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Process of Writing

Prof. Mara Luna

ENGL 3103To be used with: Refining Composition Skills, 6th ed. by R.

Smalley, M. Ruetten, and J. Rishel-Kozyrev

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Writing is divided into three main steps.

These are:• Prewriting• Drafting• Revising

3Pre-Writing

• Take time to think about the topic and generate ideas.• Focus and plan the piece of writing.• There are some techniques and strategies that can help

you. • Use these techniques when you first begin to think about

your topic and then anytime you feel your flow of ideas is drying up.

4Brainstorming

• Sudden insight or connection.• Way to associate ideas and stimulate thinking. • Start with a word or phrase and let your mind go into any

direction. • Do not think logically but make a list of ideas without

looking back or organizing. • After the time is up, look over your list for related ideas.

(Aprox. 15 minutes)

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6Free Writing

• Writing without stopping. • Its purpose is to free up your mind and make associations or

connections. • It is writing whatever comes into your mind without stopping

to check if the ideas are good or if the grammar is correct. • Do not censor any thoughts or cross anything out. • Do not go back and re-read or correct. • Set a goal, for example, until you finish a page or 10 mins.

(Aprox. 5-10 minutes)• After you have finished, reread what you have written, and

look for interesting ideas that might be useful to you in your writing.

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8Wh-Questions

• It helps to generate ideas and allows you to see your topic from different points of view.

• Helps you to clarify your position on the topic. • Write as many WH- questions (who, what, where, when,

why, how) as you can and answer them as complete as you can.

• Also known as the journalistic approach.

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10Clustering

• Making a visual map of you ideas. • It frees you from following a strictly linear sequence. • Start by putting a topic in a circle in the middle of the

paper, then draw a line and a circle and write an idea related to your topic.

• Repeat until you run out of ideas.• Study your map to find new associations about your topic

and to see the relationship between ideas. The graphic may reveal a connection you have not thought of before.

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12Drafting

• It is the actual writing of the paragraph or essay.• Once you have gathered the material and prepared your

plan, you are ready to write.• While writing your first draft, focus on getting your

meaning down on paper.• Do not be overly concerned with grammar.• Depending on the length of the piece you may write it in

one or several sittings.

13Revising

• Usually takes more time than drafting.• Rethinking or re-seeing your paper.• You need to evaluate your writing.• To evaluate your drafts, find revision checklists. These

will help you decide whether your writing is sufficiently focused or developed.

• It also helps to ask someone to read your draft and give you feedback. Find peer review checklists.

14Editing

• Once you are satisfied with content, you want to turn your attention to the form.

• You may need to rephrase or edit some of your sentences. Rephrase those that are not clear or precise. Then check that they are mechanically and grammatically correct.

• Proofread your paper – read the paper to find any errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics, or punctuation.

15Final Thoughts

• Remember that the writing process is flexible. You do not move through the stages in a rigid, lockstep fashion. You will move back and forth between the stages.

• You DO need to discover the best way for YOU to prewrite, draft, and revise. There is no right way since everyone has its own individual method.

• As you continue to refine your composition skills, you will develop your own individual method.

16References

• Ruetten, M. (2012). Developing Composition Skills. 3rd Edition. Boston, MA: Heinle Cengage Learning.

• Smalley, R. (2012). Refining Composition Skills. 6th Edition. Boston, MA: Heinle Cengage Learning.