A general overview for beginning the writing process including pre-writing techniques of Topic Sentence Outline, FREECASH, and -LY Cousins, and essay plan. Created by Coleman's Classroom.

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The Essay
Starting the Essay

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What is Writing?

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Linear Process
Recursive Process
prewrite
write
revise
prewrite write edit/ revise
edit

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

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In the Prewriting Stage
First You
MUST
Consider…

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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?

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

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

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Then, you must
come up with
ideas!
Prewriting
techniques are
helpful!

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Prewriting Techniques
Freewriting
Brainstorming
Questioning
Clustering
Outlining
Assertions
(-LY Cousins)
Categorization
(FREECASH)

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Freewriting/ Brainstorming
Write whatever comes to
mind without worrying about
grammar or correctness.

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Questioning
Answering the WH- Questions
Who What
When Where
Why How

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Clustering

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Outline Structure
Thesis statement:____________________________
I. _______________________________________________
A.
_____________________________________________________
B.
_____________________________________________________
II. ______________________________________________
A.
_____________________________________________________
B.
_____________________________________________________
Concluding idea: ______________________________

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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.

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Assertions
Looking at the issue from
various perspectives
-LY Cousins

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-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

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Physically Mentally Academically
Spiritually Ethically Technologically
Personally Socially Linguistically
Politically Financially Environmentally
Morally Racially Emotionally

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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.

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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.

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

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Rewriting
Revision
– Content
– Format
– Documentation
Editing
– Grammar
– Sentence
Structure
– Vocabulary
– Punctuation

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Revising
1. Refine Thesis
2. Reorganize Material
3. Add Details
4. Reword Sentences
5. Look at Transitions

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Editing
Check for complete sentences
Check for FR and RO Check
for SV agreement
Eliminate Passive Verbs
Check Spelling

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