1. Introduction to Writing

2. The Writing Process Prewriting Time to think
Publishing Time to share my writing
Editing
Time to make things correct
Revising
Time to improve my writing
Drafting
Time to write it down

4. “Of a good beginning cometh a good end.” – John Heywood
Prewrite
“Of a good beginning cometh a good end.”
– John Heywood

5. Prewriting Questions to consider: What do I want to say?
How do I want to say it?
Who will read my writing?
What else do I need to know to begin?
Who can I talk to about my ideas?

6. What does What do you want to say? your assignment say?
Read carefully.
Highlight key terms.
Ask questions.
Use what you know.
Choose a topic of interest.
So begin by considering what and why you are writing. Is it a specific question on a prompt that you have to answer? Or are you supposed to develop your own topic?
This is a really important step in the process because you have to know why you are responding. What is the point for writing this paper?
How you answer will affect how you go about writing. What type of assignment is it? Is it a question from your instructor? Is it a topic that you have proposed yourself? If you have an assignment, or prompt, read it carefully.
One way that you can discover what you are supposed to be writing about is to look for the KEY WORDS in the assignment.
Words like:
Analyze
Compare
Contrast
Define
Describe
Discuss
Evaluate
Explain
Identify
Illustrate
Interpret
Prove
State
Summarize
Highlight these words to help you figure out exactly what you are to do.
If you are still unsure, go to the instructor. Make sure you understand exactly what is required. If not, go ask! Instructors do not mind answering your questions. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Writing off topic will definitely make you sorry!
If you have several questions to choose from, try to jot down some ideas for each one. See which question gets you to start writing the most. Remember: the more you can write about a single topic, the easier it will be to write the actual paper. Pick the topic that can get you writing!
One of the hardest aspects of writing is coming up with the ideas.
The first thing you want to do is pick a topic or subject that is interesting to you. The formulate a thesis.

7. Topic vs. Thesis Topic Thesis What you are writing about
Time management of college students
Without time management, college students cannot complete all of their important tasks each day.
Thesis
Your claim, argument, or recommendation
Think about your audience as you come up with a thesis. Most academic papers are written not just to prove to the instructor that the student learned something, but to show the instructor a new way to view something he or she already knows. Also, most instructors want students to display critical thinking, a good argument with plenty of evidence, and a clear writing style.

8. Listing Start with the middle circle and write a topic.
Write down random ideas. Use lines to connect these ideas.
See if there is one “cluster” of ideas and start from there.

9. Clustering Start with the middle circle and write a topic.
Write down random ideas. Use lines to connect these ideas.
See if there is one “cluster” of ideas and start from there.
Clustering helps you organize ideas as well as generate them. It’s great for visual/spatial learners.

10. The First Draft
I never know what I think about something until I read what I’ve written on it.
— William Faulkner
First drafts are usually very rough—revise later!
Focus on getting ideas on paper. Tailoring the prose to your reader’s needs and expectations comes later.
You don’t have to start with an introduction. Write down your thesis and begin to
develop support. ,

11. Drafting Questions to consider: Are my thoughts organized?
Which ideas do I want to develop?
In what order do I want to say them?
Who can read this and offer suggestion?

12. Freewriting Write quickly without stopping, 5-10 minutes.
Can’t think of anything? Write “I’m stuck, I can’t think of anything!”—you will at least be moving your pen.
Keep writing.
Read what you did.
This is good when you have a block or have to find a topic. It’s a good method for verbal learners.
At the end of ten minutes, re-read and underline your most compelling idea. Then, if this seems to be working, write that idea at the top of a clean sheet of paper and start again.

13. Recording
Keep a notebook at all times—you never know when ideas will come to you.
Think about your topic throughout the day, and pay attention to things in the world related to it. Is something relevant happening in the news? Did you notice anything on campus? Did someone express an opinion on your topic? Write your observations down. If you’d rather not use a notebook, use a memo app in your smart phone and record yourself speaking notes.
Keep a notebook at all times—you never know when ideas will come to you!

14. Researching
There are thousands of academic articles that you can use from your school library including databases from online sources. Utilize them.
Before we can create our thesis, we need to begin our research.
In order to truly be able to write a good paper, you need to find other sources that can back up your argument. Since we are not yet at the argument stage, this type of research helps you discover what you want to argue.
There are several ways in which we can research:
First, you can use the Library Databases. This brings academic articles to your fingertips and allows you to see what others are saying about your topic.
You could also peruse the extensive collection of books at the TAMU Libraries.
You could go through archives and find newspaper articles or magazine stories that relate to your topic.
And you can go talk to your professor about your ideas. They usually are a great resource for helping change a topic into a thesis.
All of this research is for you to be able to figure out what you are arguing or claiming. You are trying to discover what your thesis will be.

15. Research Tips Take careful notes. Keep track of all of your sources.
Avoid plagiarizing.
Make a distinction between direct quotes and paraphrased information in your notes.
Plagiarism will get you into a lot of trouble. Academics see it as a very serious offense because when you use someone else’s ideas or words without giving credit, you are seen to be stealing. If you cite properly, you:
Give credit to the author
Protect intellectual property
Allow readers to cross-reference sources
Add credibility to your argument
To avoid plagiarizing, be careful to make a distinction in your notes between direct quotes, summarization, and paraphrased information. [Describe the difference between quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing if they don’t know.]

16. Organization
Decide on length and organization based on the assignment’s purpose, audience, and thesis.
Use an outline, list, or a rough draft to begin.
Take those lists and notes and get to organizing them. If you have not already done so, now is the time to decide on a thesis, or main argument. Don’t be limited by a 5-paragraph structure. Decide on paragraphs based on your assignment, your audience, and your thesis. What sort of set up and support does your thesis need? What are the usual parts of the sort of paper you are writing?

17. Introduction Captures your audience’s interest
Provides background on your subject
States your thesis
Remember that your main concern in writing is to communicate with your reader, so the introduction should provide context so that your reader knows what you will be discussing.
Following your introduction, the body of your paper will contain your argument, discussion, etc.

18. Conclusion Restates your argument
Recommends a solution or states why your argument matters
The conclusion should restate the argument, wrap up the discussion, and perhaps recommend a solution. It should both summarize and reflect.

19. RevisE “The first draft reveals the art; revision reveals the artist.”
—Michael Lee
Some revision techniques that really make the difference between a great and a good paper:
Create a new outline for your draft.
Check the clarity of your transitions from paragraph to paragraph.
Make sure the argument is logical and relates to the thesis.
Check the evidence.
On style:
Consider your…Word choice, Ask yourself…Can I use slang?
Consider your…Sentence types/lengths, Ask yourself…Is this a formal or informal paper? If it’s formal, you want more longer and more complex sentences. But always vary the sentence lengths and types so the writing has variety.
Consider your…Tone, Ask yourself…What kinds of evidence are normally used for this type of reader? If they are experts, they will want more fact-based evidence and careful logic. If they are a popular audience, they may be more swayed by emotional arguments and not want the source for every fact.

20. Revising Questions to consider: Have I read what I have written?
Are my details clear?
Should I add or take out parts?
Have I used the best ideas and words?
Is my writing in a sensible order?
What suggestions have others made?

21. RevisE
Some revision techniques that really make the difference between a great and a good paper:
Create a new outline for your draft.
Check the clarity of your transitions from paragraph to paragraph.
Make sure the argument is logical and relates to the thesis.
Check the evidence.
On style:
Consider your…Word choice, Ask yourself…Can I use slang?
Consider your…Sentence types/lengths, Ask yourself…Is this a formal or informal paper? If it’s formal, you want more longer and more complex sentences. But always vary the sentence lengths and types so the writing has variety.
Consider your…Tone, Ask yourself…What kinds of evidence are normally used for this type of reader? If they are experts, they will want more fact-based evidence and careful logic. If they are a popular audience, they may be more swayed by emotional arguments and not want the source for every fact.

22. Editing Questions to consider: Have I used complete sentences?
Are my spelling, capitalization, and punctuation correct?
Have I marked corrections that I need?
Has someone checked my work?
Do I have a correct and neat copy?

23. Now, you are ready to write effectively. Prepared by:
Jeremias Dacillo Jr, SPUQC
Some revision techniques that really make the difference between a great and a good paper:
Create a new outline for your draft.
Check the clarity of your transitions from paragraph to paragraph.
Make sure the argument is logical and relates to the thesis.
Check the evidence.
On style:
Consider your…Word choice, Ask yourself…Can I use slang?
Consider your…Sentence types/lengths, Ask yourself…Is this a formal or informal paper? If it’s formal, you want more longer and more complex sentences. But always vary the sentence lengths and types so the writing has variety.
Consider your…Tone, Ask yourself…What kinds of evidence are normally used for this type of reader? If they are experts, they will want more fact-based evidence and careful logic. If they are a popular audience, they may be more swayed by emotional arguments and not want the source for every fact.