The Writing ProcessStep 1: Planning and Prewriting

Prewrit ing Techniques

The University of Kansas KU Writing Center

The Writing Process

Prewrite

Drafting

RevisingEditing

Publishing

In prewriting, you will:

• Explore Ideas• Choose a purpose and an

audience• Gather details• Sequence Ideas

• Also called listing, is a process of generating a lot of information within a short time by building on the association of previous terms you have mentioned.

• Jot down all the possible terms that emerge from the general topic you are thinking about.

• Group the items that you have listed according to arrangements that make sense to you.

• • Give each group a label. Now you have a topic with

possible points of development.

• Write a sentence about the label you have given the group of ideas. Now you have a topic sentence or possibly a thesis statement.

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Graphic Organizers

Subject

Idea

Idea

Idea

Idea

Detail

Graphic Organizers

Outline

I. Idea #1a. Detailb. Example

II. Idea #2a. Detailb. Example

Freewrite

• Just write! Jot down ideas. Write as much as you can for a set period of time.

• Force yourself to continue writing even if nothing specific comes to mind. Generating ideas is what is important, not the grammar or the spelling.

• Highlight the most prominent and interesting ideas.

• Narrow your topic and you will generate several relevant points about the topic.

The Writing ProcessStep 2: Drafting

Traits of an Effective Composition

• Focus and Coherence• Organization

• Development of Ideas• Voice

• Conventions

Focus and Coherence

• Shows clear relationships between ideas.

• Rarely shifts from one idea to the next.

• Sense of completeness• Meaningful introduction and

conclusion.

Organization

• Flows easily from sentence to sentence, and paragraph to paragraph.

• Smooth progression of thought.

• Avoids wordiness and needless repetition.

Try it!At first, Maria had no idea what to do for a

community service project. Then it came to her. She would volunteer to help first graders. After talking to Ms. Ortiz, the teacher who had taught her to read, they had a plan. Maria would visit Ms. Ortiz’s first grade class once a week on the day her own classes ended early. She would read aloud the books she most enjoyed when she was in first grade. After her very first visit, Maria knew her plan was a success. The first graders pleaded with her to come back soon, and Maria finally felt the thrill of being truly useful!

Which sequence words help the paragraph flow logically from one sequence to the next?

At first, Maria had no idea what to do for a community service project. Then it came to her. She would volunteer to help first graders. After talking to Ms. Ortiz, the teacher who had taught her to read, they had a plan. Maria would visit Ms. Ortiz’s first grade class once a week on the day her own classes ended early. She would read aloud the books she most enjoyed when she was in first grade. After her very first visit, Maria knew her plan was a success. The first graders pleaded with her to come back soon, and Maria finally felt the thrill of being truly useful!

What is the topic sentence?What is the concluding sentence?

Drafting

• After prewriting, it is time to start drafting your essay.

– Put Ideas Down– Develop a thesis or controlling idea– Structure Ideas in a organized and sustained way

• Introduction– Grabs reader’s attention– Include thesis statement

• The Body– Develops main idea– Details and Elaborate– Facts, examples, experiences, stories, personal feelings, quotes

• Conclusion– Restates thesis – Summarize most important concepts of the paper.

Paragraphs in a typical essay

Paragraphs should include:

• Topic Sentence (1 Sentence)– Main Idea of Paragraph

• Supporting Sentences (2+ Sentences)– Develop Ideas and Detail– Examples, Personal Experience, Facts

• Concluding Sentence (1 Sentence)– Wrap up ideas

ACE Method

• A – Answer the Question

• C – Cite Text Evidence• E – Explain how the

evidence answers the question and expand .

TAKS OER Scoring - ACE

  3 2 1 0Answer Answer makes sense &

is a complete sentenceAnswer makes sense but is not a complete sentence

Attempt was made, but answer does not make sense

No attempt

CiteEVIDENCE

Relevant, adequate evidence cited to support answer

Relevant but inadequate evidence cited to support answer

Irrelevant evidence cited to support answer

No attempt

Explain/ Expand

Explanation is clear and there is an obvious connection to the answer/ citation

Explanation was attempted but reasoning or connection is unclear

Explanation and/or reasoning are incomprehensible

No attempt