1. Understanding the Writing Process Writing Workshop United International College English Language Centre

2. Before we begin… How much time do you spend thinking about a topic before you actually start writing your essay? Do you usually choose your own topics or are they chosen for you? Do you often sit down to write an essay the night before it’s due?

3. Check your knowledge 1.How many steps are there in the writing process? 2.Must we follow the steps of the writing process in exact chronological order every time? 3.Are revising and editing the same thing?

4. The Writing Process

5. Prewriting Getting started Drafting Getting it down Revising Getting it good Editing Getting it right Publishing Getting it out

6. The Writing Process is RECURSIVE not Chronological You may revisit a step several times before you get it just right!

8. Prewriting Getting started Prewriting activities are like practicing for the real thing! Prewriting is the ‘getting ready to write’ stage of the writing process.

9. Prewriting Activities Getting started 1.Talking/Discussion 2.Brainstorming 3.Graphic Organizers 4.Drawing 5.Reading and gathering ideas 6.Quick writes 7.Making lists 8.Conducting research 9.Formal and informal reading 10.Outlining 11.Remembering past experiences 12.Journaling and note- taking

10. Prewriting Brainstorming

11. Prewriting Outlining

12. Prewriting Visual note taking

13. Prewriting Narrow down your topic and focus! After you choose a topic, you must NARROW it. Writing about a topic that is too general or too big is very difficult, and it isn’t very fun to read about. If you narrow your topic, you can limit your research, and it will be much easier to organize your essay!

14. Let’s Practice… Choose a broad topic you are interested in. Take a few minutes to quickly brainstorm words or subtopics for this topic. You might ask some questions about this topic that you are curious about.

15. Narrow your topic Now, try to narrow your topic into something more focused Education  future of education  online education  the similarities between classroom learning and online learning

16. Think about: What is your purpose for writing?

17. Think about: Who is your audience ? Are you writing for the general public? Are you writing for a professor? Are you writing for someone who doesn’t know anything about your topic? Are you writing for people who specialize in your topic? These questions will help you decide your tone and word choice in your essay.

18. Drafting Getting it down “Write your first draft with your heart. Re- write with your head.” Get all your ideas down on paper Focus on CONTENT not mechanics and grammar Most of the work has been done in the prewritng stage! Choose a structure that fits with your piece of writing Write freely and know that whatever you put down on paper can be changed later

19. Drafting Getting it down Patterns of organization: 1.Cause & Effect 2.Problem-Solution 3.Compare-Contrast 4.Process or step-by-step 5.Argumentative 6.Persuasive 7.Informative

20. Revising Getting it good Revising your writing and editing your writing are NOT the same thing. In this step, you will look at your content, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, etc. You may delete some things, add some things, or rearrange things to make them fit better

22. Revising Consider the following traits of writing:

23. Editing Getting it right Now you should go through and check grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. Have your friend or roommate check it over Go to the WRC to get your writing checked! Ask your teacher to proofread your writing for you.

26. Publishing Getting it out Now you’re ready to print and turn it in! Before you turn it in, check the rubric for your assignment to make sure you’ve fulfilled all the requirements.

27. Let’s Review… 1.How many steps are there in the writing process? 2.Must we follow the steps of the writing process in exact chronological order every time? 3.Are revising and editing the same thing?