1. Prewriting
The purpose for writing (narrative, informative, analyzing, etc.)
Who is the audience for the writing?
Brainstorming – generating ideas
Researching – gathering information to answer the question (needs to be focused, credible, and cited)
Planning – organizing and outlining what you want to say

2. Drafting AKA Rough Draft
This is writing the FIRST version of your essay.
You want to make sure you are staying on topic. Tip: write your thesis statement on a post-it and have it posted where you are writing your rough draft. As you are writing, continuously ask “does this support my thesis?”
Avoid passive voice. What is passive voice? When the subject in the sentence isn’t the do-er in the sentence. Ex. The essay was written by Sarah.
When given a final due date for your entire paper, you want to give yourself time to think about your completed rough draft.

3. Revising
People often think revising and editing are the same thing…THEY AREN’T!
With revising you can:
Add, omit, or change details (Do you need to be more descriptive?)
Check for repetition (Do you use the same word over and over and over and over?)
Check length of sentences (Do you only use simple sentences?)
Reorganize (Do you need to reorder thing?)
Revision is viewed as rebuilding your argument.

4. Editing Tip: Read your essay backwards.
Editing is simply checking for small errors:
Spelling
Grammar
Punctuation
Tip: Read your essay backwards.
Example: I Figured Grandpamight no what to do but he was out on a date with Ms. Fredericks. I Waked Rodrick up & asked him whut to do, and he said I should call Dad.

5. Publishing
Just means turning it in…to your teacher…to your professor…to your boss…

6. Tips for writing assignments
Start early…do NOT procrastinate. If you procrastinate, you might not give yourself time to go through the entire writing process.
Chunk your writing. Come up with a schedule of when things should get done.
Take breaks. Your brain needs time to think.
Save all of your drafts. Do NOT save over a draft!!!!
Proofread from a hard copy.
Have several people read your essay before it is published.