The Writing Process

by

Dr. David H. Luciano

The Writing Process

Writing is called a process because it goes through a series of changes or stages.
prewriting

drafting

revising proofreading

publishing

Prewriting (Stage 1)
Use prewriting techniques to gather ideas brainstorming interviewing Making a list freewriting

Keeping a journal Asking questions (who, what, when, where, why, and how).

Prewriting (Stage 1)

Ordering or organizing your ideas. The following chart shows some graphic organizers and the types of assignments for which they might be useful.
GOAL To organize related ideas GRAPHIC ORGNIZER Cluster or Web TYPE OF WRITING Biographical sketch Scene description Observation report Comparison and contrast essay Cause-and-effect essay Problem-and-solution essay

Prewriting (Stage 1)

Ordering or organizing your ideas. The following chart shows some graphic organizers and the types of assignments for which they might be useful.
GOAL GRAPHIC ORGNIZER TYPE OF WRITING Story/play/persona narrative Observation report Research report

To organize events in Series-of-Events time order Chain

To outline a narrative

Story map

Story/play personal narrative Response to literature/book report

Prewriting (Stage 1)

Ordering or organizing your ideas. The following chart shows some graphic organizers and the types of assignments for which they might be useful.
GOAL To distinguish important ideas from details GRAPHIC ORGNIZER Idea-and-details chart TYPE OF WRITING Observation report Informative essay Research report Persuasive essay

To make a detailed plan before writing

Outline

Observation report Business letter Persuasive essay Response to literature How-to-essay Story/play

Drafting (Stage 2)

Putting ideas down on paper. Exploring more ideas as you write.

It is like an experiment; try to see what works best to express your ideas.

Your draft is like your plan. You can use one of the following organizational plans.
Chronological order Spatial order Order of importance Logical order

Drafting (Stage 2)

Think about how to open your paper. (Introductions).

Some examples of introductions are: a statement of the main point a vivid description a startling fact or statistic dialogue a question a quotation

Drafting (Stage 2)

Elaboration is the process of adding details to a piece of writing.

Some types of elaboration are: Facts and statistics Sensory details Anecdotes Examples Quotations Personal feelings Memories Observations reasons

Drafting (Stage 2)
Ending your paper (Conclusions)

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It has to give a sense of closure.

Some examples on how to end or conclude your paper are: Summarize your main points. Resolve conflicts and problems. Recommend an action or solution. Offer a final comment or ask a question. Make a prediction

Revising (Stage 3)
Consulting with peer readers Evaluating suggested changes Making revisions

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Peer response-ask peer readers to write responses to

questions that you create: Where does my writing seem more vivid? What main ideas come through to you? Which parts of my writing seem vague or incomplete? Which sentences did you have to reread before you

understood them?

Revising (Stage 3)
The revision stage is always necessary, it is always possible to improve your writing. Here are some tips to help you revise your paper: Take a break. Look it over.

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Read aloud.
Share your work.

Proofreading (Stage 4)

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It is the process of finding and correcting errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Grammar Check (Stage 4)

It is the process of finding and correcting errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Grammar Check Have your written any run-on sentences or fragments? Do your subjects and verbs agree? Usage Check Have you used the past forms of irregular verbs correctly? Have you used subject and object pronouns correctly?

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Proofreading (Stage 4)
Punctuation Check Have you closed each sentence with the correct end mark? Have you used apostrophes in nouns, but not in pronouns to show possession? Have you avoided plagiarism by using quotation marks around any words from another source?

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Capitalilzation Check Did you begin each sentence or direct quotation with a capital letter? Have you capitalized proper nouns?

Spelling Check Did you leave a letter out of a word?

Publishing (Stage 5)

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Once you have finished your paper it is time for publishing. In other words sharing your work with the professor so it can be scrutinized, corrected, and graded.