The
stages of writing process
It
Can be said that the stages of writing process are includes:
a. Planning
b. Drafting
c. Revising
d. Editing
e. Proofreading
f. Presenting
1. The planning stage
-
Think about WHAT to write and HOW to
phrase it in the same time
Highlight
those points:
ü Define
writing topic and content area by narrowing the topic down to specific angle
that will be used and develop in the text.
ü Calculate
the time needed to complete writing task.
ü Brainstorm
and jot down any idea, thoughts, agreements, words, and phrases thought
relevant to the text.
ü Organize
preliminary arguments into an outline follows a logical order that will include
the topic sentences, supporting details and concluding sentences.
2. The drafting stage
-
Focus on text only and forget about
language and mechanical aspects. Just write freely and try to find the best way
to communicate the ideas.
Highlights
those points:
o
The opening paragraph (introduction)
should present the text’s topic. Refrain from using the first person when doing
this (No: “In this essay I will present…”) and prefer a stronger opening
technique to entice the reader to keep reading. For example, pose a provocative
question; give a testimonial or illustrative story, or present interesting
facts on the phenomenon under discussion.
o
The body (discussion) paragraphs should
each present one idea or aspect of the general topic and begin with a topic
sentence that will orient the reader to what follows within the paragraph.
o
Provide enough supporting sentences for the
topic sentence, using examples, explanations, facts, opinions, and quotes.
Consider the expected text length and go into detail accordingly.
o
Use connecting words (conjunctions and
discourse markers, such as and, or, but, so, because, however, moreover, for
example etc.) to logically unite arguments, sentences and paragraphs.
o
The ending (conclusion) should present
summative remarks and repeat the text’s key idea or thesis in other words. Try
to finish with a strong statement that will have your reader asking for more…
3. The revising stage
-
Evaluating the text’s content and making
sure there are exactly wrote what are intended in the planning stage.
Always
check for those tips:
Did I actually write on the required
topic and used relevant arguments and examples, or digressed inadvertently?
Is each piece of information relevant to
the paragraph it is in? Should I delete certain parts or move them somewhere
else in the text? In other words, is your text cohesive and unified around one
theme?
Does each paragraph and sentence
logically follow and relate to what’s written before it? Is there enough or too
much support to each topic sentence? Change accordingly.
On a local level (sentence-word) ask
yourself:
Did I use suitable connectors to present
the logical relations between text segments (cause-effect, general-detail,
compare-contrast, chronological order etc.) in order to make the text coherent?
Did I technically tie ideas together
with relevant word choices, apt pronoun reference, and techniques such as
parallelism and emphasis?
Did I diversify sentence types and
lengths (from simple to complex, short and concise to long and elaborate)?
Consider uniting two consecutive short sentences or dividing a long
compound-complex sentence into two shorter ones.
Did I refrain from no-no’s such as
run-ons, fragments, dangling modifiers, wordiness, or inappropriate register?
Did I avoid sexist language?
Did I refrain from repeating the same
ideas and words and used a rich and varied vocabulary? Did I use adjectives and
adverbs for text enrichment? Did I mainly use my own words?
4. The editing stage
-
Considered part of revising but focus on
the languages and technicalities. This is the stage where all the grammar
lovers and nitty-gritty enthusiasts to meticulously scan the text for language
accuracy.
Make
sure:
v The
sentences should adhere to proper word order rules, each containing a subject
and a predicate. Use a variety of verb tenses correctly and appropriately
(simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect-progressive tenses).
v Be
careful with subject-verb agreement issues.
v Use
a variety of language constructions to make your writing more precise and
educated (comparative structures, relative clauses, conditional sentences, not
too much of the passive voice etc.)
v Use
a dictionary or spell checker when not sure about spelling. Reread your text
again for problematic homonyms (there-their-they’re).
v Use
a variety of punctuation marks accurately and consult a style guide when
hesitating between a comma, colon, or semi-colon.
v Edit
for text mechanics: capitalization, numbering, italics, and abbreviations.
5. The proofreading stage
-
Comprises that one extra step you need
after revising and editing in order to locate any small mistakes you missed out
on until now and may be have to brush away those invisible blemishes before
writing or printing out the final copy.
Tip:
§ For
a second proofread, try and pinpoint mistakes reading the text backwards.
6. The presentation stage
-This
is the time to work on some finishing touches with aesthetics polishing the
text to perfection.
Consider:
·
If you are handwriting your text, use a
ruler to create margins on both sides of the page. Remember to double-space if
required by a teacher. Write neatly and legibly!
·
When using a computer, be consistent
with font usage, spacing, and heading levels. Always be on the look out for
more tiny errors for last-minute on-screen corrections.
·
In academic papers, adhere to the strict
citation conventions, dictated by your style manual.
·
Consider using indentation for every paragraph
as well as larger spacing between paragraphs.
