The Writing Process

Writing is a building process.

The Four Steps of the Writing Process
1. Prewriting
2. Writing
3. Revising/Editing
4. Publishing

Prewriting
Lay a firm foundation for your writing. Spend the most time prewriting.

purpose-why you are writing
audience-who you are writing for-who will read the essay

Brainstorming
listing
discussing
webbing
research
Gather all of the knowledge that you will need to write your essay-topic, details, do research.

Keep an idea bank in the writing section of your notebook.
Choose your topic from your brainstormed list of topics.

Narrow the topic
Ask these questions:
who what
when where
why how

Point of View the perspective that the story is told from
1st person-I
Limited-narrator is inside story, know only what narrator sees, hears, and knows
3rd person-Tell what others do (he, she, it, John, Jane, etc.); a narrator
Omniscient-told by a narrator who knows all actions and thoughts of all characters
Limited Omniscient-narrator focuses on thoughts of one character
Objective-narrator tells what characters do and say (fly on the wall)

Tone-the attitude of the writer-how the author feels about the subject matter

Mood-the feeling that the reader gets from the work

Organize the Information
1. Chronological order-time
2. Spatial order-space, how you see things
3. Order of Importance-least important to most important
4. Order of Familiarity-known to the unknown
5. Comparison-how things are similar
6. Contrast-how things are different


Writing
Use standard English. This is a formal piece of writing. Do not use slang or abbreviations.

5 paragraphs in a composition (at least)
5-7 Sentences per paragraph (25-35 total)

3 parts of a composition
1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion

Thesis-statement of purpose; statement that tells what the whole composition is about

paragraph-a group of sentences that support one idea

Six (Plus One) Traits of Writing
1. Ideas
2. Organization
3. Voice
4. Word Choice
5. Sentence Fluency
6. Conventions
+1. Presentation

1. Ideas
Interesting ideas, clarity, focus, quality details, thinking outside of the box for ideas


2. Organization
The reader can follow your ideas. The organization makes sense, and the whole paper is organized. Strong lead, smooth transitions and flow, definite conclusion-essay does not stop


3. Voice
Let your personality show in your writing. Show your individuality, tone fits audience, purpose. Put a “face” on your writing.

4. Word Choice
Use precise, vivid words so the reader can get an exact picture in his/her mind. Everyday words used in fresh ways, accuracy, precision, lively verbs, words that point pictures, reader can see in his/her mind exactly what you are describing, memorable phrases

5. Sentence Fluency
Sentences flow well, are varied, and transitions are used, variety of length, variety of structure, it just sounds right, rhythm, variety of sentence beginnings
Transitional Devices
create coherence; show change from one idea to the next or a passage of time
Examples: then, next, after, later, therefore, meanwhile, etc.

6. Conventions
No spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors that distract the reader.




Revising/Editing
Revising-read the work to see if it has unity and coherence
unity-stays on the same subject
coherence-flows smoothly; clear; organized
In revising, you look at organization, content, word choices, and sentence structure.

Editing-look for errors
Spelling
Capitalization
Punctuation




Proofreading Marks
*See your notes*

Publishing/Presentation
Appealing layout, easy on the eyes, neat, legible handwriting, margins used correctly. Indented correctly. No skipped lines. Do not write on the back of notebook paper. Write in blue or black ink.