Writing Process Writing Process

What is an Essay? An organized piece of writing that focuses on a single topic An organized piece of writing that focuses on a single topic Organized around a general idea or thesis Organized around a general idea or thesis Thesis develops from all the main ideas in the supporting paragraphs Thesis develops from all the main ideas in the supporting paragraphs Paragraphs that develop the thesis are the body of the essay Paragraphs that develop the thesis are the body of the essay Begins with an introduction Begins with an introduction Ends with a concluding paragraph Ends with a concluding paragraph

Why Write an Essay? Writing an essay helps you express your ideas more clearly and effectively Writing an essay helps you express your ideas more clearly and effectively It helps you to convey much information in a small amount of space It helps you to convey much information in a small amount of space They can be entertaining by recounting interesting stories about ourselves and others. They can be entertaining by recounting interesting stories about ourselves and others.

Stages of the Writing Process There are several stages to the Writing Process. There are several stages to the Writing Process. Prewriting Prewriting Writing (Drafting) Writing (Drafting) Revising Revising Editing Editing

Prewriting Prewriting Choose/narrow your topic Choose/narrow your topic Determine your Determine your Audience Audience Purpose Purpose Tense Tense Explore your topic Explore your topic Make a plan Make a plan

Audience Written What do my readers expect? Written What do my readers expect? Standard English Standard English Correct grammar and spelling Correct grammar and spelling Accurate information Accurate information Logical presentation of ideas Logical presentation of ideas

Audience continued... Followed directions of the assignment!!! Followed directions of the assignment!!! What are my length requirements? What are my length requirements? What is my time limit? What is my time limit? Is research required? Is research required? What does the assignment consist of? What does the assignment consist of?

Determine Tense Tense is the voice you use to designate the time of the action or state of being. Tense is the voice you use to designate the time of the action or state of being. Present tense Present tense Past tense Past tense Future tense Future tense

Pre-writing Techniques Brainstorming Brainstorming Free writing Free writing Questioning Questioning Discussing Discussing Charting Charting

Brainstorming “ Brainstorming ” means thinking of as many ideas as possible in a short amount of time. “ Brainstorming ” means thinking of as many ideas as possible in a short amount of time. Write down your ideas so that you don ’ t forget them. Write down your ideas so that you don ’ t forget them. Write down everything that comes to your mind; don ’ t worry about sorting out “ good ” and “ bad ” ideas. Write down everything that comes to your mind; don ’ t worry about sorting out “ good ” and “ bad ” ideas. Don ’ t worry about spelling or grammar. Don ’ t worry about spelling or grammar.

Example of Brainstorming Topic: What would I do with one million dollars? Travel--Europe, Asia, S. America Pay off our house Share--give a scholarship, donate to charities Buy a lot of books! Invest/save and let the interest grow

Free Writing “ Free Writing ” is like pouring all of your thoughts onto paper. “ Free Writing ” is like pouring all of your thoughts onto paper. Don ’ t take your pen off the page; keep writing for the entire time. Don ’ t take your pen off the page; keep writing for the entire time. If you don ’ t know what to write, write “ I don ’ t know what to write ” until you do. If you don ’ t know what to write, write “ I don ’ t know what to write ” until you do. Don ’ t try to sort “ good ” and “ bad ” ideas. Don ’ t try to sort “ good ” and “ bad ” ideas. Don ’ t worry about spelling and grammar. Don ’ t worry about spelling and grammar.

Charting Sometimes you will want to organize your ideas for writing in a chart. Sometimes you will want to organize your ideas for writing in a chart. Charting works very well for comparison/ contrast writing or examining advantages and disadvantages. Charting works very well for comparison/ contrast writing or examining advantages and disadvantages. You can use many different kinds of charts, depending on your topic and the kind of writing you are doing. You can use many different kinds of charts, depending on your topic and the kind of writing you are doing.

Example Chart

Make a Plan Before you begin drafting your essay, you should make a plan (a roadmap). Before you begin drafting your essay, you should make a plan (a roadmap). Review, evaluate, and organize ideas written in your pre-writing; then make a plan for your essay’s Review, evaluate, and organize ideas written in your pre-writing; then make a plan for your essay’s Thesis statement Thesis statement Support Support Order Order Structure Structure

Thesis Statement The thesis statement expresses the MAIN IDEA of your essay, the central point that your essay develops/supports. The thesis statement expresses the MAIN IDEA of your essay, the central point that your essay develops/supports.

Thesis continued... Your thesis SHOULD: Your thesis SHOULD: Accurately predict your essay’s direction, emphasis, and scope Accurately predict your essay’s direction, emphasis, and scope Make no promises that the essay will not fulfill Make no promises that the essay will not fulfill Be direct and straightforward Be direct and straightforward NOT be an announcement, or statement of fact. NOT be an announcement, or statement of fact.

Support Be sure to evaluate the information in your prewriting carefully in order to choose the best support for your topic. Be sure to evaluate the information in your prewriting carefully in order to choose the best support for your topic. Primary Support—major ideas or examples that back up your main points Primary Support—major ideas or examples that back up your main points Secondary Support—details which further explain your primary support Secondary Support—details which further explain your primary support

Support continued... Basics of good support Basics of good support Relates to main point Relates to main point Considers readers, i.e. provides enough information Considers readers, i.e. provides enough information Is detailed and specific Is detailed and specific

Order The Order is the sequence in which you present your ideas. The Order is the sequence in which you present your ideas. There are 3 types of order: There are 3 types of order: Time (chronological) order Time (chronological) order Space order Space order Emphatic order (order of importance: least-to- most, most-to-least) Emphatic order (order of importance: least-to- most, most-to-least)

Structure/Organization Consider how your essay will be organized; then create an Outline. Consider how your essay will be organized; then create an Outline. Sample Outline of standard Sample Outline of standard 5-paragraph essay: 5-paragraph essay: A. Introduction B. Body Paragraph 1 C. Body Paragraph 2 D. Body Paragraph 3 E. Conclusion

Writing Writing During the Writing Stage, you should During the Writing Stage, you should Create your essay’s Title Create your essay’s Title Compose a draft Compose a draft A Draft is the first whole version of all your ideas put together; it’s a “dress rehearsal.” A Draft is the first whole version of all your ideas put together; it’s a “dress rehearsal.”

Titles Capitalization Rules for Titles: Capitalization Rules for Titles: Always capitalize the first letter of the first word and the last word. Always capitalize the first letter of the first word and the last word. Capitalize the first letter of each “important” word in between the first and last words. Capitalize the first letter of each “important” word in between the first and last words. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) Do not capitalize coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) Do not capitalize coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, etc.) Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at, in, off, etc.) Do not capitalize prepositions (on, at, in, off, etc.)

Write Your Introduction Your introductory paragraph should do the following: Your introductory paragraph should do the following: Be a minimum of 4-6 sentences Be a minimum of 4-6 sentences Tell the audience what to expect from your discussion (thesis) Tell the audience what to expect from your discussion (thesis) Move from general to specific, with the thesis as the last sentence in the intro Move from general to specific, with the thesis as the last sentence in the intro Get the reader’s attention Get the reader’s attention Set the tone for the rest of the essay Set the tone for the rest of the essay

Introduction, continued Strategies for developing an Introduction include Strategies for developing an Introduction include Providing background information Providing background information Beginning with a quotation Beginning with a quotation Asking a question Asking a question Controlling our children Controlling our children

Attention Getters for Introductory Paragraphs Strategy Strategy Provide some interesting background about the topic in the form of a general statement Provide some interesting background about the topic in the form of a general statement Use a thought-provoking quotation Use a thought-provoking quotation Ask a question about your topic Ask a question about your topic State a surprising fact or a puzzling statement State a surprising fact or a puzzling statement Examples Examples Today’s children become tomorrow’s leaders. “Adolescence is not a stage of life, it is a disease!” Dr. S. Rusher Why don’t children want to be controlled by adults? Teenagers join gangs, because they need the support of a family.

Attention Getters for Introductory Paragraphs Strategy Strategy State a common misconception State a common misconception Give an analogy Give an analogy Show how the topic is related to the reader’s experience Show how the topic is related to the reader’s experience Examples Examples Children don’t learn bad habits from adults. Children are just like animals. Most people know how difficult it is to raise children.

Write Your Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should develop one of the specific points mentioned in the thesis. Each body paragraph should develop one of the specific points mentioned in the thesis. Each BP should contain: Each BP should contain: Topic Sentence—main idea of BP Topic Sentence—main idea of BP Primary Support—examples Primary Support—examples Secondary Support—details Secondary Support—details

Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentence A Topic Sentence expresses the main idea of the body paragraph. A Topic Sentence expresses the main idea of the body paragraph. Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence that Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence that Narrows the focus of the paragraph Narrows the focus of the paragraph Accurately predicts the direction of the paragraph Accurately predicts the direction of the paragraph Refers back to the Thesis statement Refers back to the Thesis statement

Body Paragraphs continued Body paragraphs must have Body paragraphs must have Unity—everything refers back to main point Unity—everything refers back to main point Support—examples and details Support—examples and details Coherence—all points connect to form a whole; one point leads to another Coherence—all points connect to form a whole; one point leads to another

Write Your Conclusion The concluding paragraph should The concluding paragraph should Contain a minimum of 4 sentences Contain a minimum of 4 sentences Refer back to the main point, but not simply repeat the thesis Refer back to the main point, but not simply repeat the thesis Make an observation on what is written Make an observation on what is written NOT introduce any new ideas NOT introduce any new ideas Create a sense of closure Create a sense of closure

Signal/Transition Words For examples: For example, for instance, to illustrate For examples: For example, for instance, to illustrate For organization or chronological order: The six steps are…, next, finally first, secondly, third For organization or chronological order: The six steps are…, next, finally first, secondly, third For additional points: Furthermore, in addition, also, moreover For additional points: Furthermore, in addition, also, moreover For opposing ideas: On the other hand, in contrast, although, however For opposing ideas: On the other hand, in contrast, although, however For similar ideas: Likewise, similarly, in comparison For similar ideas: Likewise, similarly, in comparison

Signal/Transition Words For exceptions: However, nevertheless, but, yet, still For exceptions: However, nevertheless, but, yet, still For emphasis: Above all, finally, more importantly For emphasis: Above all, finally, more importantly For understanding: In other words, in essence, briefly For understanding: In other words, in essence, briefly For summarizing: In conclusion, to sum up, for these reasons, in a nutshell For summarizing: In conclusion, to sum up, for these reasons, in a nutshell For exams: Remember this, this is important, this could be on the test For exams: Remember this, this is important, this could be on the test

Revising Revising Revising is finding & correcting problems with content; changing the ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more convincing. Revising is finding & correcting problems with content; changing the ideas in your writing to make them clearer, stronger, and more convincing. Revising looks at the “Big Picture”—the Idea level. Revising looks at the “Big Picture”—the Idea level.

Editing Editing Editing is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and punctuation. Editing is finding and correcting problems with grammar, style, word choice & usage, and punctuation. Editing focuses on the “Little Picture”— Word level. Editing focuses on the “Little Picture”— Word level.

Editing Strategies When editing, review your essay for one type of error at a time; don’t try to read through looking for everything at once. When editing, review your essay for one type of error at a time; don’t try to read through looking for everything at once.