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