- 1. Journal 7 Minute Write Which superpower would you most like
to have-- invisibility, super strength, or the ability to fly?
Describe what kids of things you would do with your powers.
2. The Writing Process 3. Four Steps in the Writing Process: 1.
Prewriting 2. Drafting 3. Revising 4. Presenting (or publishing) 4.
1. PREWRITING Prewriting is the time when a writer plays with ideas
and gathers information to prepare for the actual drafting. It may
involve reading, talking, or simply thinking about a topic. 5.
During Prewriting, you must think about 4 things: Topic Format
Audience Time 6. Topic What is your story going to be about?
Brainstorm about interests and possible ideas. 7. Format What type
of writing are you going to do? Are you writing a sentence, a
paragraph, a theme, a journal entry, a letter, a poem, a fictional
story, a research paper? 8. Audience Who are you writing for? Who
do you expect to read your writing? Teacher? Parents? Friends? The
general public? 9. Time How much time will be devoted to this
project? Will you be expected to complete the writing assignment
outside class, or will class time be given for discussion, for
brainstorming, for revision? 10. 2. DRAFTING The stage when the
writer begins to record ideas in rough form. Getting started on a
story is often difficult and may produce many false starts. How
should I begin? 11. A first draft is simply a time to gather,
explore, and discover ideas. It is NOT expected to be a final,
polished writing. No one needs to be worried about neatness,
spelling, or mechanical correctness in the earliest draft. 12.
Freewriting (also known as spin writing or rush writing) A
technique where students write nonstop, capturing as many ideas as
possible. You jot down words, phrases, or sentences quickly. Ideas
coming with great speed and momentum often trigger other ideas
along the way, and ideas are the goal of the earliest draft. 13. 3.
REVISING Once a first draft is completed, writers begin to revise
(to see again). They look at what they have written and ask
themselves if the ideas and purpose is clear to an audience. They
share the draft with their peers and/or teacher, listening to their
responses and acting on them. 14. Later drafts involve polishing
the writing to present in final form to a particular audience.
Editing for spelling and mechanics happens in the final stage of
revising. 15. At first . . . You might believe that you are a
hopeless writer when you cant get your writing perfect right away.
As you work through and understand the writing process, you will
realize that most writers (even professional authors) rework and
revise all the time! 16. Presenting (or Publishing) Usually only
the teacher reads and grades a students writing. However, you
should share your writing with your parents, relatives, or friends!
You may also submit your writing to literary contests, professional
publications, or local newspapers. You may also use your writing as
a gift to a trusted adult for special occasions.
