Understanding the Writing Process: The Seven Steps

[Pages:10]Understanding the Writing Process: The Seven Steps

Composition

Step One: Choose a Topic

from the assignment

Select from a list of options provided

Create your own focused sub-topic based on a general topic assigned

HINT: Choose wisely! Make sure you have enough information, examples, details to provide on the topic of your choice

Step Two: Brainstorm

Write every idea that pops into your head about your topic

Some of the ideas will be good and some will be bad; write them all!

Overall goal is to write as many ideas as you can

Take time to organize your brainstorm after you've finished it - circle best ideas, cross out ideas that won't work, number them, etc.

Step Three: Outline

Create an outline This can be created from the brainstorm After you have the main points, develop supporting

details (i.e. examples, reasons, explanations, definitions, or personal experience) A technique for thinking of supporting details is to ask specific questions about the topic:

EX: What is it? What happened? What is it like? Why?

Step Four: Write the First Draft

AUDIENCE = COMPLETE MORONS

Use information from brainstorm and outline to write the essay

This draft may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar ? Don't worry about correcting the errors

Main idea is to put ideas into sentences Choose a formal sentence structure/ use

academic style of writing Create sentences that vary in length

First Draft Tips: Some things to remember about the first draft copy

The first draft is not the final copy ? good writers do not write an essay only one time

It is OK for you to make notes on your drafts, you can circle words, make notes to yourself, cross out words, etc.

Use a word processing program if possible, to make writing and revising easier

Proofreading on the computer screen is rarely effective

Step Five: Get Feedback from a Peer

A great technique for proofing essays is to read your essay out loud to yourself. You will be amazed on the errors you will discover.

Peer editing is important in the writing process

You do not always see your own mistakes or places where information is missing

A classmate will read your writing and give you feedback about your writing

Take the extra step, and have a writing tutor at the WRC read over your work

Ferguson is not your peer

Step Six: Revise the First Draft

THE MOST IMPORTANT, YET OFTEN THE MOST IGNORED STEP

This step consists of three parts: 1. React to the comments on the peer editing

sheet 2. Reread the essay and make changes 3. Rewrite the essay one more time

4.

Reread the assignment

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