The Writing Process

1. The Writing Process A Step-by-step Process

2. Introduction – attention getting step, contains central idea and main points to be covered Body –one or more paragraphs that contain main points about The central idea And details to support the main points Conclusion– Restates your central idea,sums up your main points, and leaves the reader with a strong thought

3. Steps of the Writing Process • Pre-writing • Drafting • Editing • Proofreading • Publishing

4. Pre-writing • Brainstorming: independently, or in groups, generating as many ideas as possible.

5. Pre-writing, cont’d • Concept mapping: graphically linking one idea or ideas to another.

6. Pre-writing, cont’d • Free-writing: writing down ideas as they come to you, without worrying about grammar, spelling, etc. Continue to write non-stop until no more ideas can be thought of.

7. Drafting • Introductory paragraph • Body paragraphs • Concluding paragraphs

8. Introductory Paragraph • The introductory paragraph of an essay usually begins by introducing the topic and ends with the central idea. • The central idea is a statement of fact or belief that you, as a writer, will support in your essay. It should contain: • The topic of the prompt • Your ideas, or main points, about the topic

9. Introductory Paragraph, cont’d A good writer opens an essay with a “hook” that grabs Readers’ attention. Below are several types of “hooks” that Work for most essays. • Surprise your readers: Shock them with a statistic or fact, or provide them with a startling description. • Entertain them: Tell your audience a riveting story or an amusing anecdote

10. Introductory Paragraph, cont’d • Offer them a challenge: Ask your readers a question or invite them to solve a problem. You might even issue them a command. • Make Your readers think: Begin with a thought-provoking question, statement, quotation, or saying

11. Body Paragraphs • Each Body paragraph focuses on one of the main points of your central idea. • Each Body paragraph offers details to support that main point • Your essay should have between 3 to 5 Body paragraphs

12. Concluding Paragraphs • The Concluding paragraph restates your central idea (restate in essay writing means to reword what you have said). • Your Concluding paragraph should sum up the thoughts you’ve expressed in the essay. • A good Concluding paragraph ends with a strong thought that leaves your readers thinking about your ideas. Note: Your concluding paragraph signals the end of your essay. Therefore, avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

13. Editing • Edit for content at this point. • Do you have an introductory paragraph, 3-5 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph • Do the above have all the elements discussed previously. • Is the essay cohesive and coherent.

14. Proofreading • Check for spelling errors, don’t rely on spellcheckers • Check punctuation • Check grammar, syntax, and sentence structure • Check form: indentures, spacing, titles, headings, etc.

15. Congratulations • Now your ready to publish and share your essay. If you have followed the step-by-step process: • Pre-write • Draft • Edit • Proofread