The Writing process
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/2/2/13223365/5101450.jpg)
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The writing process is a recursive cycle meaning that you can move throughout the steps at any rate and in the order that works for you as a writer. For example, after you prewrite, draft, revise, and have a peer edit your work, you might need to back and revise your work based on the suggestions given to you.
PreWrite - This step includes gathering your ideas, considering prior knowledge, organizing your thoughts, researching more information if needed, and annotating if you are writing a response to an article or specific text. During this phase your should be considering your prediction, questions you have after reading, the assignment directions or writing prompt. You should create a concept map, word bubble, or visual of some form to help you organize your thoughts into categories. These categories will later become your individual paragraphs. If your thoughts are organized from the beginning in the prewriting phase, your paper/writing will be more organized and flow more easily.
Drafting - This step includes putting your thoughts on paper. A great place to start is with the concept map, word bubble, or visual you created in the prewriting phase. Start with an introduction, moving next to your body paragraphs, and then close your paper/response with a concluding paragraph. Using the hamburger graphic organizer to help you go from your concept map to an actual rough draft is a great middle step. This will ensure that you information is organized into a clear beginning (introduction) middle (body paragraphs) and end (conclusion). The draft you create in this phase is your rough draft. Do not worry about everything being perfect during this stage.
Revising - During this step you should go back to your draft and look for spelling mistakes, punctuation, and grammatical errors. A great way to catch spelling mistakes is to use spell check on the computer if you have typed your draft. Check each sentence to make sure you have a form of ending punctuation. Most of the time your sentences should end with a period, however, in some cases another form of punctuation is appropriate. Make sure your sentences are clear and organized. All the sentences that talk about one specific topic or part should all be together in one paragraph. This will help your paper to flow nicely and will reduce the reader's confusion. Make sure your sentences are detailed with specific examples. Using direct quotes as long as you use quotation marks, is a great way to add details. Do not do this every time you are looking to add detail, but in cases when a sentence or phrase from the text is very specific, us it. Just remember to cite your source!
Proofreading - Have a peer, your teacher, or parent proofread your work after you have gone back and done so yourself. This is not for your editor to write the piece for you. This is simply to have another set of eyes read your paper. They should give you suggestions but not change your paper for you. After you have someone proofread your paper, you will go back and make the changes YOU FEEL should be made. You might go back and forth between Revising and Proofreading a few times before you are ready to publish your work and make a final draft. This is ok. Your paper will only get better, the more time you spend revising and editing your drafts.
Publishing - This is when you make your final copy. A final copy (in most cases) can either be a neat handwritten copy on paper with a black pen, or a typed copy. Both should have all the necessary adjustments and edits already made. Nothing should be added in to the final copy at the last minute. Your name, teacher's name, and date should be incorporated into your final copy. This means that a typed paper should not have your name scribbled in pencil at the top. This also goes for handwritten copies. When you turn in your final copy, the paper should reflect your very best work. It should also reflect what you think a Level 4 looks like. Remember to "shoot for the moon, because even if you miss you will land among the starts."
PreWrite - This step includes gathering your ideas, considering prior knowledge, organizing your thoughts, researching more information if needed, and annotating if you are writing a response to an article or specific text. During this phase your should be considering your prediction, questions you have after reading, the assignment directions or writing prompt. You should create a concept map, word bubble, or visual of some form to help you organize your thoughts into categories. These categories will later become your individual paragraphs. If your thoughts are organized from the beginning in the prewriting phase, your paper/writing will be more organized and flow more easily.
Drafting - This step includes putting your thoughts on paper. A great place to start is with the concept map, word bubble, or visual you created in the prewriting phase. Start with an introduction, moving next to your body paragraphs, and then close your paper/response with a concluding paragraph. Using the hamburger graphic organizer to help you go from your concept map to an actual rough draft is a great middle step. This will ensure that you information is organized into a clear beginning (introduction) middle (body paragraphs) and end (conclusion). The draft you create in this phase is your rough draft. Do not worry about everything being perfect during this stage.
Revising - During this step you should go back to your draft and look for spelling mistakes, punctuation, and grammatical errors. A great way to catch spelling mistakes is to use spell check on the computer if you have typed your draft. Check each sentence to make sure you have a form of ending punctuation. Most of the time your sentences should end with a period, however, in some cases another form of punctuation is appropriate. Make sure your sentences are clear and organized. All the sentences that talk about one specific topic or part should all be together in one paragraph. This will help your paper to flow nicely and will reduce the reader's confusion. Make sure your sentences are detailed with specific examples. Using direct quotes as long as you use quotation marks, is a great way to add details. Do not do this every time you are looking to add detail, but in cases when a sentence or phrase from the text is very specific, us it. Just remember to cite your source!
Proofreading - Have a peer, your teacher, or parent proofread your work after you have gone back and done so yourself. This is not for your editor to write the piece for you. This is simply to have another set of eyes read your paper. They should give you suggestions but not change your paper for you. After you have someone proofread your paper, you will go back and make the changes YOU FEEL should be made. You might go back and forth between Revising and Proofreading a few times before you are ready to publish your work and make a final draft. This is ok. Your paper will only get better, the more time you spend revising and editing your drafts.
Publishing - This is when you make your final copy. A final copy (in most cases) can either be a neat handwritten copy on paper with a black pen, or a typed copy. Both should have all the necessary adjustments and edits already made. Nothing should be added in to the final copy at the last minute. Your name, teacher's name, and date should be incorporated into your final copy. This means that a typed paper should not have your name scribbled in pencil at the top. This also goes for handwritten copies. When you turn in your final copy, the paper should reflect your very best work. It should also reflect what you think a Level 4 looks like. Remember to "shoot for the moon, because even if you miss you will land among the starts."
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Don't forget to describe
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/2/2/13223365/1928967.jpg)
Use the words provided in the picture to the left as one tool to help you add more detail to your writing. Using a variety of words and changing up your vocabulary, helps to keep the reader's attention. You can also use a thesaurus to help you. Be careful to only use words that you understand the meaning of. Using words that you do not understand, but simply found online or in a thesaurus is not using descriptive words properly.
Adding detail to your writing is a great way to help your reader paint a picture in their mind of exactly what just happened or what you are describing. If you get stuck when trying to add detail try making a list of all of the adjectives (describing words) that relate to the noun (person, place, or thing). See the example below for help!
What you are describing
-a dog
List of adjectives that come to mind
-black, friendly, loyal, playful, easily pleased, quick, soft, bright-eyed, sweet, caring etc. etc.
Now that you have a list of details, put them into your sentences to further describe what you are writing about. Using the words you come up with will help to create that clear picture in your reader's mind. Always try to write with the mindset that your reader has no idea what you are talking about. If you write with this in mind, you will pay closer attention to how specific you are with your words. The more details you include (describing words) the more interesting your writing will be to your audience.
Adding detail to your writing is a great way to help your reader paint a picture in their mind of exactly what just happened or what you are describing. If you get stuck when trying to add detail try making a list of all of the adjectives (describing words) that relate to the noun (person, place, or thing). See the example below for help!
What you are describing
-a dog
List of adjectives that come to mind
-black, friendly, loyal, playful, easily pleased, quick, soft, bright-eyed, sweet, caring etc. etc.
Now that you have a list of details, put them into your sentences to further describe what you are writing about. Using the words you come up with will help to create that clear picture in your reader's mind. Always try to write with the mindset that your reader has no idea what you are talking about. If you write with this in mind, you will pay closer attention to how specific you are with your words. The more details you include (describing words) the more interesting your writing will be to your audience.