1.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
The Essay
Starting the Essay

2.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
What is Writing?

3.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Linear Process
Recursive Process
prewrite
write
revise
prewrite write edit/ revise
edit

4.
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Writing is…
Prewriting (Exploring)
Writing
Rewriting (Editing and Revising)
–Editing
–Revising

5.
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In the Prewriting Stage
First You
MUST
Consider…

6.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Topic
What is the assignment?
How do I feel about it?
Do I have any experience or opinion?
Have I seen a movie or read a book
about it?
How did I feel about class the
readings?

7.
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Audience
Who are my readers?
What do they know?
Possibilities: Formal academic,
casual academic, Formal
Business, Casual,… others?

8.
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Purpose
Is my goal to entertain?
to persuade?
to inform?

9.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Then, you must
come up with
ideas!
Prewriting
techniques are
helpful!

10.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Prewriting Techniques
Freewriting
Brainstorming
Questioning
Clustering
Outlining
Assertions
(-LY Cousins)
Categorization
(FREECASH)

11.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Freewriting/ Brainstorming
Write whatever comes to
mind without worrying about
grammar or correctness.

12.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Questioning
Answering the WH- Questions
Who What
When Where
Why How

13.
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Clustering

14.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Outline Structure
Thesis statement:____________________________
I. _______________________________________________
A.
_____________________________________________________
B.
_____________________________________________________
II. ______________________________________________
A.
_____________________________________________________
B.
_____________________________________________________
Concluding idea: ______________________________

15.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Topic Sentence Outline Example
Thesis: Thus, having a good class is easy if you follow
these three steps: prepare, concentrate and complete
all assignments.
TS1: Before the class, you should prepare before you
arrive at the class.
TS2: During the class, you can try to concentrate as
much as you can and pay good attention to your
instructor.
TS3: After the class, you have to apply what you have
learned by completing all assignments.
Conclusion: To sum up, doing well in class is easy if you
follow these above steps: prepare, concentrate and
complete all assignments.

16.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Assertions
Looking at the issue from
various perspectives
-LY Cousins

17.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
-LY Cousins
Using -ly adverbs to
brainstorm can provide a way
to begin thinking about your
topic and how to explore it.
Ask yourself how the
topic/issue affects you, the
society, or the world

18.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Physically Mentally Academically
Spiritually Ethically Technologically
Personally Socially Linguistically
Politically Financially Environmentally
Morally Racially Emotionally

19.
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Categorization (FREECASH)
A method for organizing an
essay ideas is to use
FREECASH, a set of eight
categories that cover a wide
range of ideas while at the
same time providing
specificity and organization.

20.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
F Freedom, Fairness, Legality, Human Rights,
Social Justice
R Right & Wrong, Morality, Ethics
E Economics, Monetary Issues, Finances, Expenses
E Environments: natural, workplace, home, school,
etc.
C Convenience, Comfort
A Appearance, Aesthetics
S Safety, Security
H Health: individual, societal, mental, physical,
emotional, etc.

21.
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Writing
Take all your ideas
Write draft
Don’t have to start with the
First Paragraph!

22.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Rewriting
Revision
– Content
– Format
– Documentation
Editing
– Grammar
– Sentence
Structure
– Vocabulary
– Punctuation

23.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Revising
1. Refine Thesis
2. Reorganize Material
3. Add Details
4. Reword Sentences
5. Look at Transitions

24.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Editing
Check for complete sentences
Check for FR and RO Check
for SV agreement
Eliminate Passive Verbs
Check Spelling

25.
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For More Information
Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net
Visit Coleman’s Classroom
www.clmn.net