Writing is a ProcessWriting is a ProcessWriting is a ProcessWriting is a ProcessBy Amie SwainBy Amie SwainBy Amie SwainBy Amie Swain

The Steps of the Writing ProcessThe Steps of the Writing ProcessThe Steps of the Writing ProcessThe Steps of the Writing Process•Writing is a process that involves five distinct steps: Writing is a process that involves five distinct steps:

•It is known as a recursive process. That means It is known as a recursive process. That means while you are revising, you might have to return to while you are revising, you might have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand your the prewriting step to develop and expand your ideas. ideas.

•Writing is a process that involves five distinct steps: Writing is a process that involves five distinct steps:

•It is known as a recursive process. That means It is known as a recursive process. That means while you are revising, you might have to return to while you are revising, you might have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand your the prewriting step to develop and expand your ideas. ideas.

Step 1 - PrewritingStep 1 - PrewritingStep 1 - PrewritingStep 1 - Prewriting• Prewriting is anything you do before you Prewriting is anything you do before you

write a draft of your document. It includes write a draft of your document. It includes thinking, taking notes, talking to others, thinking, taking notes, talking to others, brainstorming, outlining, and gathering brainstorming, outlining, and gathering information (e.g., interviewing people, information (e.g., interviewing people, researching in the library, assessing data). researching in the library, assessing data).    

• Although prewriting is the first activity you Although prewriting is the first activity you engage in, generating ideas is an activity engage in, generating ideas is an activity that occurs throughout the writing process. that occurs throughout the writing process.

• Prewriting is anything you do before you Prewriting is anything you do before you write a draft of your document. It includes write a draft of your document. It includes thinking, taking notes, talking to others, thinking, taking notes, talking to others, brainstorming, outlining, and gathering brainstorming, outlining, and gathering information (e.g., interviewing people, information (e.g., interviewing people, researching in the library, assessing data). researching in the library, assessing data).    

• Although prewriting is the first activity you Although prewriting is the first activity you engage in, generating ideas is an activity engage in, generating ideas is an activity that occurs throughout the writing process. that occurs throughout the writing process.

Step 2 - DraftingStep 2 - DraftingStep 2 - DraftingStep 2 - Drafting• Drafting occurs when you put your ideas into Drafting occurs when you put your ideas into

sentences and paragraphs. Here you concentrate sentences and paragraphs. Here you concentrate upon explaining and supporting your ideas fully. upon explaining and supporting your ideas fully. Here you also begin to connect your ideas. Here you also begin to connect your ideas. Regardless of how much thinking and planning Regardless of how much thinking and planning you do, the process of putting your ideas in you do, the process of putting your ideas in words changes them; often the very words you words changes them; often the very words you select evoke additional ideas or implications. select evoke additional ideas or implications.    

• Don't pay attention to such things as spelling Don't pay attention to such things as spelling and grammar at this stage. and grammar at this stage.    

• This draft tends to be This draft tends to be writer-centeredwriter-centered: it is you : it is you telling yourself what you know and think about telling yourself what you know and think about the topic. the topic.

• Drafting occurs when you put your ideas into Drafting occurs when you put your ideas into sentences and paragraphs. Here you concentrate sentences and paragraphs. Here you concentrate upon explaining and supporting your ideas fully. upon explaining and supporting your ideas fully. Here you also begin to connect your ideas. Here you also begin to connect your ideas. Regardless of how much thinking and planning Regardless of how much thinking and planning you do, the process of putting your ideas in you do, the process of putting your ideas in words changes them; often the very words you words changes them; often the very words you select evoke additional ideas or implications. select evoke additional ideas or implications.    

• Don't pay attention to such things as spelling Don't pay attention to such things as spelling and grammar at this stage. and grammar at this stage.    

• This draft tends to be This draft tends to be writer-centeredwriter-centered: it is you : it is you telling yourself what you know and think about telling yourself what you know and think about the topic. the topic.

Step 3 - RevisingStep 3 - RevisingStep 3 - RevisingStep 3 - Revising• Revision is the key to effective documents. Here Revision is the key to effective documents. Here

you think more deeply about your readers' needs you think more deeply about your readers' needs and expectations. The document becomes and expectations. The document becomes reader-reader-centeredcentered. How much support will each idea need . How much support will each idea need to convince your readers? Which terms should be to convince your readers? Which terms should be defined for these particular readers? Is your defined for these particular readers? Is your organization effective? Do readers need to know X organization effective? Do readers need to know X before they can understand Y? before they can understand Y?    

• At this stage you also refine your prose, making At this stage you also refine your prose, making each sentence as concise and accurate as possible. each sentence as concise and accurate as possible. Make connections between ideas explicit and clear. Make connections between ideas explicit and clear.

• Revision is the key to effective documents. Here Revision is the key to effective documents. Here you think more deeply about your readers' needs you think more deeply about your readers' needs and expectations. The document becomes and expectations. The document becomes reader-reader-centeredcentered. How much support will each idea need . How much support will each idea need to convince your readers? Which terms should be to convince your readers? Which terms should be defined for these particular readers? Is your defined for these particular readers? Is your organization effective? Do readers need to know X organization effective? Do readers need to know X before they can understand Y? before they can understand Y?    

• At this stage you also refine your prose, making At this stage you also refine your prose, making each sentence as concise and accurate as possible. each sentence as concise and accurate as possible. Make connections between ideas explicit and clear. Make connections between ideas explicit and clear.

Step 4 - EditingStep 4 - EditingStep 4 - EditingStep 4 - Editing• Check for such things as grammar, Check for such things as grammar,

mechanics, and spelling. The last mechanics, and spelling. The last thing you should do before printing thing you should do before printing your document is to spell check it. your document is to spell check it.    

• Don't edit your writing until the Don't edit your writing until the other steps in the writing process other steps in the writing process are complete. are complete.

• Check for such things as grammar, Check for such things as grammar, mechanics, and spelling. The last mechanics, and spelling. The last thing you should do before printing thing you should do before printing your document is to spell check it. your document is to spell check it.    

• Don't edit your writing until the Don't edit your writing until the other steps in the writing process other steps in the writing process are complete. are complete.

Step 5 - PublisingStep 5 - PublisingStep 5 - PublisingStep 5 - Publising

• Turn in your paper for publishingTurn in your paper for publishing• Mail, post, or publish. These, Mail, post, or publish. These,

among many other ways of among many other ways of publishing, are all part of the publishing, are all part of the publishing step. publishing step.

• Turn in your paper for publishingTurn in your paper for publishing• Mail, post, or publish. These, Mail, post, or publish. These,

among many other ways of among many other ways of publishing, are all part of the publishing, are all part of the publishing step. publishing step.

Review!Review!Review!Review!How many steps are there in the How many steps are there in the

writing process?writing process?Answer: FiveAnswer: Five

What are the steps???What are the steps???• PrewritingPrewriting• DraftingDrafting• RevisingRevising• EditingEditing• PublishingPublishing

How many steps are there in the How many steps are there in the writing process?writing process?

Answer: FiveAnswer: FiveWhat are the steps???What are the steps???

• PrewritingPrewriting• DraftingDrafting• RevisingRevising• EditingEditing• PublishingPublishing

What are some ways that you What are some ways that you can pre-write???? can pre-write????

What are some ways that you What are some ways that you can pre-write???? can pre-write????

•free writing

•journalling

•image streaming (transplant yourself to another place or time

and describe from a first person point of view)

•lists

•visualization

•brainstorming - individually or as a group

•webbing/mapping/clustering

•graphic organizers

•topic or word chart

•free writing

•journalling

•image streaming (transplant yourself to another place or time

and describe from a first person point of view)

•lists

•visualization

•brainstorming - individually or as a group

•webbing/mapping/clustering

•graphic organizers

•topic or word chart

Where can you find sources of Where can you find sources of inspiration??? inspiration???

Where can you find sources of Where can you find sources of inspiration??? inspiration???

•magazines/newspapers/periodicals/CD-ROM

•conduct an interview based on your topic

•media - radio, tv, internet

•experiences

•film - movies and documentaries

•music

•visual art - observing or creating

•dreams or memories

•discussion and brainstorming

•responding to literature

•role playing

•research

•imagination

•magazines/newspapers/periodicals/CD-ROM

•conduct an interview based on your topic

•media - radio, tv, internet

•experiences

•film - movies and documentaries

•music

•visual art - observing or creating

•dreams or memories

•discussion and brainstorming

•responding to literature

•role playing

•research

•imagination

What is step 2?What is step 2?

What is step 2?What is step 2? Drafting

What is drafting?Putting your ideas into complete sentences on paper

What do you not pay attention to when drafting?

Spelling and Grammar

Is drafting writer or audience centered?Writer

DraftingWhat is drafting?

Putting your ideas into complete sentences on paper

What do you not pay attention to when drafting?

Spelling and Grammar

Is drafting writer or audience centered?Writer

What is step 3??What is step 3??

What is step 3??What is step 3??

RevisingWhen revising are you looking for

spelling or grammatical errors?NO

Is revising writer or audience centered?Audience

In this stage you look for how effective your writing is

RevisingWhen revising are you looking for

spelling or grammatical errors?NO

Is revising writer or audience centered?Audience

In this stage you look for how effective your writing is

What is step 4??What is step 4??

What is step 4??What is step 4??

EditingWhen editing are you looking for

spelling or grammatical errors?YES

When do you begin the editing process??When you have finished all other steps!

EditingWhen editing are you looking for

spelling or grammatical errors?YES

When do you begin the editing process??When you have finished all other steps!

What is step 5??What is step 5??

What is step 5??What is step 5?? PUBLISHING

How do you publish your work?

HAND YOUR WORK OF GENIUS INTO MRS. SWAIN

PUBLISHING

How do you publish your work?

HAND YOUR WORK OF GENIUS INTO MRS. SWAIN