stages of writing prewriting drafting revising editing

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Stages of WritingPrewritingDraftingRevisingEditing

PrewritingPrewriting is the process of coming up with

ideas for your essay.This is not formal, polished writing.There are many prewriting techniques, but

we will be discussing:BrainstormingFreewritingClusteringOutlining

Brainstorming

Freewriting

ClusteringA way of narrowing your thoughts by

connecting your ideasGreat techniques for visual learners

Topics to choose from

My goals five years from now…My biggest fear…Something this school really needs is . . .An unforgettable dream

TagmemicsTagmemics is a system that allows you to look

at a single object from three different perspectives. The hope is that one of these perspectives (or even all three) can help you to determine a subject for writing. Tagmemics involves seeing your topic:

As a particle (as a thing in itself)As a wave (as a thing changing over time)As part of a field (as a thing in its context)http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/topic.shtml#topoi

Tagmemics: As a ParticleAs A “particle” a thing in itself:

Let's say that you want to write a paper on . If you use tagmemics as a system of invention, you will begin by looking at Malcolm X as a thing in himself. In other words, what are the characteristics of Malcolm X as a man? The characteristics of his philosophy?

From http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/topic.shtml#topoi

Tagmemics: As a WaveAs a wave (one thing changing over time)

You next might consider Malcolm X in terms of how his role in the civil rights movement changed over time. Certainly Malcolm X experienced a radical shift in his beliefs about civil rights; you might explore this shift and the consequences both for Malcolm X and for the movement as a whole. You might also consider how history has viewed Malcolm X over time. You might have discovered in your reading that there exists today some division of opinion as to whether or not Malcolm X ought to be considered a civil rights leader. What forces have contributed to this dispute, and how has the nature of the dispute changed over time?

From http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/topic.shtml#topoi

Tagmemics: As a FieldAs a field (one thing in context with something else)

Finally, consider Malcolm X as a thing in context. Relate him to his culture, to his moment in time. Look for the causes that produced Malcolm X, as well as the effect he had on his own historical period. Or compare or contrast him with other civil rights figures to see what special contribution he made to the movement and its history. You might even connect Malcolm X with unlikely events and figures in order to provide a wide context for his work and his life.

From http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_papertopic.shtml#topoi

Aristotle’s Topoi1.Definition2.Division3.Comparison4.Relationships5.Testimony

Topic to choose from

Use any one of the prewriting techniques (brainstorming, freewrite, clustering, topoi, tagmemics) to generate ideas for one of the following topics:

Someone that inspires me…Some that I inspired…

OutliningOutlining comes after you already have the

ideas for your paper.It is a way of laying out your thoughts

before you begin writing.Use bullet points to write down each

concept you want to mention in the order you want to mention them.

For more detail, see the Writing Center’s handout on outlining.

Thesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses depend on larger questions that I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work.

I. Two decisions describedA. Art history or chemistry

1. Professional considerations 2. Personal considerations

B. A third year of French?1. Practical advantages of knowing a  foreign 

language2. Intellectual advantages3. The issue of necessity

II. Definition of the problemA. Decisions about occupationB. Decisions about a kind of life to lead

III. Temporary resolution of the problemA. To hold open a professional possibility: chemistryB. To take advantage of cultural gains already made:

French

DraftingThe draft is the first attempt to organize

information.Typically called a rough draft for a reason.YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES!Your essay structure does not need to be

perfect.

RevisingReworking your essay so that the ideas are

expressed in the best way possible.Revising is not the editing stage.

Global Revision Local Revision

Content

Structure

Thesis

Strong supporting points

Grammar, spelling, etc.

EditingEditing is eliminating punctuation, grammar,

and spelling mistakes.Should be saved for the end of the writing

process.SpellCheck can be a false friend!

Checklist for EditingHave you read your work aloud to listen

for problems?Did you check every possible misspelling

in a dictionary?Have you avoided run-ons?Are you using verbs, pronouns, and

modifiers correctly? Have you used your punctuation

correctly?Are your capital letters correct?