The Writing Process

"There is no good writing--only good rewriting!"

Prewriting 1st Draft 2nd Draft Final Draft
Ideas are the most important Pay attention to ideas and Pay attention to ideas, Pay attention to ideas,
thing. Don't worry about organization. For this class, don't organization, grammar, organization, grammar,
grammar, spelling, worry about grammar, spelling, spelling, punctuation, etc. spelling, punctuation,
organization, punctuation, etc. punctuation too much in your first clarity, format etc. (Be sure
Examples of prewriting: draft. to save your work on disk).
• Get ideas • Group similar ideas • Add to and • Fix any mistakes
• Brainstorm together change your 1st in your 2nd draft
• Draw a picture • Write a topic draft • Type your paper
• Talk to someone sentence • Make sure your on the computer
• Make a word web • Write supporting ideas are clear • Spell-check your
• Free write details • Be careful about paper
• Make a plan • Write a conclusion spelling, • Grammar-check
• Write an outline • Write a good title grammar, etc. your paper
• Think about your • Ask a friend for • If possible, ask a • Try to get a
topic suggestions on ideas native English native speaker or
• Do research and organization speaker or a teacher to check
• Native language teacher for your paper
okay suggestions
How do good native English-speaking writers write? They follow this chart. Each language has a different writing style and
sometimes a different writing process. When you write in English, follow this writing process. (Write as many drafts as necessary
until your paper is excellent). For timed essay tests, quickly pre-write. Then write a draft and revise it.