The Writing Process

Writing is a process done in different stages. These stages are as follows:

• prewriting
• drafting
• revising and editing
• proofreading
• publishing and presenting

Stage 1: Prewriting

Writers decide what they want to write about by exploring ideas, feelings, and memories. This is the stage in which writers not only decide their topic, but they refine, focus, and explore their topic; they also gather information; make notes about what they want to say; think about their audience and their purpose for writing. In order to generate ideas, writers use a number of techniques, including keeping a journal, freewriting (writing freely w/no regards for grammar, punctuation, spelling, logic, etc.), brainstorming, clustering (use of concept maps), collecting information by asking questions, conducting library research, observing, and interviewing.

Stage 2: Drafting

Organize thoughts and begin writing; begin with an introduction and make transitions into the body and conclusion on paper in rough form.

Stage 3: Revising and Editing

Read paper and make changes. Improve paragraphs, use self-evaluation and peer evaluation; check content and structure, make sure the language is specific and descriptive, check unity and coherence of ideas and paragraphs, check style and tone. This is the stage at which writers might want to move some sentences around or change them completely. They may want to add or cut words and other information.

Stage 4: Proofreading

The purposes of proofreading are to make sure that words are spelled correctly and that sentences are grammatically correct. Here is where writers read over their writing and correct mistakes in capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. It's best to refer to and make use of proofreading symbols as a way to note mistakes quickly and easily.

Stage 5: Publishing and Presenting

Writers share their work with others. They might read their work aloud in class, submit it to the school newspaper, or give it to a friend to read. There are many avenues for presenting one's work.