Following the Following the Steps Steps

The Writing The Writing ProcessProcess

Why do you need a writing Why do you need a writing process?process?

It can help It can help writers to writers to organize their organize their thoughts.thoughts.

Why do you need a Why do you need a writing process?writing process?

It can save time It can save time because you know because you know what to do next.what to do next.

Writing processWriting processPrewritingPrewritingOrganizingOrganizingDraftingDraftingRevising/ProofreadingRevising/ProofreadingPublishingPublishing

PrewritingPrewriting

Choose topicChoose topicGathering Gathering detailsdetails

Create thesisCreate thesis

Prewriting: Choose Prewriting: Choose TopicTopic

Pick a general topic, Pick a general topic, and as you research and as you research and brainstorm, focus and brainstorm, focus the topic. the topic.

Prewriting: Choose TopicPrewriting: Choose Topic

For Example: General TopicFor Example: General TopicPopulation controlPopulation control

Reasons it is neededReasons it is neededReasons against itReasons against itCountries that use itCountries that use it

Prewriting: gathering Prewriting: gathering ideas and informationideas and information

BrainstormingBrainstormingClusteringClustering

Pre writing: ResearchPre writing: ResearchPlan your researchPlan your researchWhat questions do you have? What questions do you have? What sources would be What sources would be good?good?

How much do you need?How much do you need?

Prewriting: Create a thesisPrewriting: Create a thesisThesis: A statement of Thesis: A statement of opinion to be supported in opinion to be supported in a piece of writing.a piece of writing.

What makes a thesis?What makes a thesis?

TopicTopic

+Writer’s opinion on that topic+Writer’s opinion on that topic

ThesisThesis

Sample ThesisSample ThesisExample: Margaret Haddix’s book Example: Margaret Haddix’s book

Among the HiddenAmong the Hidden shows the shows the reader that although over reader that although over population may be a problem, there population may be a problem, there are serious dangers in creating a are serious dangers in creating a national policy controlling national policy controlling population.population.

What would we need to support What would we need to support this thesis?this thesis?

Margaret Haddix’s book Margaret Haddix’s book Among the HiddenAmong the Hidden shows the reader that although over shows the reader that although over population may be a problem, there are population may be a problem, there are serious dangers in creating a national serious dangers in creating a national policy controlling population.policy controlling population.

Facts and opinions that show Facts and opinions that show overpopulation is a problem.overpopulation is a problem.

Description, and explanation of potential Description, and explanation of potential problems that could come from such a problems that could come from such a policypolicy

Organizing: putting information Organizing: putting information in an outlinein an outline

I. IntroductionA. Grab attentionB. Focus TopicC. State thesis

II. BodyA. Build pointsB. Develop ideasC. Support main claim

III.Conclusion: Reemphasize main idea

DraftingDraftingUse outline to guide you.Use outline to guide you.

Each main idea should Each main idea should support your thesis.support your thesis.

Develop a paragraph for Develop a paragraph for each main idea.each main idea.

Support each paragraph Support each paragraph with several details.with several details.

When using sources, When using sources, DOCUMENT!DOCUMENT!

Revising: reviewing ideasRevising: reviewing ideasDoes your writing say Does your writing say

what you want it to say?what you want it to say?Does it say it clearly?Does it say it clearly?Is it organized?Is it organized?Does the introduction get Does the introduction get

the reader’s attention?the reader’s attention?Does the conclusion end Does the conclusion end

with a purpose?with a purpose?

ProofreadingProofreading

Check for errorsCheck for errors SpellingSpelling PunctuationPunctuation Complete Complete sentencessentences

DocumentationDocumentation

Proofreading tipsProofreading tipsSlowly read your Slowly read your paper aloud.paper aloud.Read your paper Read your paper backwards.backwards.Exchange papers Exchange papers with a friend.with a friend.

NOTE: Spell check will NOTE: Spell check will not catch everythingnot catch everything

The Writing Process: Find Your Focus

PrewritingChoose topicGathering detailsCreate thesis

OrganizingDraftingRevising/ProofreadingPublishing