The Composition

Process

Many high school level writers think that writing consists of only steps 2, 4 and 5.

1. Prewriting (deciding on a topic, brainstorming, invention).

2.Drafting (doing a first or rough draft).3. Revising and editing (fixing problems in the form and

content of the text to make it closer to what you want to say)

4.Proofreading (checking over the grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. on your writing).

5.And “publishing" (Producing the fair copy and turning it in (delivering it to the intended audience).

• Revision is not the same as just checking for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors! • When you do a revision of your

writing, it means that you need to completely re-envision what you are trying to say.

This requires you to think about what you wrote all over again, and then change it to make it read exactly how you want it to read, in a way that will serve your audience well. (You’re the boss here!)

• No real-world writer, no matter how expert, writes something, immediately turns it in and expects it to be good. • Not even the best

professional writer can do that.

Move around sentences, paragraphs, and words, change phrases and vocabulary, and make sure it comes out sounding as educated as you are!

Once you have let your text sit overnight and then read it out loud and fixed it up, then you must absolutely have someone else check it over.

Have someone at the University Writing Center check it over!

• Or, find someone else who is well-educated, and have them read the text out loud to you.

• Then fix anything that doesn't sound right, or anything that this other person cannot understand.

• Professors want your writing to be PERFECT! • They have to treat everyone

alike. They will not offer any special considerations if your first language is not English, or if your high school English classes were not up to the mark.

• This may sound much too strict, but that's what tutors are for. • In high school, some students

think going for tutoring is shameful. In college, most of the best students use tutoring.

Excuses like "I don't have time," or "the tutor will yell at me or make fun of my writing," or "I didn't want to go to college in the first place" don't work! In college it's your choice to succeed or to fail. So, if you really want to be here and graduate…