PrePALS Writing

The Writing Process OVERVIEW

As students, we’re used to thinking of “essay” as a noun. It’s often seen as an obligation, a task, a chore. But the origin of the word “essay” is actually as a verb, meaning “to attempt.” Thought of in this way, writing an essay can be seen as an open, inviting exercise. It’s a way of exploring a new concept. It’s using writing as thinking. The writing process supports the exploratory, open-ended nature of essay writing. It gives you guidance towards a final product, while still allowing you room to explore along the way.

Think for a moment about the last time you wrote an essay. When was it? What did you write? What made you feel good about it? As you begin the planning process of writing an essay, you will learn that the planning stage in writing is an important stage, if not the most important stage of the writing process. However, as it is still part of a larger process, it is important that you understand the writing process as a whole before you begin. The Writing Process Diagram that follows illustrates the five key steps involved in the writing process and should serve as a guide. Notice that it is an iterative process. This means that the process repeats itself and you will continue to come back to it many times throughout the course. During the first four modules, however, you will step through the writing process slowly in order to gain practice in writing and in completing the process.

Attribution:

English Composition I. Schoolcraft College. 

License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike .

Attributions:

"The Writing Process" Youtube, uploaded by Amal Mansour, 2 Oct. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGImUx4zg64

Permissions: YouTube Terms of Service 

Match each stage of the writing process to its correct description.

A. Prewriting
B. Drafting
C. Revising
D. Editing
E. Publishing

1. _____ Checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors

2. _____ Gathering and organizing ideas before you begin writing

3. _____ Sharing or submitting your final piece

4. _____ Making big changes to improve content, structure, or clarity

5. _____ Writing your first version of the piece

 Multiple Choice

6. Which of the following is NOT typically a part of the prewriting stage?
   a) Brainstorming ideas
   b) Writing a final conclusion
   c) Creating an outline
   d) Asking questions about the topic

7. During the revising stage, you should:
   a) Only fix typos
   b) Rewrite your entire essay
   c) Improve word choice, organization, and flow
   d) Add emojis for fun

ANSWER KEY

Self-reflect on the different steps of the writing process.  You may use the following guiding questions:

• Prewriting and Planning: 
  • What strategies do I currently use?
  • Do I rush through this stage or take my time to explore?
• Drafting:
  • How do I typically begin my first draft?  Do I base it on a plan?
  • Do I write in complete sentences or get my ideas out as quickly as I can?
  • How many drafts do I typically create?  Should there be a set number of drafts?
• Revising (big-picture):
  • Do I feel comfortable cutting out content or reorganizing it?
  • How can I clarify my points?
• Editing (focusing on details):
  • What types of errors do I typically see in my writing (grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.)?
  • What tools am I aware of that can help me with this stage?
• Publishing:
  • How do I know when my writing is complete?
  • Does my final piece meet the purpose for the intended audience?

• Overall, final reflection:
  • What stage of the writing process is the most comfortable?  
  • Do I skip or rush through any of the stages?
  • How do I feel about each step overall?

*It is ok to revisit these questions throughout the PrePALS curriculum and see how your responses may change!