the writing process: from conception to...
TRANSCRIPT
The Writing Process:
From Concept to Composition
Ms. Brown
English 100
Step One: Prewriting
What is prewriting?
Why should we prewrite?
Prewriting Prewriting is a method of writing where
you generate ideas. These ideas may not be written in complete sentences. You may prewrite using key words, phrases, run-on sentences, misspelled words, or even pictures/sketches.
Prewriting is the first step of the writing process, and we should always follow a process when writing.
Using a prewriting method helps the composer generate ideas. These ideas are the raw materials that will help make the final essay stellar!
The most common prewriting methods include:
Brainstorming in a bullet list and writing down every idea that comes to your mind.
Free writing as if you are writing in a journal and writing as fast as you can without stopping.
5Ws are simply using a new sheet of paper to answer each W question: who, what, where, when, why.
Clustering in the shapes of circles or clouds to extend one idea to another.
You have three essay topics to choose from. If you’re having trouble picking one, try prewriting for all and see which one gives you more to write about.
Details
My list is not numbered.
Why is this a benefit to my
prewriting process?
Some ideas may be stronger
than others, but that is
understandable at this stage
of the writing process.
Some ideas may also be
repetitive, but that’s okay.
Do not judge the prewriting
process. Have fun with it!
Be creative. Let loose!
Brainstorming example
My greatest challenge was going to graduate school. Why:
o Expensive ($40k)
o Highly competitive process (MFA)
o I had to quit my first full time job, so I took a risk going back to school.
o My dad, in particular, said this was a bad idea. “Why leave a job to go back to school?”
o Paying for all the application fees
o Time consuming getting the recommendations and submitting for deadlines
o Submitting my best essays for the application took time
o I also had doubts
o I went to a school where I knew no one and had no friends at first.
o I only received $5k in financial aid my first year.
o I had to find part time work to survive, so I combined 3 jobs.
o Working those jobs while maintaining a full time schedule was stressful.
o I was hundreds of miles away from home and nervous.
o I almost quit my first month!
o I had a bad breakup near the end of that first semester, but I pulled through it with the help of new friends I’d made.
o I constantly compared myself to my classmates. Was I smart enough?
Details
Notice the grammar and
spelling errors. Why is this
acceptable during the
prewriting stage?
Free writing example
Going to graduate school was a challenging experience. When I decided to go for my master’s degree, I was already working full time as a magazine writer and web editor. I basically left a job with benefits to become a poor, struggling student again. But I did it because I knew if I wanted to improve my writing and have more doors of promotion, I would need another degree. So I packed all my belongings and sold everything I could to make the move to another city and another school—Mills College in Oakland, CA. First, I had to figure out where I was going to live. And related to that, I knew I’d need to find work in order to pay for my school and living expenses. It didn’t take me long to find a room to rent because this was cheaper than the dorms. Next, I knew my two years of work experience would be better than none, so I approached the campus work study office for assistance. I was able to secure two on campus jobs: one in the marketing office as a student assistant and one in the fundraising office as a phonathon caller. I can’t say I loved these jobs, but they certainly taught me perserverance and I couldn’t have made it through school without this work. Since those on campus jobs weren’t enough to leave me money for food, I went to Craigslist and found one more part time job that had me work on Tuesdays and Saturdays off-campus. Finding a place to live and working was only part of the challenge of going back to school. I then had to prepare myself to study the material. The assignments and the amount of reading were slightly more difficult than my undergraduate years. I made good use of the campus library and got to know the librarians very well. I even studied outside of class with students. Sometimes it was difficult not comparing myself to them (Stanford and Columbia graduates) but I reminded myself that I was accepted for a reason, that I belonged if I believed. Another challenge…
Details
Notice the grammar and
spelling errors. Why is this
acceptable during the
prewriting stage?
Free writing example
Going to graduate school was a challenging experience. When I decided to go for my master’s degree, I was already working full time as a magazine writer and web editor. I basically left a job with benefits to become a poor, struggling student again. But I did it because I knew if I wanted to improve my writing and have more doors of promotion, I would need another degree. So I packed all my belongings and sold everything I could to make the move to another city and another school—Mills College in Oakland, CA. First, I had to figure out where I was going to live. And related to that, I knew I’d need to find work in order to pay for my school and living expenses. It didn’t take me long to find a room to rent because this was cheaper than the dorms. Next, I knew my two years of work experience would be better than none, so I approached the campus work study office for assistance. I was able to secure two on campus jobs: one in the marketing office as a student assistant and one in the fundraising office as a phonathon caller. I can’t say I loved these jobs, but they certainly taught me perserverance and I couldn’t have made it through school without this work. Since those on campus jobs weren’t enough to leave me money for food, I went to Craigslist and found one more part time job that had me work on Tuesdays and Saturdays off-campus. Finding a place to live and working was only part of the challenge of going back to school. I then had to prepare myself to study the material.The assignments and the amount of reading were slightly more difficult than my undergraduate years. I made good use of the campus library and got to know the librarians very well. I even studied outside of class with students. Sometimes it was difficult not comparing myself to them (Stanford and Columbia graduates) but I reminded myself that I was accepted for a reason, that I belonged if I believed. Another challenge…
Details
Notice how each idea is
organized in groups. How
far can each idea take you?
After creating your own
questions, you must answer
them. This is the “raw”
material of prewriting,
which we will later
organize.
5Ws example The 5Ws are useful for clustering:
Who Who challenged me during graduate school?
What What was challenging about graduate school?
What else happened in my personal life to make this challenge even harder (or easier)?
What would I have done differently if I could do it again?
What motivated me? Discouraged me?
What was the process to apply?
What was required to graduate?
What did I learn?
When When did I decide to face this challenge to go back to
school? Did my age make it harder or easier?
When did I graduate? How long did it take me? Did I want to give up along the way?
Why Why was it so important for me to go back to school?
Money? Self-esteem? Self-knowledge?
Where Where did I go to graduate school? How far away was it?
Note:
Clusters require you to
organize your ideas, so this
should not be the first
prewriting activity that you do.
Red = broad topic
Blue = your chosen limited
topic
Purple = 3 different points
about your limited topic
Green = 3 different examples
for each point
I only recommend clustering:
1. If you are a visual person.
2. To help bridge the writing
process from prewriting to
organizing.
Clustering example
PRACTICE!
Choose 2-3 prewriting methods
to generate ideas for the topic.
You have 15 minutes in class! It
is highly recommended that you
do not let your pen stop. Keep
moving! Do not censor yourself
in the first stage of the writing
process.
Prewrite on the following topic:
Choose one of the topics from the Essay
#1 directions and use at least two
prewriting methods on your own.
Choose one or more of the following
prewriting methods for this topic:
Brainstorm list (unnumbered)
Free write
5Ws (who, what, where, when, why)
Cluster (should be chosen last after
picking one of the options above)
Prewriting
What is prewriting?
Why should we prewrite?
Step Two: Organizing and
Outlining
How do you organize your ideas?
What is an outline?
How does it help?
Organizing and Outlining
Organizing your ideas is as simple as eliminating the weakest ideas in your list, free write, answers, or cluster.
You should be left with your strongest points, and these can be organized chronologically, logically, spatially, or by order of importance.
A useful outline will include the following:
A working thesis statement (the writer’s opinion on one of the general topics of the essay: challenge, accomplishment, or a goal)
A variety of subtopics, which are organized into body paragraphs
Points and examples about those subtopics in body paragraphs
Details
Notice how the outline is
not in paragraph form. Why
is this useful?
I have included transitions
to my outline. Why did I do
this?
Outline Introduction: Creative scenario or anecdote
Working thesis: I have faced many obstacles in life, but enrolling in a graduate program was the most challenging yet rewarding experience.
Subtopics for my body paragraphs picked from my prewriting. (chronological order) Applying
Transitioning
Studying and Working
Topic Sentence #1: Applying to graduate school required commitment. Example(s) & Details: To begin with, I worked for a
magazine two years after graduating with my Bachelor of Arts degree in English, but I was not satisfied with my work. Thus, making the decision to apply to MFA programs meant that I was making a firm decision to change my life. That was scary. For example, I knew it would mean walking away from the security of a full time job, but I was willing to take that risk.
The Difference Between Examples and
Details
An Example A Detail
Examples often follow a
support point and
transition.
Examples are specific
elaborations of a support
point.
There are several types of details:
Concrete – specific names, dates, times, etc.
Sensory – uses one or more of the five senses
Humorous – highlights the humor of what is being described
Comparative – uses a simile or metaphor
Quoted – states what has been said by someone
Emotive – explains the emotions associated with what is being described
Organizing and Outlining
How do you organize your ideas?
What is an outline?
How does it help?
Step Three: Drafting
What is the draft?
How can I write the best draft possible?
Drafting
Drafting happens when
you begin writing in the
form of your essay
assignment.
Drafts should not be
perfect, but they must be
complete: introduction
with thesis, body
paragraphs on different
topics, and a conclusion.
Video:
www.macmillanhighered.co
m/launchpadsolo/readwrite/
3658560#/launchpad
Drafting
What is the draft?
How can I write the best draft possible?
Step Four: Revising
What is revision?
How do I perform revision?
Revision
Revise is Latin for “to see
again.”
We need to see our work
with fresh eyes by stepping
away from our paper for a
couple of days.
Fresh eyes are also found in
peer critiques when
someone else examines your
work for the first time.
Content of your ideas are
the most important things
to revise:
Topic Sentences
Support Points
Details
Step Five: Editing and
Proofreading
What is editing and proofreading?
How do I perform editing and proofreading?
Editing and Proofreading
This is where you refine
your grammar and catch
errors before turning in
your work.
Catch a STAR
Simplify sentences
Take out unnecessary
descriptions
Add proper punctuation
Rearrange ideas for order
Watch out for COPS
Capitalization
Omitted words
Punctuation
Spelling
Video -
http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpadsolo/readwrite/36
58560#/launchpad
A VISUAL OF THE WRITING PROCESS
THE COMPLETE WRITING PROCESS
1. PREWRITING
2. ORGANIZING AND OUTLINING
3. DRAFTING
4. REVISING
5. EDITING AND PROOFREADING
The Writing Process
THE END