Writing as a Process

 Donald Murray- In 1992, he proposed that teachers

should “Teach writing as a process, not a Product”
 Thismeans that writing consist of more than just
drafting a paper but rather compose of three stages
Implication on the concept of writing as a
process:
Writing is a social activity; that an act of writing can be a
means of learning and discovery
Three Process of Writing (Murray)

 The Pre-writing Stage

 The Writing Stage
 The Rewriting Stage
The Pre-Writing Stage of the Writing
Process
 A. Choosing a Topic and Limiting It
 The pre-writing stage is defined as “everything that takes place
before the first draft” (Murray, 1972). It begins with the
BRAINSTORMING EXERCISES AND PRELIMINARY
RESEARCH TO SELECT A TOPIC. Once a topic has been
chosen, this should be limited based on the type of written output
required. A quick survey of related sources on the general topic is
helpful in limiting the topic to a more specific area of study.
Student writers should ask the following
practical questions:
1. What are the objectives that needs to be met by this paper?
2. What are my objectives in writing this paper?
3. What are the length requirements of this paper?
4. How much do I need to write?
5. What are the other restrictions or limits imposed by the professor or
the course?
6. What has been written about this topic, and what new ideas can I add
to the conversation about it?
Example of notes leading up to the selection of a narrow
and focused topic for a documented essay.

 Brainstorming:
 Philippine culture expressions, terms, behaviour, and practices unique to the
Philippines expressions like “Ano ba yan!” “ukay-ukay” “Philippine hospitality”,
bringing home pasalubong, the so-called tingi-tingi system.
 General Topic Selected:
 The tingi-tingi system (the practice of buying and selling by piece or small
amounts, e.g., one stick of cigarette versus a pack, a sachet of shampoo versus a
bottle).
 Specific Topic:
 The cultural significance of the tingi-tingi system in the 21st century.
  SPEAK AND
SELL: THE LINGUISTIC
ACCOMMODATION STRATEGIES IN
MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING COMPANIES
Asking Research Questions and Establishing the
Significance of One’s Research

 Next helpful step is to barrage the specific topic

with questions to come up with the essay’s
Research Question.
 Questions that ask who, what, when or where
should be used as background research questions
 What does the “tingi-tingi” system means?
 What is the nature of the tingi?
 Who exactly practices it?
 When did this practice begin?
 Where is this practiced? In what context/s?
 Questions such as how and why are more likely to
invite a deeper research and lead to more
interesting answers?
 Why is tingi-tingi system a prevalent practice in the
Philippines?
 How did it develop? How was it practiced in the past?
How is it practiced today?
 Finally student should pose a tougher question, the “so
what?” question: now that I know all of this, “so what?”
what makes my research socially and culturally
significant?
 The “so what?” question is the main research question.
Another way to arrive at this question is to begin by
naming the topic, adding a reason for studying, and adding
significance to the reason for studying the topic.
Composing a Thesis Statement
 This is the explicit statement of what will be the paper’s central
idea, point or argument, that is- the main assertion that will be
supported be the entire essay.
 RQ- Why is the continued used of tingi-tingi system in the 21st
century Philippines significant?
 Thesis Statement: The continued use of tingi-tingi system in the 21st
century Philippines reflects a lack of change in the economic
situation of the Philippines, as those from the many poorer sectors of
society are forced, due to lack of available funds, to both buy small
and think in the short term
 Thesis is a contract between the writer and the reader( Kim and
Michael Flachman 2011)
Preparing a Writing Outline

 An outline is consists of three main sections:

1. Introduction consists of an interesting opening to draw the reader into
the subject.
2. The development or the body of the essay consists of the largest part
of the essay
3. Lastly the conclusion typically a wrap-up or summary of the essay’s
main points and a final point.
The Writing Stage of the Writing
process
(When there is a solid plan and an adequate notes from sources
for the essay, the student can now move to the second stage.)
 The act of producing the first draft
 The fastest part of the writing process (Donald Murray
1997)
 The product of drafting is only an initial draft.
The Rewriting stage of the Writing
process
 This stage involves “researching, rethinking,
redesigning, rewriting – and finally, line-by-line
editing, the demanding, satisfying process of
making every word right”(Murray 1972)
 Questions ask by the writer in improving the paper:
 Is the title appropriate and effective?
 Is the first paragraph interesting and compelling? Is it related to the topic?
 Does the Introduction include a clearly stated main idea?
 Does each paragraph support the essay’s main idea?
 Are transitions and connections between Ideas smooth and signaled clearly?
 What needs to be added, omitted, or organized?
 Does the conclusion flow naturally from the body of the essay?
 Is there anything confusing or unclear in the content of the essay?
 The rewriting stage becomes collaborative in many writing classes.
Corporate Culture and Professional
Communication
 People shift their language depending on a variety
of social factors:
 Who they are talking to
 Number of people they are addressing
 General social context
 Physical factors
Academic paper Vs. Professional writing

  Academic paper Professional writing

Purpose Generate new knowledge in a Get something done with –or within-
particular academic branch an organization.

Subject   May know more about the subject than

the intended reader or audience.

Criteria for Depth, logic, clarity, unity, Clear and simple organization of ideas
evaluating grammar and critical thinking. in a format that meets the needs of
busy readers.
Stylistic Differences
(Locker and Kienzler 2013),
Conversational style Traditional Research Paper Professional writing
- Short, simple words, - More formal - Can have both features of the first two
slang expressions and - Features many abstract, mentioned styles.
contraction academic, or technical terms - Meant to sound conversational.
- Friendly and and few or no contraction - Short and simple words may be used, as
personal tone - 1st and 2nd person pronouns are well as occasional contraction.
- Uses 1st and 2nd used minimally. - Local expressions and slangs are
person perspective. - Paragraphs tends to be long. avoided.
- Can contain - There is attention paid to the - There is an attempt to sound friendly.
references to personal use of Standard Edited English - Sentences and paragraphs tends to be
experience. short, but Standard Edited English is
used.
Professional Purpose
 Record Important workplace information.
 Ex. Minutes of the meeting, secretarial notes, and official documentation of
proceedings.
 Give or ask for information from people:
 within the company via memos
 outside the company via business letters or via professional reports
 Persuade readers to take actions- pay a fee, buy something, accept changes, give
someone a job etc.; this purpose can be seen in professional proposals, marketing
or promotional materials and job application letters.
 To build an individual or company’s positive image to establish rapport-
essentially to build goodwill.
Audience of Professionals

 Professional writing targets a specific audience, sometimes

one reader, sometimes multiple readers. What is important is
to consider the level of knowledge of the single reader or the
audience.
 Audience may be homogenous one:
 Discourse community.
 A group of people who share assumptions about what
channels, format and style to use for communication.
 Thewriter may use technical terms that are familiar to the
readers without having to explain what this means.
Ex. Medical terms
 When the audience is not homogenous, the writer should
aim for diction or word choices that will be understood by
everyone. When technical terms have to be used, these
should be clearly explained.