The Writing ProcessThe Writing Process

Brenham Writing RoomBrenham Writing Room

Created by D. HerringCreated by D. Herring

Stages of the Writing ProcessStages of the Writing Process

There are several stages to the There are several stages to the Writing Process. Writing Process. Each stage is Each stage is essential.essential. PrewritingPrewriting Writing (Drafting)Writing (Drafting) RevisingRevising EditingEditing

I. PrewritingI. Prewriting

Choose/narrow your topicChoose/narrow your topic Determine yourDetermine your

AudienceAudience PurposePurpose ToneTone Point-of-viewPoint-of-view TenseTense

Explore your topicExplore your topic Make a planMake a plan

Choose/Narrow Your TopicChoose/Narrow Your Topic

Your topic should pass the 3-Your topic should pass the 3-question test:question test:

1.1. Does it interest me?Does it interest me?

2.2. Do I have something to say Do I have something to say about it?about it?

3.3. Is it specific?Is it specific?

Determine Your AudienceDetermine Your Audience

Your Your AudienceAudience is composed of is composed of those who will read your writing.those who will read your writing.

Ask yourself:Ask yourself: Who are my readers?Who are my readers? What do my readers know about What do my readers know about

my topic?my topic? What do my readers need to know What do my readers need to know

about my topic?about my topic? How do my readers feel about my How do my readers feel about my

topic?topic?

Audience continued. . .Audience continued. . . What do my readers expect?What do my readers expect?

Standard Written EnglishStandard Written English Correct grammar and spellingCorrect grammar and spelling Accurate informationAccurate information Logical presentation of ideasLogical presentation of ideas Followed directions of the Followed directions of the

assignment!!!assignment!!! What are my length requirements?What are my length requirements? What is my time limit?What is my time limit? What does the assignment consist of?What does the assignment consist of? Is research required?Is research required? What format should be used?What format should be used?

Determine Your PurposeDetermine Your Purpose

PurposePurpose is the reason you are is the reason you are writing.writing.

Whenever you write, you Whenever you write, you always always have a purposehave a purpose. Most writing fits . Most writing fits into one of 3 categories:into one of 3 categories: Expressive WritingExpressive Writing Informative WritingInformative Writing Persuasive WritingPersuasive Writing

More than one of these may be More than one of these may be used, but one will be used, but one will be primaryprimary..

Determine Tone Determine Tone

ToneTone is the mood or attitude you is the mood or attitude you adopt as you write.adopt as you write.

Serious or frivolous/humorous?Serious or frivolous/humorous?

Intimate or detached?Intimate or detached?

Determine Point-of-ViewDetermine Point-of-View

Point-of-viewPoint-of-view is the perspective is the perspective from which you write an essay.from which you write an essay.

There are 3 points-of-view:There are 3 points-of-view: First person—”I, we” First person—”I, we” Second person—”you”Second person—”you” Third person—”he, she, they”Third person—”he, she, they”

One of the most common errors One of the most common errors in writing occurs when the writer in writing occurs when the writer shifts point-of-view shifts point-of-view unnecessarily!unnecessarily!

Determine TenseDetermine Tense

TenseTense is the voice you use to is the voice you use to designate the time of the action designate the time of the action or state of being.or state of being. Present tensePresent tense Past tensePast tense Future tenseFuture tense

Explore Your TopicExplore Your Topic

Pre-writing Techniques:Pre-writing Techniques: Brainstorming/ListingBrainstorming/Listing FreewritingFreewriting Clustering/MappingClustering/Mapping QuestioningQuestioning DiscussingDiscussing OutliningOutlining

Make a PlanMake a Plan

Before you begin drafting your Before you begin drafting your essay, you should make a plan essay, you should make a plan (a roadmap).(a roadmap). Review, evaluate, and organize Review, evaluate, and organize

ideas written in your pre-writing; ideas written in your pre-writing; then make a plan for your essay’sthen make a plan for your essay’s Thesis statementThesis statement SupportSupport OrderOrder StructureStructure

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

The The thesis statementthesis statement expresses expresses the MAIN IDEA of your essay, the MAIN IDEA of your essay, the central point that your essay the central point that your essay develops/supports.develops/supports.

Thesis continued. . .Thesis continued. . .

Your thesis SHOULD:Your thesis SHOULD: Accurately predict your essay’s Accurately predict your essay’s

direction, emphasis, and scopedirection, emphasis, and scope Make no promises that the essay Make no promises that the essay

will not fulfillwill not fulfill Be direct and straightforwardBe direct and straightforward NOT be an announcement, NOT be an announcement,

statement of opinion, or statement statement of opinion, or statement of fact.of fact.

SupportSupport

Be sure to evaluate the Be sure to evaluate the information in your prewriting information in your prewriting carefully in order to choose the carefully in order to choose the bestbest support for your topic. support for your topic. Primary Support—major ideas or Primary Support—major ideas or

examplesexamples that back up your main that back up your main pointspoints

Secondary Support—Secondary Support—detailsdetails which which further explain your primary further explain your primary supportsupport

Support continued. . .Support continued. . .

Basics of good supportBasics of good support Relates to main pointRelates to main point Considers readers, i.e. provides Considers readers, i.e. provides

enough informationenough information Is detailed and specificIs detailed and specific

OrderOrder

The Order is the sequence in The Order is the sequence in which you present your ideas.which you present your ideas.

There are 3 types of order:There are 3 types of order: Time (chronological) orderTime (chronological) order Space orderSpace order Emphatic order (order of Emphatic order (order of

importance: least-to-most, most-importance: least-to-most, most-to-least)to-least)

Structure/OrganizationStructure/Organization

Consider how your essay will Consider how your essay will be organized; then create an be organized; then create an Outline.Outline.

Sample Outline of standard Sample Outline of standard 5-paragraph essay:5-paragraph essay:

A.A. IntroductionIntroductionB.B. Body Paragraph 1Body Paragraph 1C.C. Body Paragraph 2Body Paragraph 2D.D. Body Paragraph 3Body Paragraph 3E.E. ConclusionConclusion

II. WritingII. Writing

During the Writing Stage, you During the Writing Stage, you shouldshould Create your essay’s TitleCreate your essay’s Title Compose a draftCompose a draft

A A DraftDraft is the first whole version of all is the first whole version of all your ideas put together; it’s a “dress your ideas put together; it’s a “dress rehearsal.”rehearsal.”

You should plan to revise your Draft You should plan to revise your Draft several times throughout the writing several times throughout the writing process.process.

Creating Your Title Creating Your Title

Your essay’s title Your essay’s title shouldshould:: Be originalBe original Be a reasonable lengthBe a reasonable length Reflect your topicReflect your topic Be lively and attention-gettingBe lively and attention-getting

Your title Your title should NOTshould NOT:: Be generic/repeat the assignmentBe generic/repeat the assignment Be in ALL CAPSBe in ALL CAPS Be in Be in boldfaceboldface, “quotation marks,” , “quotation marks,”

underlinedunderlined, or , or italicizeditalicized Be followed by a periodBe followed by a period

Titles, continuedTitles, continued

Capitalization Rules for Titles:Capitalization Rules for Titles: Always capitalize the first letter of Always capitalize the first letter of

the first word and the last word.the first word and the last word. Capitalize the first letter of each Capitalize the first letter of each

“important” word in between the “important” word in between the first and last words.first and last words. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the)Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) Do not capitalize coordinating Do not capitalize coordinating

conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.)conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at, Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at,

in, off, etc.)in, off, etc.)

Effective vs. Ineffective TitlesEffective vs. Ineffective Titles

Topic: Cheating in CollegeTopic: Cheating in College Effective Titles:Effective Titles:

Cheaters Never Win!Cheaters Never Win! Cheating in Higher EducationCheating in Higher Education Why Do Students Cheat?Why Do Students Cheat?

Ineffective Titles:Ineffective Titles: Don’t Do It!Don’t Do It! CheatingCheating Students Cheat for Many Different Students Cheat for Many Different

Reasons.Reasons.

Writing a DraftWriting a Draft

Basics of a good draft:Basics of a good draft: Has a fully developed introduction Has a fully developed introduction

and conclusionand conclusion Has fully developed body Has fully developed body

paragraphs, each containing a paragraphs, each containing a topic sentence, at least two topic sentence, at least two examples, and detailed supportexamples, and detailed support

Follows standard structure and Follows standard structure and uses complete sentencesuses complete sentences

Write Your IntroductionWrite Your Introduction Your introductory paragraph Your introductory paragraph

should do the following:should do the following: Be a minimum of 4-6 sentencesBe a minimum of 4-6 sentences Tell the audience what to expect Tell the audience what to expect

from your discussion (thesis)from your discussion (thesis) Move from general to specific, with Move from general to specific, with

the thesis as the last sentence in the thesis as the last sentence in the introthe intro

Get the reader’s attentionGet the reader’s attention Set the tone for the rest of the Set the tone for the rest of the

essayessay

Introduction, continuedIntroduction, continued

Strategies for developing an Strategies for developing an Introduction includeIntroduction include Providing background informationProviding background information Telling a personal anecdoteTelling a personal anecdote Beginning with a quotationBeginning with a quotation Using an oppositeUsing an opposite Asking a questionAsking a question

Write Your Body ParagraphsWrite Your Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should Each body paragraph should

develop one of the specific develop one of the specific points mentioned in the thesis.points mentioned in the thesis.

Each BP should contain:Each BP should contain: Topic Sentence—main idea of BPTopic Sentence—main idea of BP Primary Support—examples Primary Support—examples Secondary Support—detailsSecondary Support—details

Body Paragraphs: Topic SentenceBody Paragraphs: Topic Sentence

A A Topic SentenceTopic Sentence expresses the expresses the main idea of the body paragraph.main idea of the body paragraph.

Begin each body paragraph with a Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence thatTopic Sentence that Narrows the focus of the paragraphNarrows the focus of the paragraph Accurately predicts the direction of the Accurately predicts the direction of the

paragraphparagraph Refers back to the Thesis statementRefers back to the Thesis statement

Body Paragraphs continuedBody Paragraphs continued

Body paragraphs must haveBody paragraphs must have UnityUnity—everything refers back to —everything refers back to

main pointmain point SupportSupport—examples and details—examples and details CoherenceCoherence—all points connect to —all points connect to

form a whole; one point leads to form a whole; one point leads to anotheranother

Body Paragraphs: UnityBody Paragraphs: Unity

UnityUnity is achieved when is achieved when everything refers back to the everything refers back to the main pointmain point ALL SENTENCES SHOULD ALL SENTENCES SHOULD

RELATE BACK TO TOPIC RELATE BACK TO TOPIC SENTENCE & THESIS.SENTENCE & THESIS.

Do not include any ideas that are Do not include any ideas that are irrelevant or off-topic.irrelevant or off-topic.

Body Paragraphs: SupportBody Paragraphs: Support

SupportSupport is achieved through is achieved through adequate examples and details.adequate examples and details.

Each body paragraph should include Each body paragraph should include at least two examples to support the at least two examples to support the main idea of the paragraph.main idea of the paragraph.

Each example should include at Each example should include at least one specific detail that further least one specific detail that further illustrates the point.illustrates the point.

Body Paragraphs: CoherenceBody Paragraphs: Coherence

Coherence Coherence is achieved when all is achieved when all points connect to form a whole; points connect to form a whole; one point leads to another.one point leads to another.

Coherence is mainly achieved Coherence is mainly achieved through the use of transitions.through the use of transitions. TransitionsTransitions—words & phrases —words & phrases

which connect your sentences so which connect your sentences so that your writing flows smoothly.that your writing flows smoothly.

Write Your ConclusionWrite Your Conclusion

The concluding paragraph The concluding paragraph shouldshould Contain a minimum of 4 Contain a minimum of 4

sentencessentences Refer back to the main point, but Refer back to the main point, but

not simply not simply repeatrepeat the thesis the thesis Make an observation on what is Make an observation on what is

writtenwritten NOT introduce any new ideasNOT introduce any new ideas Create a sense of closureCreate a sense of closure

III. RevisingIII. Revising

RevisingRevising is finding & correcting is finding & correcting problems with problems with contentcontent; changing the ; changing the ideas in your writing to make them ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more clearer, stronger, and more convincing.convincing.

Revising looks at the “Big Picture”—Revising looks at the “Big Picture”—the Idea level.the Idea level.

Revision StrategiesRevision Strategies

Look forLook for Unity Unity

Does everything refer back to main point?Does everything refer back to main point? Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis?Does each topic sentence refer to the thesis? Does each sentence in each BP refer back to the Does each sentence in each BP refer back to the

topic sentence?topic sentence? Detail and support Detail and support

Does each BP contain at least two examples?Does each BP contain at least two examples? Is each example followed by at least one Is each example followed by at least one

supporting detail?supporting detail? Coherence Coherence

Are all points connect to form a whole?Are all points connect to form a whole? Are transitions used to move from one idea to the Are transitions used to move from one idea to the

next? next?

Revision TipsRevision Tips

Take a break from your draft Take a break from your draft before attempting to revise.before attempting to revise.

Read your draft out loud and Read your draft out loud and listen to your words.listen to your words.

Imagine yourself as your reader.Imagine yourself as your reader. Look for consistent problem Look for consistent problem

areas.areas. Get feedback from peers.Get feedback from peers. Get help from a tutor!Get help from a tutor!

IV. EditingIV. Editing

EditingEditing is finding and correcting is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and word choice & usage, and punctuation.punctuation.

Editing focuses on the “Little Editing focuses on the “Little Picture”—Word level.Picture”—Word level.

Editing StrategiesEditing Strategies

Keep an Keep an Error LogError Log to help you to help you identify your problem areas and identify your problem areas and improve your writingimprove your writing..

When editing, review your paper When editing, review your paper for one type of error at a time; for one type of error at a time; don’t try to read through looking don’t try to read through looking for everything at once.for everything at once.

Editing TipsEditing Tips

Work with a clean printed copy, Work with a clean printed copy, double-spaced to allow room to double-spaced to allow room to mark corrections.mark corrections.

Read your essay backwards.Read your essay backwards. Be cautious of spell-check and Be cautious of spell-check and

grammar-check.grammar-check. Read your essay out loud.Read your essay out loud. Get feedback from peers.Get feedback from peers. Work with a tutor!Work with a tutor!

Self-ReviewSelf-Review

You should never move to peer You should never move to peer review without first completing a self-review without first completing a self-review (revising & editing); you want review (revising & editing); you want your peer to look for mistakes that your peer to look for mistakes that you were unable to catch yourself!you were unable to catch yourself!

After you have reviewed your own After you have reviewed your own work, make the necessary work, make the necessary corrections and print a clean, revised corrections and print a clean, revised copy before moving on to peer copy before moving on to peer review.review.

Peer-ReviewPeer-Review

It is important to make the peer It is important to make the peer review process useful.review process useful.

Basics of useful feedback:Basics of useful feedback: It is given in a positive wayIt is given in a positive way It is specificIt is specific It offers suggestionsIt offers suggestions It is given both verbally and in writingIt is given both verbally and in writing