Writing Process      “The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.”  Gustave Flaubert

Prewriting – Selecting a Topic Freewrite – quickly write whatever comes to your head. Don’t stop. Don’t edit. Don’t read what you’ve written until you’re finished. Brainstorm – Write down all ideas without judgment. Later you can decide which fits you. Creative Questioning – What if?? (serious or zany) Choose the one that excites you. Browsing – Leaf through art, photography, books of quotations or humor, magazines and newspapers. Have a pen and jot down ideas as you browse. Does the topic interest me personally? Is it clear enough for me to understand and write about? Is there enough to say about the topic?

Prewriting – Focusing Your Topic Defining Your Purpose and Audience Purpose: Why am I writing? Do you want to inform your readers? Do you want to describe something to them? Do you want to entertain them? Do you want to persuade them to believe something? * Note * You can combine purposes. Audience: For whom am I writing? Who is going to read your writing? What do your readers already know about the topic? What do they need in order to understand your ideas? How can you capture their interest? Choose the form that best fits the purpose and audience: Personal Narrative Descriptive Response to Literature Letter Technical (How To…) Research Paper Reflective Texts Short Story (Play) Persuasive Cause and Effect Compare and Contrast Poem

Prewriting – Planning Your Paper Gathering all the information needed to write Organizing all the information needed to write These two can be accomplished in one of two ways: Graphic Organizer Outline NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 1 OF THE 5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 20-50 POINTS

DRAFTING When you feel you have a proper plan in place, begin drafting the piece. Do not worry too much about word choice, grammar, or mechanics in this stage. Just get the words down on paper in an organized fashion. NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 2 OF THE 5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 50 POINTS

Revising Peer-Response is the best way because you are too close to your words and thoughts to have any objective perspective on your paper. Getting and Giving Peer Response Tips for Writers Tips for Peer Readers Give readers clean copies of your writing (typed is always appreciated) Ask open-ended questions; they will get you more information than questions that can be answered yes or no. Give readers enough time to respond thoughtfully. Encourage readers to be honest in their responses to your writing. Respect the writer’s feelings. Begin by telling the writer what you like about the writing. Answer the writer’s questions in a positive way. Don’t just point out faults in the writing. Be specific in your feedback.

As the writer the final product is up to you As the writer the final product is up to you. You don’t have to use all the suggestions you get from your peers, but keep in mind that if you change nothing, you have not improved your writing. Possible Open ended questions? How did my introductory paragraph get your attention? How does my thesis work for you? Have I included enough support for the main idea? If not, what have I left out? Is there anything you would take out because it seems unnecessary or irrelevant? How should I reorganize my paragraphs or sentences for better fluency? Can you summarize my main idea and main points? How can I improve my wording and my description of things? How can I improve my conclusion paragraph to leave you feeling better satisfied?

Six Traits of Effective Writing Using the Six Traits Ideas and Content Make sure your ideas are clear, focused, and supported with relevant details. 2. Organization Arrange your ideas in a logical order that moves the reader through the text. 3. Voice Express your ideas in a way that shows your individual style and personality. 4. Word Choice Use language that is precise, powerful, and engaging. 5. Sentence Fluency Improve the rhythm and flow of your sentences by using varied sentence lengths and structures. Conventions * Note this 6th trait is evaluated only during the editing stage. Eliminate errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and format. See pg. 314-315 of the Blue Grammar Book for more details on revising.

Revising Revision is a key step because it gives you a chance to reevaluate what you said and if you said it best. The changes you make based on your peer’s suggestions need to be rewritten in a new copy of the draft so that the paper is as close to perfect in content and context that it can be. NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 3 OF THE 5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 50 POINTS

Editing During this process you are simply proofreading for: Sentence fragments Run-on sentences Verb Tense Errors Incorrect capitalization Errors in subject-verb agreement Missing or misused punctuation Misused or misspelled words Dangling modifiers It is helpful but not necessary to have a peer help you edit.

Here’s How to Edit Read the work slowly—one sentence at a time Look for mistakes you often find in writing. Look closely at sentences that just don’t seem right to you—even if you aren’t immediately sure why they aren’t right. Use the your knowledge of grammar, usage, and mechanics rules of Standard American English. Use a dictionary (or spell check) to check spellings of unfamiliar words and words that often give you trouble. Let’s talk computer age.

Editing Symbols # Add a space ^ (Insert) Add a letter or word. This Chart shows symbols that editors use to point out errors. ^ (Insert) Add a letter or word. Close up. . Add a period. Begin a new paragraph Capitalize a letter. , Add a comma D Make a capital letter lowercase. Switch the positions of letters or words. Delete letters or words. # Add a space NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 4 OF THE 5 STEP WRITING PROCESS

Publishing (Final Draft) Share your writing In print – School Newspaper, Literary Magazine, Magazine that publishes student writing. Electronically – Post on Electronic Bulletin Board, E-mail to friends or relatives, Create a Website for your writing. By presenting – In a dramatic reading or performance or as a persuasive speech. NOW YOU HAVE COMPLETED STEP 5 OF THE 5 STEP WRITING PROCESS = 100 POINTS

In Short Prewriting = 20 - 50 points (Graphic organizer) Drafting = 50 points (Handwritten or typed) Revised Draft = 50 points (2nd Copy of the paper with changes highlighted. Final Draft = 100 points (3rd Copy of the paper with editing errors corrected) Publishing = 50 points (Presentation of Work) I ______________________understand that if I miss a step I am no longer in the process. There is no way to make up a late assignment.