUPPORT
Students check for an introduction, body, conclusion.
Students review the Organization of the ideas.
Students look to add transition
Students read for complete sentences
Students review word choice
Students proofread

20. R is for Revise and Rewrite
Revision involves actually making the improvements
the were decided upon during Evaluation.
Evaluation and Revision are often done together.

21. Revise and Rewrite CONT.
Rewrite means to write a clean second draft using an accepted manuscript form.
Handwritten:
Blue or Black ink recommended
Margins on both the left and right side of the paper
Required classroom heading with the student’s name, etc.
Word Processor
Size 12 font
Double spaced
clearly readable font appropriate for academic writing

22. POWER P is for Prewriting O is for Organizing
W is for Write a rough draft
E is for Evaluate
R is for Revise and Rewrite