The Writing
Process
Chapter 3
Vocabulary
Builder
• I enjoyed conducting
experiments in my biology class.
Vocabulary
Builder
• I enjoyed conducting
experiments in my biology class.
• We must work with a group in
foreign languages.
• The reason I don’t like music
class is that we have to give a
recital.
• Because I was sick, can I copy
your notes from chemistry class?
Writing Focus
The Writing
Process
Six steps you must follow every time
you write
The Writing
Process
1. Analyzing the Assignment
• You must understand the assignment to do well
• An example assignment:
My favorite subject in school
To explain why it’s my favorite and
what I did
Personal experience
One paragraph
Midnight on Sunday
Typed and double-spaced
Submitted as an attachment by email
School uniforms
To give my opinion why I’m for or
against them
Personal experience
One paragraph with 3 examples
to support
Best ways to study for a big test
To give my opinion on the topic for the
school newspaper
Personal experience
One paragraph with examples
Next Monday at 12 noon
Email to the editor at editor@schoolpa-
[Link]
2. Brainstorming
Write down all Do not evalu- Working in a There are vari-
your ideas ate; just write group is helpful ous ways to
brainstorm
Good or bad Try them all and
then choose the
style that is easiest
for you
Using a
Mind Map
Using Columns
Freewriting
Practicing Brainstorming
Choose a technique and brainstorm for each of these assignments
Your brainstorm is a work in progress
Find your main topic and write a topic sen-
3. Orga- tence
nizing Find ideas to support it
your
Ideas Cross out the irrelevant ideas
Make an outline and add the relevant ideas
Writing a Topic
Sentence
• You need to turn your topic into a
sentence
• This can include your opinion
• called a controlling idea
• Narrows the topic
• Focuses the paragraph
Physical because you
is great need exer-
Education cise
Choosing Controlling Ideas
Choosing Controlling Ideas
PE is my favorite class for several reasons
PE allows us to get outside
Eliminating Irrelevant Idea
Topic Sentence: PE was my favorite class in high school
for a lot of reasons.
Eliminating
Irrelevant Ideas
• Topic Sentence
PE was my favorite class
in high school for a lot of
reasons.
Eliminating
Irrelevant Ideas
• Topic Sentence
PE was my favorite class
in high school for a lot of
reasons.
• You can add more relevant
ideas as you think of them
• Do not need complete sen-
Making an tences
Outline • This is for your use only
• No one else will read it (not
even me)
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CS
Making an Outline
CHOOSE ONE WRITE A ELIMINATE MAKE AN ADD RELE-
OF YOU BRAIN- TOPIC IRRELE- OUTLINE VANT
STORMED
IDEAS SENTENCE VANT IDEAS
IDEAS
• Turn you ideas into complete
sentences
• Use correct paragraph format
• This draft is only for you.
4. Writing • Do not worry too much about
the First grammar and punctuation
• You will fix all that in a sec-
Draft ond draft
• Do NOT give it to the teacher
• Not good enough for anyone
to read yet
First Draft
REVISE
Ask yourself the following questions:
• How can I make it better? (No one
5. Rewrit- EVER writes a perfect 1st draft)
ing the • Does the paragraph have unity?
• Are there enough minor supporting
First Draft ideas?
• Do the supporting sentences have
good coherence?
• Is there good cohesion?
Editing
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Work forms
• nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
• Punctuation
• It is NOT my job to do this for you.
• The less editing I have to do, the
higher your final score.
• I will not change anything for you
• I will only show you what is wrong
• And you will change it for the final draft
First Draft
Notes for
Rewriting
6. Writing the Final
Draft
• The clean version
• You turn it in for grading
• Follow good paragraph format
• I will grade your based on this
one
• So make it good
Final Draft
Structure and
Mechanics
Has a subject and a
verb
A dependent clause
Not a complete sen-
Adverbial tence (needs help)
Clauses
Subordinating conjunction + subordinating con-
junction = dependent adverbial clause
Subordinating Conjunctions
• Adverbial Clause + , + Independent
Clause (use a comma)
• Because Joe has always loved to read, he
studied literature.
• Since Joe has always loved to read, he stud-
ied literature.
• Independent Clause + Adverbial
Comma Use Clause (no comma)
• Joe studied literature in college because he
with Adver- has always loved to read.
• Joe studied literature in college since he has
bial Clauses always loved to read.
• There is an exception to this rule
(While/whereas use a comma)
• Joe is tall, while his brother is short.
• Joe is tall, whereas his brother is short.
Using Pronouns with Adverbial Clauses
Combining
Clauses
Alex own five bicycles since he bought another last week.
Even though teachers forbid students to use cell phones, some students still use
Oscar thinks that chemistry is great, while Ruth thinks that it’s aw-
Combining ful.
Clauses Since Tanya didn’t study for the history test, she failed it.
If the teacher is sick, we won’t have the test.
Because the old school building is dangerous, it needs to be torn
down.
Although Patricia woke up late, she didn’t miss her first class.
Because the school soccer team lost the match, no one at school was
Writing to Com-
municate
