Learn about prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing prior to submitting your work for publication!

1. The Writing Process
Phases of Writing
Professor Lauren Birdsong
English Department

2. Phases of Writing
• Prewriting
• Drafting
• Revising
• Editing

3. Prewriting
Generating and Organizing Ideas
• For your eyes only!
• Work quickly to get your ideas on paper
• Develop ideas
• Consider current knowledge
• Focus: The assigned subject/topic

4. Prewriting Techniques
Finding what works for you!
• Free writing
• Listing
• Clustering
• Formal outline

5. Free writing
• Purest form of writing
• Devote about 10 minutes to non-stop writing
• Do not stop to correct errors or read your work

6. Example of Pre-writing Using Free-writing
Topic: My favorite person
Hmm… talk about a wash. My favorite person is Danielle, duh. What the hell would I
do without her? I don’t even want to imagine living without her. Dani is just… amazing. She’s
beautiful on the inside and out, which is so rare these days. How many good looking people
are actually kind and give a shit about anybody other than themselves? Okay, that’s not
true, but anyway. Dani is my favorite person. She’s smarter than any other twenty-
something, has life experience that would make most people total tools, and she’s just like…
real. WYSIWYG. Dude, do you remember when we were little and we used to jump on
Cinder and Angie like they were horses? Or we called them “horsies?” Aww man, those poor
pups! They loved it, though. Remember at Pleasant Woods when you told off that kid who
was being a total dirtbag? That was great. My students are going to see this free- writing
sample, so I’m going to ix-nay our adolescence. Haha, seriously though, compared to some
of these kids- not my students, they’re angels, but like other kids, you and I were saints.
Okay, not saints… quasi-saints. Dani pooh bear, you were always the best. You still are. I
hate that we don’t see each other every other day like we used to when we were kids, but
when we do get together every other week or so, it’s wonderful. I always love hearing what
you’re up to, especially when you’re all “screw it, I don’t even want to teach anymore!”
followed by “well, I guess I have too, because I owe Rowan like 20 geeze.” You’re a trip.
You’re the best friend I could ever ask for. My favorite person. I love you, Dani bear <3

7. Listing
• Also known as brain storming
• Jot down ideas, details, or questions about your
topic
• Write words and phrases instead of sentences
• Rearrange and group ideas
• Work in progress: Make changes as necessary!

8. Example of Pre-writing Using Listing
Topic: My favorite person
My cousin Dani
Partner-in-crime
Shoulder to cry on
Wonderful
Beautiful, inside and out
Way too smart for her own good
Most obnoxious laugh
Never gets embarrassed
Always fun to be with

9. Clustering
• Visual map or diagram that shows relationships
among ideas
• Begin with your topic/main idea
• Branch out from main topic to create cluster of
thoughts
• Make connections between ideas

10. Example of Pre-writing Using Clustering
Topic: My favorite person
Danielle
Christa
Cox
Cousin/best friend
Great childhood memories
Strong bond throughout our lives
Sleepovers
Sports
Beating up
bullies!
Entertaining
Caring
Life of the party
Hardships
Always supportive
of my decisions
Survived
adolescence

11. Formal Outline
• Final stage in pre-writing and a great tool to
prepare for the rough draft for your essay
• Good for students who are very organized
• Most useful for organizing longer essays,
especially research papers
• Organize your ideas by means of hierarchy
• Use full sentences and ideas

12. Example of Pre-writing Using a Formal Outline
Topic: My Favorite Person
I. Introduction
A. Introduction statement : On November 12, 1985, one of the most monumental moments of my life occurred. Sure,
I was a little over a year old and I probably did not even realize it, but this day later defined all friendships I would
ever have. My beautiful cousin, Danielle Christa Cox, entered the world.
B. Supporting ideas (i.e. what will be discussed in the body paragraphs)
1. Not only would I have a new family member, but I would also have a partner-in-crime.
2. For the last twenty-three years, Dani has been my best friend.
3. We have a lifetime of memories, and we continue to create more.
C. Thesis statement (the main idea you are proving!): She has shown me the meaning of friendship and
unconditional love, which is why Dani is my favorite person
II. Body paragraphs
A. First body paragraph
1. Topic sentence: From the time Dani and I were in diapers, we were inseparable.
a. Supporting details: We lived in the same neighborhood, so we were always together.
b. Supporting details: Being the tomboys that we were, Dani and I preferred playing with G.I. Joes and matchbox cars.
c. Our favorite pastime was getting “horsie” rides from our dogs Cinder and Angie.
B. Second body paragraph
1. Topic sentence: By the time she turned ten years old, I realized Dani was my guardian angel.
a. Supporting details: She always protected me and “had my back.”
b. Supporting details: I made sure I returned the favor of always protecting her.
c. Supporting details: Dani beat up a boy who was picking on me.
C. Third body paragraph
1. Topic sentence: As Dani and I got older and hit adolescence, our bond only grew stronger.
a. Supporting details: We both struggled with the typical teenage issues.
b. Supporting details: Dani was always by my side to help me through the hard times, and I returned the favor.
III. Conclusion
A. Restate thesis statement: Although I have experienced many friendships, none of them come close to the bond and
appreciation I have for Dani.
B. Reiterate supporting ideas from body paragraphs
1. Now in our early twenties, Dani and I are about as close as two people can be without being the same person
2. She has stood by me in my darkest moments and laughed with- or at- me to help lighten a mood.
3. Without her warmth, altruism, and positive attitude, I may not know the definitions of true friendship and
unconditional love.

13. Drafting
Writing to impress your audience!
• Slow down!
• Use prewriting activities
• Resembles a final draft
• Retrieve feedback
Foci
– The purpose
– The audience

15. Revising
Making sense!
• To look at again
• Review feedback
• Make improvements
• Reorder and refocus
Focus: Higher-order writing
• Content
• Organization
• Language

16. Revising
Making sense
Content
• Have I clearly stated my main idea (thesis statement)?
• Did I cover all required aspects of the assignment?
• Have I omitted unnecessary and irrelevant information?
Organization
• Have I provided clear and relevant topic sentences for each new
paragraph?
• Does each sentence in the paragraph examine the topic sentence?
• Does my essay have any gaps?
Language
• Did I include transitional phrases and words?
• Does my essay have a scholarly voice?
• Have I avoided redundant words and phrases?

17. Editing
Cleaning up
• Also known as proofreading
• Omit silly mistakes
• Same message, smoother flow
• Focus: Lower-order writing
• Sentence structure
• Grammar
• Mechanics
• Format/style