The document outlines the four main steps in the writing process: 1) Prewriting where the writer thinks of ideas and gathers information; 2) Drafting where the writer records initial ideas; 3) Revising where the writer refines and improves the draft based on feedback; and 4) Presenting the final version. During prewriting, writers consider the topic, format, audience, and time. Drafting involves freewriting to capture as many ideas as possible. Revising includes editing for clarity, mechanics, and polishing for the audience. Presenting is sharing the final work with others.

1. Journal 7 Minute Write
Which superpower would you most like to
have-- invisibility, super strength, or the
ability to fly? Describe what kids of things
you would do with your powers.

2. The Writing Process

3. Four Steps in the Writing
Process:
1. Prewriting
2. Drafting
3. Revising
4. Presenting (or publishing)

4. 1. PREWRITING
• Prewriting is the time when a writer
plays with ideas and gathers
information to prepare for the actual
drafting.
• It may involve reading, talking, or
simply thinking about a topic.

5. During Prewriting, you must
think about 4 things:
Topic
 Format
Audience
Time


6. Topic
• What is your story going to be about?
• Brainstorm about interests and
possible ideas.

7. Format
• What type of writing are you going to
do?
• Are you writing a sentence, a
paragraph, a theme, a journal entry, a
letter, a poem, a fictional story, a
research paper?

8. Audience
• Who are you writing for?
• Who do you expect to read your writing?
– Teacher?
– Parents?
– Friends?
– The general public?

9. Time
• How much time will be devoted to this
project?
• Will you be expected to complete the
writing assignment outside class, or
will class time be given for discussion,
for brainstorming, for revision?

10. 2. DRAFTING
• The stage when the writer begins to
record ideas in rough form.
• Getting started on a story is often
difficult and may produce many false
starts.
• “How should I begin?”

11. • A first draft is simply a time to gather,
explore, and discover ideas.
• It is NOT expected to be a final,
polished writing.
• No one needs to be worried about
neatness, spelling, or mechanical
correctness in the earliest draft.

12. • Freewriting – (also known as “spin
writing” or “rush writing”) A technique
where students write nonstop,
capturing as many ideas as possible.
• You jot down words, phrases, or
sentences quickly.
• Ideas coming with great speed and
momentum often trigger other ideas
along the way, and ideas are the goal
of the earliest draft.

13. 3. REVISING
• Once a first draft is completed,
writers begin to revise (“to see
again”).
• They look at what they have written
and ask themselves if the ideas and
purpose is clear to an audience.
• They share the draft with their
peers and/or teacher, listening to
their responses and acting on them.

14. • Later drafts involve polishing the
writing to present in final form to a
particular audience.
• Editing for spelling and mechanics
happens in the final stage of revising.

15. At first . . .
• You might believe that you are a
hopeless writer when you can’t get
your writing perfect right away.
• As you work through and understand
the writing process, you will realize
that most writers (even professional
authors) rework and revise all the
time!

16. Presenting (or Publishing)
• Usually only the teacher reads and
grades a student’s writing.
• However, you should share your writing
with your parents, relatives, or friends!
• You may also submit your writing to
literary contests, professional
publications, or local newspapers.
• You may also use your writing as a gift
to a trusted adult for special occasions.