The Writing ProcessThe Writing Process

Created by D. HerringCreated by D. Herring

Edited by Prof. BonkoskyEdited by Prof. Bonkosky

Stages of the Writing ProcessStages of the Writing Process

There are several stages to the There are several stages to the Writing Process. Writing Process. Each stage is Each stage is essential.essential. PrewritingPrewriting Writing (Drafting)Writing (Drafting) RevisingRevising EditingEditing

I. PrewritingI. Prewriting

Choose/narrow your topicChoose/narrow your topic Determine yourDetermine your

AudienceAudience PurposePurpose ToneTone Point-of-viewPoint-of-view TenseTense

Explore your topicExplore your topic Make a planMake a plan

Choose/Narrow Your TopicChoose/Narrow Your Topic

Your topic should pass the 3-Your topic should pass the 3-question test:question test:

1.1. Does it interest me?Does it interest me?

2.2. Do I have something to say Do I have something to say about it?about it?

3.3. Is it specific?Is it specific?

Determine Your AudienceDetermine Your Audience

Your Your AudienceAudience is composed of is composed of those who will read your writing.those who will read your writing.

Ask yourself:Ask yourself: Who are my readers?Who are my readers? What do my readers know about What do my readers know about

my topic?my topic? What do my readers need to know What do my readers need to know

about my topic?about my topic? How do my readers feel about my How do my readers feel about my

topic?topic?

Determine Your PurposeDetermine Your Purpose

PurposePurpose is the reason you are is the reason you are writing.writing.

Whenever you write, you Whenever you write, you always always have a purposehave a purpose. Most writing fits . Most writing fits into one of 3 categories:into one of 3 categories: Expressive WritingExpressive Writing Informative WritingInformative Writing Persuasive WritingPersuasive Writing

More than one of these may be More than one of these may be used, but one will be used, but one will be primaryprimary..

Determine TenseDetermine Tense

TenseTense is the voice you use to is the voice you use to designate the time of the action designate the time of the action or state of being.or state of being. Present tensePresent tense Past tensePast tense Future tenseFuture tense

Explore Your TopicExplore Your Topic

Pre-writing Techniques:Pre-writing Techniques: Brainstorming/ListingBrainstorming/Listing FreewritingFreewriting Clustering/MappingClustering/Mapping QuestioningQuestioning DiscussingDiscussing OutliningOutlining

SupportSupport

Be sure to evaluate the Be sure to evaluate the information in your prewriting information in your prewriting carefully in order to choose the carefully in order to choose the bestbest support for your topic. support for your topic. Primary Support—major ideas or Primary Support—major ideas or

examplesexamples that back up your main that back up your main pointspoints

Secondary Support—Secondary Support—detailsdetails which which further explain your primary further explain your primary supportsupport

OrderOrder

The Order is the sequence in The Order is the sequence in which you present your ideas.which you present your ideas.

There are 3 types of order:There are 3 types of order: Time (chronological) orderTime (chronological) order Space orderSpace order Emphatic order (order of Emphatic order (order of

importance: least-to-most, most-importance: least-to-most, most-to-least)to-least)

Structure/OrganizationStructure/Organization

Consider how your essay will Consider how your essay will be organized; then create an be organized; then create an Outline.Outline.

Sample Outline of standard Sample Outline of standard 5-paragraph essay:5-paragraph essay:

A.A. IntroductionIntroductionB.B. Body Paragraph 1Body Paragraph 1C.C. Body Paragraph 2Body Paragraph 2D.D. Body Paragraph 3Body Paragraph 3E.E. ConclusionConclusion

II. WritingII. Writing

During the Writing Stage, you During the Writing Stage, you shouldshould Compose a draftCompose a draft

A A DraftDraft is the first whole version of all is the first whole version of all your ideas put together; it’s a “dress your ideas put together; it’s a “dress rehearsal.”rehearsal.”

You should plan to revise your Draft You should plan to revise your Draft several times throughout the writing several times throughout the writing process.process.

Creating Your Title Creating Your Title

Your writing’s title Your writing’s title shouldshould:: Be originalBe original Be a reasonable lengthBe a reasonable length Reflect your topicReflect your topic Be lively and attention-gettingBe lively and attention-getting

Your title Your title should NOTshould NOT:: Be generic/repeat the assignmentBe generic/repeat the assignment Be in ALL CAPSBe in ALL CAPS Be in Be in boldfaceboldface, “quotation marks,” , “quotation marks,”

underlinedunderlined, or , or italicizeditalicized Be followed by a periodBe followed by a period

Titles, continuedTitles, continued

Capitalization Rules for Titles:Capitalization Rules for Titles: Always capitalize the first letter of Always capitalize the first letter of

the first word and the last word.the first word and the last word. Capitalize the first letter of each Capitalize the first letter of each

“important” word in between the “important” word in between the first and last words.first and last words. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the)Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) Do not capitalize coordinating Do not capitalize coordinating

conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.)conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at, Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at,

in, off, etc.)in, off, etc.)

Writing a DraftWriting a Draft

Basics of a good draft:Basics of a good draft: Has a fully developed introduction Has a fully developed introduction

and conclusionand conclusion Has fully developed body Has fully developed body

paragraphs, each containing a paragraphs, each containing a topic sentence, at least two topic sentence, at least two examples, and detailed supportexamples, and detailed support

Follows standard structure and Follows standard structure and uses complete sentencesuses complete sentences

Write Your Body ParagraphsWrite Your Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should Each body paragraph should

develop one of the specific develop one of the specific points mentioned in the thesis.points mentioned in the thesis.

Each BP should contain:Each BP should contain: Topic Sentence—main idea of BPTopic Sentence—main idea of BP Primary Support—examples Primary Support—examples Secondary Support—detailsSecondary Support—details

Body Paragraphs: Topic SentenceBody Paragraphs: Topic Sentence

A A Topic SentenceTopic Sentence expresses the expresses the main idea of the body paragraph.main idea of the body paragraph.

Begin each body paragraph with a Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence thatTopic Sentence that Narrows the focus of the paragraphNarrows the focus of the paragraph Accurately predicts the direction of the Accurately predicts the direction of the

paragraphparagraph Refers back to the Thesis statementRefers back to the Thesis statement

Body Paragraphs continuedBody Paragraphs continued

Body paragraphs must haveBody paragraphs must have UnityUnity—everything refers back to —everything refers back to

main pointmain point SupportSupport—examples and details—examples and details CoherenceCoherence—all points connect to —all points connect to

form a whole; one point leads to form a whole; one point leads to anotheranother

Write Your ConclusionWrite Your Conclusion

The concluding paragraph The concluding paragraph shouldshould Contain a minimum of 4 Contain a minimum of 4

sentencessentences Refer back to the main point, but Refer back to the main point, but

not simply not simply repeatrepeat the thesis the thesis Make an observation on what is Make an observation on what is

writtenwritten NOT introduce any new ideasNOT introduce any new ideas Create a sense of closureCreate a sense of closure

III. RevisingIII. Revising

RevisingRevising is finding & correcting is finding & correcting problems with problems with contentcontent; changing the ; changing the ideas in your writing to make them ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more clearer, stronger, and more convincing.convincing.

Revising looks at the “Big Picture”—Revising looks at the “Big Picture”—the Idea level.the Idea level.

Revision StrategiesRevision Strategies

Look forLook for Unity Unity

Does everything refer back to main point?Does everything refer back to main point? Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis?Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis? Does each sentence in each BP refer back to the Does each sentence in each BP refer back to the

topic sentence?topic sentence? Detail and support Detail and support

Does each BP contain at least two examples?Does each BP contain at least two examples? Is each example followed by at least one Is each example followed by at least one

supporting detail?supporting detail? Coherence Coherence

Are all points connect to form a whole?Are all points connect to form a whole? Are transitions used to move from one idea to the Are transitions used to move from one idea to the

next? next?

Revision TipsRevision Tips

Take a break from your draft Take a break from your draft before attempting to revise.before attempting to revise.

Read your draft out loud and Read your draft out loud and listen to your words.listen to your words.

Imagine yourself as your reader.Imagine yourself as your reader. Look for consistent problem Look for consistent problem

areas.areas. Get feedback from peers.Get feedback from peers. Get help from a tutor!Get help from a tutor!

IV. EditingIV. Editing

EditingEditing is finding and correcting is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and word choice & usage, and punctuation.punctuation.

Editing focuses on the “Little Editing focuses on the “Little Picture”—Word level.Picture”—Word level.

V- Publishing: The Final copyV- Publishing: The Final copy

Share your piece of writing with Share your piece of writing with the class.the class.

Turn it in to be graded Turn it in to be graded