1. Planning and Shaping Your Writing

2. BRAINSTORMING Can be started as soon as the paper is assigned
Helps organize your thoughts
Start by thinking of possible topics that interest you.
Then think of a thesis statement surrounding that topic (be as specific as possible)

3. BRAINSTORMING
Can come in the form of a cluster web or even writing simple notes for yourself…

4. OUTLINING
Allows you to gather information and ideas and organize it all
Can prevent frustration and procrastination

5. PREWRITING
Involves answering the basic questions: who, what, when, where, why and how ??
Also, any other questions the reader might ask including counter arguments.

6. Prewriting What is prewriting? Strategies for prewriting:
Prewriting is the first stage in writing your paper. This is when you figure out what you will write about, outline your ideas, and begin to write.
Strategies for prewriting:
-writing down any ideas that come to your head and then going over them and finding possible similarities
-clustering: coming up with a single, main idea and then branching out from that idea into smaller ideas that will help support your main idea
-questions: ask yourself the main questions to help get more detailed with your ideas-who, what, where, when, why, how?

7. Brainstorming What is brainstorming? Why brainstorm?
Brainstorming can either be done alone or with a group and is a technique used to try and come up with an idea or topic by going over multiple random ideas.
Why brainstorm?
Brainstorming is a great way of getting all your ideas out there and then figuring out which one you want to write about. In a group setting you are generally able to come up with more than you would alone, and there will be more of a variety in topics.

8. Outlining What is outlining? Example of how to make an outline:
Outlining is used as a way of setting up or formatting your paper. It helps to give you a visual of what each paragraph of your paper will include.
Example of how to make an outline:
I. Introduction
A. Thesis
B. Statement of main points
II. Body
A. First point made
1. Information given to support first point
B. Second point made
1. Information given to support second point
C. Third point made
1. Information given to support third point
III. Conclusion
A. Restate main idea
B. Summary of points made

9. Structure: intro Tell what you're going to tell them
Introduction and Thesis
Hook
Introduces your reader to your topic, but never say “in this essay I will”. Don’t announce it.
Clearly state your position in your thesis!
An example of a good thesis:
Illegal drug use is detrimental because it encourages gang violence.
An example of a poor thesis:
Drug use is detrimental to society.

10. Structure: body paragraphs
Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence to keep focus in each paragraph – do not use a quote as a topic sentence; just your claim
Provide supporting evidence for credibility
Depending on the goal of your essay choose to limit opinion
* Have a paragraph addressing the opposing point of view and refuting, if a position paper

11. Structure: conclusion Tell them what you told them
Don’t introduce a new topic
Don’t say “in conclusion” or “in sum”
Summarize the main points
Revisit your thesis without restating it

13. The Editing and Revising Process
Editing, revising and proofreading are critical steps to producing a polished product
After completing a draft, a writer must revisit his or her writing to make sure it conveys the message he or she intends to convey

14. The Revising and Proofreading Process
Revision vs. Proofreading: What is the difference?
Revision occurs right after completing a draft. When you first edit, you reread your draft, checking for things like content and clarity. You then revise your writing.
Proofreading comes after editing for content and clarity. In this process, you check for mechanical errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation
Source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Editing and Proofreading.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d. Web. 18 March 2012.

15. The Editing and Revising Process
Proofreading:
Spellcheck and other computer programs cannot replace human editing. The writer’s job is to keep the audience in mind. Computer programs cannot “anticipate [the] responses” of human readers.
Suggestions:
Take a step back from your draft so you can edit it with a fresh eye
Read your writing aloud. Your ear may pick up on new things
Make sure each word is necessary for clarity or flow
Avoid flourishes that obscure your meaning
Ask another person to read your draft out loud and give you feedback
Check with the assignment guidelines to make sure you have completed the work to meet expectations
Sources: Cooper, Kim. “Editing the Essay, Part One.” Writing Resources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 18 March <
Cooper, Kim. “Editing the Essay, Part Two.” Writing Resources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 18 March <

16. The Editing and Revising Process
Proofreading
This should be the final step of the editing process. Again, spellcheck will not replace human editing. Spellcheck often will not catch errors such as “you’re” versus “your”
Suggestions:
Read your paper backwards, word-by-word. That way you will not be distracted by content and can focus on the mechanics
Pay careful attention to less obvious things like parallel construction and the use of who/whom/that
Source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Editing and Proofreading.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d. Web. 18 March 2012.
Cooper, Kim. “Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style.” Writing Resources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 18 March <

17. MLA basics 12pt size font Double spaced throughout One inch margins
First line of paragraphs indented
Create a header with your last name and page numbers on each page on the upper right hand

18. MLA first page
In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date.
Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or put your title in quotation marks; write the first letter of each the first letter of each important (not and, or, of) word as upper case.
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.

19. MLA citing sources Embed quotes smoothly in your paper
Put in parenthesis at the end of the sentence the source and page number
Ex: the small girl “ate many apples daily” (New York Times 1).

20. Works Cited
Abrams, Elizabeth. "Essay Structure." The Writing Center at Harvard University Web. 15 Mar Cooper, Kim. “Editing the Essay, Part One.” Writing Resources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 18 March < Cooper, Kim. “Editing the Essay, Part Two.” Writing Resources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 18 March < Cooper, Kim. “Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style.” Writing Resources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 18 March < The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, Web. 14 March < The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Editing and Proofreading.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d. Web. 18 March