THE PROCESS OF WRITING (PART TWO)

Once you have done your prewriting and written a first

draft, it is time for…

STEP 3: STRENGTHENING THE DRAFT

STRENGTHENING THE DRAFT

• AFTER YOU FINISH A DRAFT YOU SHOULD EVAUATE WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN.

• AT FIRST, FOCUS ON CONTENT RATHER THAN SPELLING OR GRAMMAR.

DEVELOPING INTRODUCTIONS• Your introduction should be lively

and interesting.

DEVELOPING INTRODUCTIONSThe example of an uninteresting

opening sentence from page 46:In this paper, I will attempt to show

the reader what kind of writer I am.

OPENING STRATEGIES• Your thesis should not be the first sentence; you

need a brief introduction before the thesis.• Tell a story that highlights the main point of

your paper.• Ask the main question your paper attempts to

answer or that will arouse the reader’s interest.• Define the important terms you will be using.• Create a comparison that will give your reader

a point of reference as you introduce new material.

• Highlight interesting, startling statistics or little known facts.

• Quote an expert on your topic.

INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE

After working on your Introduction, focus on:

BODY PARAGRAPHS

DEVELOPING BODY PARAGRAPHS

METHODS FOR ADDING DETAIL TO YOUR PARAGRAPHS

• Narration • Description• Example• Definition• Analogy• Comparison/contrast• Classification• Cause and effect

Let’s look at the examples of these methods on p.47-48

DEVELOPING BODY PARAGRAPHS

WITH BODY PARAGRAPHS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE UNITY OF:

• Organization• Tone• Point of View• Tense (Past Tense, Present Tense, etc.)

When you’ve developed your body paragraphs, move on to your

CONCLUSION

Frequently, the conclusion plays off the introduction in some way.

SOME CLOSING STRATEGIES (from pg. 49 in Fresh Takes)

• Direct your audience to take some

action.• Conclude the story you began in your

intro.• Tell a story that exemplifies your main

points.• Give a memorable quotation.• Ask a question and give a descriptive

answer.

WHAT TO AVOID IN YOUR CONCLUSION:

• Do not restate your thesis or summarize your main points if your paper is short.

• Do not state the obvious: “In this paper I have…”• Do not introduce a new idea or new information.• Do not apologize for the quality of your work.

STEP 3: POLISHING(EDITING) THE DRAFT

FOCUS ON 2 AREAS:• STYLISTIC ISSUES• GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, including

spelling and punctuation

POLISHING FOR STYLE:

LOOK AT THINGS LIKE:

• The first word in each sentence• Number of words per sentence• Sentence Type (Simple, Compound,

Complex)

POLISHING FOR STYLEYOU SHOULD STRIVE TO HAVE

VARIETY OF SENTENCE LENGTH, FIRST WORDS IN EACH SENTENCE, AND SENTENCE TYPE.

POLISHING FOR STYLE• You should also use transitional

words to help guide the readers by connecting one part of the essay to another.

• Let’s look at the chart on page 51:Instead of and,use:

Instead of because, use:

Instead of but, use:

furthermore therefore although

moreover consequently conversely

likewise hence in contrast

in addition accordingly otherwise

POLISHING FOR GRAMMAR• Look for errors you have made in the

past.• Use a peer editor.• Read your essay out loud!

STEP 5: PROOFREADING AS A FINAL STEP

AT THIS POINT YOU ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR MINOR GRAMMATICAL, MECHANICAL, OR SPELLING ERRORS.

PROOFING STRATEGIES • Focus on the line.• Touch text.• Read backwards.• Highlight phrases.• Increase size (zoom in on the computer screen).• Change font types.• Change font size.• Read aloud.• Re-see with fresh eyes.• Proof with peers.• Print it and annotate it.• Print it again.

Let’s look at the warning on page 54.

LASTLY, SET PRIORITIES FOR THE PROCESS:

1. Keep a portfolio of all drafts—you will have to turn all of these in!

2. Avoid procrastination—you can’t print your paper out and edit it if you are printing it 5 minutes before class.

SET PRIORITIES FOR THE PROCESS:

3. Take a break—put it aside and come back to it.

4. Remember Murphy’ Law: Whatever can go wrong, will. Don’t wait until right before class to print your paper!

Let’s look at the exercises on pages 56-57.