The Writing Process
5 Basic Stages:
1. Pre-writing (Generating Ideas & Planning/Outlining)
2. Drafting (Putting Ideas into Sentences)
3. Revising (Adding, Moving, Removing)
4. Editing (Proofreading & Correcting)
5. Publishing (Sharing with an Audience)
1. Pre-writing (Generating Ideas & Planning/Outlining)
2. Drafting (Putting Ideas into Sentences)
3. Revising (Adding, Moving, Removing)
4. Editing (Proofreading & Correcting)
5. Publishing (Sharing with an Audience)
Pre-writing
1. Determine Purpose: to inform/to explain, to describe, to persuade, to
entertain (or a combination of any of these)
2. Freewriting- Write phrases, ideas, or sentences within a set time limit and
without judging what you have written.
3. Brainstorming- Choose a word and write everything that occurs to you
about the word.
4. Using Graphic Organizers- (Cluster diagram, Idea Map, Comparison chart, Sequence of Events chart, etc.)
5. Asking 5 W + 1 H Questions- Use questions (who, what, where, when, why,
how) to explore the topic.
6. Outlining- Create a plan for writing that includes your main ideas in the
order you want to present them.
entertain (or a combination of any of these)
2. Freewriting- Write phrases, ideas, or sentences within a set time limit and
without judging what you have written.
3. Brainstorming- Choose a word and write everything that occurs to you
about the word.
4. Using Graphic Organizers- (Cluster diagram, Idea Map, Comparison chart, Sequence of Events chart, etc.)
5. Asking 5 W + 1 H Questions- Use questions (who, what, where, when, why,
how) to explore the topic.
6. Outlining- Create a plan for writing that includes your main ideas in the
order you want to present them.
Methods of Organization
1. Chronological Order (time, as in narratives, or to explain the history of an
event, to explain how to do or make something, or to explain the steps in a
process )
2. Spatial Order (In order of where things are in relation to each other in
space, as in descriptive writing or to create a main impression using the
senses)
3. Order of Importance (least important to most important, as in expository &
persuasive writing)
event, to explain how to do or make something, or to explain the steps in a
process )
2. Spatial Order (In order of where things are in relation to each other in
space, as in descriptive writing or to create a main impression using the
senses)
3. Order of Importance (least important to most important, as in expository &
persuasive writing)
Writing a Thesis
1. The "Big Idea" or Controlling Idea of a Non-fiction piece of writing
2. Usually one sentence that states the writer's point of view
a. is not a mere fact
b. passes the "So What?" test
c. often the last sentence of the introductory paragraph
2. Usually one sentence that states the writer's point of view
a. is not a mere fact
b. passes the "So What?" test
c. often the last sentence of the introductory paragraph
Creating an Outline (Sentence or Topic Outline for 5 Paragraph Essay)
1. Introduction (Get reader's attention, introduce topic & include Thesis)
a. Thesis Statement
2. Main Point that supports Thesis (Topic Sentence)
a. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
b. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
c. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
3. Main Point that supports Thesis (Topic Sentence)
a. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
b. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
c. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
4. 2. Main Point that supports Thesis (Topic Sentence)
a. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
b. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
c. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
5. Conclusion (Restate thesis, wrap it up, add personal commentary but no
new Information
a. Thesis Statement
2. Main Point that supports Thesis (Topic Sentence)
a. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
b. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
c. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
3. Main Point that supports Thesis (Topic Sentence)
a. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
b. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
c. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
4. 2. Main Point that supports Thesis (Topic Sentence)
a. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
b. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
c. Supporting Details/examples/quotes
5. Conclusion (Restate thesis, wrap it up, add personal commentary but no
new Information
Drafting
1. No need to start at the beginning (save the Intro. for last?)
2. Begin with Thesis Statement then Body Paragraphs
3. Then write the Intro. & Conclusion
4. Write a Title (refers to thesis/main point)
Revision
1. Revisit the ideas. It is a good idea to set your draft aside for a few days
before you revise.
2. Check for Unity:
a. Does each body paragraph contain a topic sentence that supports the
thesis?
b. Do all the supporting details/examples/quotes in the paragraph support
the topic sentence?
3. Check for Coherence:
a. Does the writing flow smoothly? (includes transitions between
paragraphs)
4. Check Sentences:
a. Revise Sentence Beginnings (Eliminate beginnings like "This..." "There
is..." or "There are...")
b. Eliminate unnecessary modifiers ("very famous" or "extremely fatal")
c. Eliminate "Deadwood" words/phrases ("Because of the fact that...")
d. Change sentences from Passive Voice to Active Voice ("The book was
written by her" = "She wrote the book.")
e. Be concise = state the ideas in as few, specific words as possible
(Sometimes less is more!)
f. Make sure sentences are complete and varied.
a. Revise Sentence Beginnings (Eliminate beginnings like "This..." "There
is..." or "There are...")
b. Eliminate unnecessary modifiers ("very famous" or "extremely fatal")
c. Eliminate "Deadwood" words/phrases ("Because of the fact that...")
d. Change sentences from Passive Voice to Active Voice ("The book was
written by her" = "She wrote the book.")
e. Be concise = state the ideas in as few, specific words as possible
(Sometimes less is more!)
f. Make sure sentences are complete and varied.
5. Check Word Choice: (Diction)
Peer Review/Editing
1. Check Spelling
2. Check Punctuation
3. Check Grammar/Mechanics/Usage
4. Make sure the paper is properly formatted
Writing a Personal Narrative
A Personal Narrative is a type of writing that tells a story about a particular event in your life. For example, write about the time you overcame an obstacle, faced a challenge, succeeded at something, failed at something, experienced a loss, learned a lesson, achieved a goal, etc.
A Memoir, on the other hand, focuses more on the person and the relationship with a particular place, object or event and may include a collection of different memories.
A Memoir, on the other hand, focuses more on the person and the relationship with a particular place, object or event and may include a collection of different memories.
The Elements of an Excellent Essay
- Title- Conveys the main point of the essay in 10 or fewer words. Find a creative way to attract the reader's attention and interest. Capitalize the first word and all the important words that follow.
- Introduction- Begin with a sentence that captures the reader's attention. Give background information of the topic. Enhance the paragraph with an interesting example, surprising statistic, or other "hook." Include the thesis statement.
- Thesis Statement- States the main idea of the essay. More general than the supporting material. May mention the main point of each of the body paragraphs.
- Body Paragraph 1- Begin with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and relates it to the thesis statement. Fill with well-organized examples, quotations, comparisons, analogies, and/or narration. May end with a transition.
- Body Paragraph 2- (May begin with a transition.) Begin with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and relates it to the thesis statement. Fill with well-organized examples, quotations, comparisons, analogies, and/or narration. May end with a transition.
- Body Paragraph 3- (May begin with a transition.) Begin with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and relates it to the thesis statement. Fill with well-organized examples, quotations, comparisons, analogies, and/or narration. May end with a transition.
- Conclusion- "Echo" the thesis statement without simply repeating it. May pose a question for future thought or suggest a course of action. Include a detail or example from the introduction to "tie up" the essay. End with a strong image or a bit of wit.
Writing Prompts
Writing a Literary Analysis
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