The Writing Process

Drafting

Don’t wait until the last minute!Establish a schedule that works for youBreak down your writing taskExpect surprisesExpect to do more than one draft

Writer’s Block

Think of an assignment as a problem to be solved. Write it out in a single sentence.

Stop trying. Take a break. Come back refreshed.

Free write, brainstorm, outlineResearch what others have said

Assessing Your Own Writing

When writing for yourself – don’t worryPersonal writing = lengthWhen writing for others…

◦Make sure your points come across clearly◦What needs work? What still needs work?

What do you need to say more (or less) of?

Consider the Rhetorical Situation

PurposeAudienceGenreStance

Reviewing Your Writing

Focus◦Thesis◦Introduction & Conclusion

Support◦Reasons, Evidence

OrganizationClarity

Getting Responses

Others can point out problems that you do not see in your own text

Answer specific questions you may have about the audience of your text

Revising

Major changes to the essayLayered

◦Whole-Text◦Details

Give yourself time to reviseSharpen your focusStrengthen the argumentClarifyRewriting – pg. 239

Editing

Details◦Paragraphs, Sentences, etc.

ParagraphsSentencesWords

Proofreading

Clean up your work for presentationSpell checkFormatting