3. Analyze the writing * Subject
“situation” to * Purpose
ensure you * Audience
understand what is * Evidence
expected. * Requirements
*
4. Invention involves * Write a journal
brainstorming ideas that * Observe
will drive the focus and
organization of your * Free write
essay. There are several * List
strategies that can help * Cluster
you in this process.
* Ask questions
*
5. *
There are several steps to organization. Before you
begin writing, you’ll want to ensure you have a solid
plan set out for your ideas. The first step in this process
is developing a THESIS STATEMENT.
6. * A thesis statement is, * Narrows your subject
very simply, the main * Makes a significant and
idea of your essay; specific claim about your
topic
however, it needs to
accomplish several * Conveys your purpose
things to be effective. * Previews, often, the
So, what does a thesis arrangement of ideas
do? * Is clear and concise (1-3
sentences)
* Is YOUR idea
*
7. *
Be a question
Be vague
Be common knowledge
Be another person’s idea
Be missing
Be unrelated to your topic
8. * The next step in the * Provides the overall
Writing Process is to organizational plan for
organize the rest of your paper
your ideas. This comes
from breaking down * Helps you to stay on
your thesis statement topic
into smaller parts and * Breaks the essay down
using those parts to
into small, more
construct an outline.
Outlining has several manageable parts for
benefits. writing
*
9. *
* Begin with your working thesis statement
* Break your thesis statement into smaller points that need to be covered or
“proven” in order for your thesis to be true
* Use those smaller points as the topics of each of your body paragraphs
* For each of those smaller points, determine what information needs to be
conveyed to readers
* Also consider what evidence is needed to support those points
10. Writing college papers is
* Let’s look at an example. stressful and difficult
We’ll start with a sample
working thesis:
Information about how
planning overcomes these
“Writing college papers is challenges
stressful and difficult, but by
using the writing process,
one can overcome these Information about how
challenges by planning, organizing does the same
organizing, and revising.”
And information about how
* Now, let’s consider what revising does it, too
points need to be addressed
in order for this thesis to be
“proven” in the essay.
11. * Now that we have a general Working thesis: Writing
idea of the points that need college papers is stressful and
to be addressed, we can difficult, but by using the
begin an outline to organize writing process, one can
them. Let’s look at a overcome these challenges by
sample: planning, organizing, and
revising.
I. Writing college papers is
stressful and difficult
II. Planning helps
III. Organizing helps
IV. Revising helps
12. * What we started here is Working thesis: Writing college papers is stressful
and difficult, but by using the writing process,
one can overcome these challenges by planning,
very, very basic. Let’s add organizing, and revising.
some details:
I. Writing college papers is stressful and
difficult
A. Why? Time constraints, confusing
assignments, difficult requirements,
grammar and mechanics problems
II. Planning helps
A. Why? If we start with a plan, the
writing part becomes a lot easier
because we know what we’re doing
III. Organizing helps
A. Why? If we have a structure to our
ideas before we start writing, the
actual writing comes easier and
faster
IV. Revising helps
A. Why? Through revision we can get
feedback on our ideas and work
through grammar and mechanics
problems before we turn in a final
version
13. Working thesis: Writing college papers is stressful and difficult, but by using the writing process, one can overcome these challenges by
planning, organizing, and revising.
I. Writing college papers is stressful and difficult
A. Time constraints
i. Need evidence or example
B. Grammar and mechanics
i. Need evidence or example
C. Requirements
i. Need evidence or example
II. Planning helps
A. Brainstorming ideas helps narrow a topic
i. Need evidence or example
B. Analyzing the situation helps students to grasp the assignment
i. Need evidence or example
III. Organizing helps
A. Developing a thesis helps to provide focus for the paper
i. Need evidence or example
B. Creating an outline provides students a road map for writing
i. Need evidence or example
IV. Revising helps
A. Getting feedback from peers and the instructor helps students see readers’ reactions to their writing and focus on areas to improve
A. Need evidence or example
B. Revising allows students to hone in on and correct specific grammar and mechanics errors before turning in a final version
A. Need evidence or example
15. * Follow your plan but be open to
* The next step in the change, too
Writing Process is to, * Skip the intro: It’s not always
necessary to write in a linear way.
well, write! But don’t Often, it’s easier to begin with
body paragraphs and come back
fret; you have a plan. to the intro and conclusion
paragraphs at the end
Here a few tips to
* Write in a quiet environment
keep in mind as you without distractions or
interruptions
begin writing. * Resist self-criticism: don’t stress
about grammar, mechanics, and
style at this point. Focus on
development and organization
* If you have to break the drafting
process up into multiple sessions,
be sure to write down what you
*
plan to do next each time you
end
17. * Writing is a process that * In-class peer review
demands evolution. You
will write, re-write, * In-class grammar
write again, and re-write workshops
again. All writers do. * In-class revision
There are several workshops
strategies we’ll focus on
in this class to help us in * Use the writing center
the revision process, but * Read your own work
there are techniques you critically and put
can use on your own, as yourself in the
well.
perspective of readers
* Use the checklist for
* editing (page 34;
section 5c)
18. * The most important step of all?
Don’t stress! Writing is an
experience, a journey, and you’ll
come a long way over the course of
this class. Focus on improvement
and using the techniques we learn,
and you’ll be successful.
*
