Three Phases of Effective Writing
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 2 The Writing Process: Three Phases Get ready to write Write a first draft Revise your draft
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 3 Getting Ready to Write Schedule and list writing tasks –Break project into smaller tasks –Estimate time for each step –Start with due date and work backward
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 4 Getting Ready to Write Select a topic and a working title –Write down topics that interest you and select one –Avoid topics that are too broad
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 5 Getting Ready to Write Write a thesis statement –Summarize what you want to say in one sentence –Remember: You can always rewrite your thesis statement after you learn about your topic
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 6 Getting Ready to Write Consider your purpose –To make your audience think differently: Make your writing clear and logical Support your assertions with evidence –To make your audience feel differently: Consider crafting a story –To make your audience take an action: Explain what steps to take Offer solid benefits for doing so
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 7 Getting Ready to Write Do initial research –Get an overview of the subject Outline –Brainstorm ideas on 3x5 cards –Group cards into category stacks –Arrange stacks and cards in logical order
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 8 Getting Ready to Write Do in-depth research –Use techniques in Chapters 4 and 5 –Use 3 by 5 cards Write one idea per card Create information and source cards –Create writing cards for thoughts while you are researching
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 9 Writing the First Draft Remember: The first draft is not for keeps Let the words flow Ease into it with activities that generate ideas
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 10 Revising Your Draft Cut –Look for excess baggage Paste –Look for missing transitions and connecting ideas –Imaging cutting your paper up with scissors and pasting passages down in a new order
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 11 Revising Your Draft Fix –Examine individual words and phrases –Rely on nouns and verbs –Use the active voice –Look for spelling and grammar errors
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 12 Revising Your Draft Prepare –Know the required formats Margins Title page Notes and bibliographies
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 13 What is plagiarism? Using another person’s words or pictures without giving proper credit. Plagiarism can cost you your grade and may result in expulsion from school.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.The writing process - 14 Use quotation marks for direct quotes, and document the source Paraphrase carefully Note details about each source Cite sources as endnotes and footnotes Submit only your own work For more information, consult the Modern Language Association. Avoiding Plagiarism