The Writing ProcessThe Writing Process

What is it?What is it?

• Have you heard this phrase before?

• What do you know about “the writing process”?

• Have you heard this phrase before?

• What do you know about “the writing process”?

It’s not simple!It’s not simple!• The writing

process isn’t linear. It doesn’t go from point A to point B like a nice, straight line…

• Think of it as something more circular... like a roller coaster.

• The writing process isn’t linear. It doesn’t go from point A to point B like a nice, straight line…

• Think of it as something more circular... like a roller coaster.

But before you get on the ride--

But before you get on the ride--

• Stop!• Go back!• Read the

assignment at least two times and be sure that you understand it.

• Stop!• Go back!• Read the

assignment at least two times and be sure that you understand it.

Next:Choose a general

subject

Next:Choose a general

subject• What’s your paper going to be

about?

• (Sometimes your instructors do this part for you… they might tell you what to write about.)

• What’s your paper going to be about?

• (Sometimes your instructors do this part for you… they might tell you what to write about.)

Then narrow it.Then narrow it.• Why must you narrow? • These topics are too big:

• Sports• Movies• Fashion

• You will write forever, and you won’t be able to say anything meaningful if you try to write about a broad subject.

• Why must you narrow? • These topics are too big:

• Sports• Movies• Fashion

• You will write forever, and you won’t be able to say anything meaningful if you try to write about a broad subject.

On the other hand…On the other hand…

• If your topic is too narrow, you will paint yourself into a corner!

• Image from http://declutter.net.au/

• If your topic is too narrow, you will paint yourself into a corner!

• Image from http://declutter.net.au/

After you narrow your topic…

After you narrow your topic…

• Think about it• Ask (and

answer) questions about it

• Brainstorm• Cluster• Be creative!

• Think about it• Ask (and

answer) questions about it

• Brainstorm• Cluster• Be creative!

Creative?Creative?

• Yes!• Try to make new connections• Look from a different

perspective• Think about the topic in a new

way• Take risks!

• Yes!• Try to make new connections• Look from a different

perspective• Think about the topic in a new

way• Take risks!

Next:Next:• Write a (tentative) thesis statement.• A thesis statement is the main idea

for the entire paper. Everything else in the paper is connected to your thesis statement (or “thesis”) in some way. We’ll work on these in class.

• Your thesis might change a bit as you write. That’s okay!

• Write a (tentative) thesis statement.• A thesis statement is the main idea

for the entire paper. Everything else in the paper is connected to your thesis statement (or “thesis”) in some way. We’ll work on these in class.

• Your thesis might change a bit as you write. That’s okay!

Know your audienceKnow your audience

• In college, you are usually writing for an “academic” audience.

• You need to use academic language. • No contractions.• No “gonna”, “wanna”, spoken

English.• You need to be careful about

spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

• In college, you are usually writing for an “academic” audience.

• You need to use academic language. • No contractions.• No “gonna”, “wanna”, spoken

English.• You need to be careful about

spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Decide on your patternDecide on your pattern• “Organizational pattern,” “method of

development,” “rhetorical pattern,” and “rhetorical strategy” all mean the same thing.

• These phrases refer to the way you choose to organize your essay.

• Each pattern/method/strategy requires different details.

• “Organizational pattern,” “method of development,” “rhetorical pattern,” and “rhetorical strategy” all mean the same thing.

• These phrases refer to the way you choose to organize your essay.

• Each pattern/method/strategy requires different details.

For example…For example…• Description

• “Paints a picture” in the audience’s mind. A descriptive essay will have a lot of sensory detail.

• Compare and Contrast• Shows how two things are alike or different.

A compare and contrast essay will give concrete details that help a reader see the similarities or the differences.

• Narration• Tells a story. A narrative essay is often

written chronologically.

• Description• “Paints a picture” in the audience’s mind. A

descriptive essay will have a lot of sensory detail.

• Compare and Contrast• Shows how two things are alike or different.

A compare and contrast essay will give concrete details that help a reader see the similarities or the differences.

• Narration• Tells a story. A narrative essay is often

written chronologically.

Organize your ideasOrganize your ideas

• Make some kind of outline• Have an idea of where your

paper will go before you start writing

• Make some kind of outline• Have an idea of where your

paper will go before you start writing

Finally!Finally!

• Write your first draft.• Write it fast.• Get your ideas down.• (This is not the paper you will

turn in.)

• Write your first draft.• Write it fast.• Get your ideas down.• (This is not the paper you will

turn in.)

Take a break.Take a break.

• Go away. • Take a walk.• Call a friend.• Watch a movie.• Distract yourself.

• Go away. • Take a walk.• Call a friend.• Watch a movie.• Distract yourself.

Then come back!Then come back!• Read your paper.• Does it make sense?• Where can you make it clearer?• Check your grammar.• Check your spelling.• Check your punctuation.• Make changes.

• Read your paper.• Does it make sense?• Where can you make it clearer?• Check your grammar.• Check your spelling.• Check your punctuation.• Make changes.

THIS…THIS…• … is the first draft you will bring

to class.• It should be something you’re

happy with.• It should be something you’d

get a passing grade for.

• … is the first draft you will bring to class.

• It should be something you’re happy with.

• It should be something you’d get a passing grade for.

But you’re not done yet!But you’re not done yet!

• You will get feedback on your first draft.• Maybe from me• Maybe from a Page One tutor• Definitely from a peer

• You will get feedback on your first draft.• Maybe from me• Maybe from a Page One tutor• Definitely from a peer

REVISE!THE CIRCLE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN…

REVISE!THE CIRCLE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN…

After you get feedback… After you get feedback…