The document outlines the typical steps in the writing process: prewrite, draft, revise, edit, and publish. It provides details about common activities for each step. In the prewrite step, writers plan by considering their purpose, audience, topic, and how to structure their writing. For the draft, writers create their initial version. In the revise step, writers re-read and make changes. The edit step involves fixing grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. Finally, in the publish step, writers decide their work is complete. The document also includes an example of guiding students through a shortened writing process to practice the different stages.

1. The Writing Process

2. What is YOUR
writing process?
In other words,
what are the steps
you take to write
something?
The Writing Process

3. The Writing Process
Publish
Edit
Revise
Draft
Prewrite

4. The Writing Process
Publish
Edit
Revise
Draft
Prewrite

5. Prewrite
The process of planning your writing.
At this stage, ask yourself:
What is the purpose of my writing?
Who is the audience of my writing?
What is the topic of my writing?
What information do I need to collect/find in order to
do my writing?
How should I structure/organize my writing?

6. Draft
The process of writing your first version.
At this stage, ask yourself:
Am I staying on topic and following the outline that I
created?
Am I including all of the information I need to
include?

7. Revise
The process of re-reading your writing and making
additions, eliminations, and changes.
At this stage, ask yourself:
Is my writing easy for people to follow and
understand?
Is my writing interesting?
Did I meet my goals?
Are there any unnecessary parts?
Are there any repetitive parts?

8. Edit
The process of making small corrections to your writing.
At this stage, ask yourself:
Is my grammar/punctuation accurate?
Is my spelling correct?
Is my formatting correct?
Is my writing interesting?

9. Publish!
The process of deciding that your final copy is finished
and ready for your audience to read.

10. The Writing Process
Publish
Edit
Revise
Draft
Prewrite
Collect:
Find information
you need in
order to write.
Gather quotes
from a book, or
do research at
the library.
Sometimes this
extra step is
needed in the
writing process.

11. Activity: Micro Writing Process!
Today in class you will go through the entire writing
process for a piece of writing that is one paragraph long.
Prompt:
Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

12. Prewrite:
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.
Strategy Number 1: Brainstorm List
List everything you can think of about the assigned
topic. Only use short words or phrases!
Example: Families
• parents
• types of families
• adoption
• sibling rivalry Try this
NOW!

13. Prewrite:
Strategy Number 2: Word Web/Map
Write your topic in the center and connect related ideas
to you topic using lines.
Try this
NOW!
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

14. Prewrite:
Strategy Number 3: Asking Questions
Write a list of questions that relate to your topic.
Example: Families
• What was it like growing up in my family?
• How are families different from each other?
• What would it be like to live
without a family?
• How do children raised in
strict families compare to
those raised in lenient families?
Try this
NOW!
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

15. Prewrite:
Strategy Number 4: Free Writing
Just start writing! Ignore organization and good
grammar, and put thoughts in writing.
Example: Families
Families are vital to life they bring a combination of happiness and sadness.
happiness = unchanging source of love and support, never lonely. sadness = as
a child, you might feel like your family is restricting. sadness = there are lots of
conflicts between family members. Once I had a conflict with my sister. I was
angry that she wanted to be just like me (dressed like me, copied my hobbies) -
how do little siblings develop a unique sense of “self” and identity when they have
an older sibling who impresses on them? Is it more difficult for a little sibling to
find their identity?
Try this NOW!
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

16. Prewrite: Outlining
Choose a focus for your piece a
writing. Check the prompt/
directions to see what style of
writing to use. Check the
prompt to see if there are other
rules you need to follow (like
length, format).
Go ahead and make an outline
of your mini story right now.
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

17. Draft:
Go ahead and write your mini story now!
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

18. Revise:
Re-read your story. Change
your story in some way to
make it better.
Ideas:
• Pick your worst-sounding
sentence, and re-write it.
• Pick a part that is unclear, and
make it clearer.
• Pick a part that lacks specific
details, and add some more.
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

19. Revise: Class Practice
How can we make this mini story better?
What changes do you suggest?
Max barked at the man with a net in his hands. The man
with a net in his hands walked closer to Max, and Max
barked again because he was cornered against a fence
and knew that he was about to be captured. If the net
wrapped around him, Max knew he would soon be in the
dog pound. In a last attempt to save himself, Max tried to
run around the man. Meanwhile, a car drove past and
honked its horn at them. With a great swish, the net fell
on top of Max, and it was over.

20. Edit:
Re-read your writing to look for small errors.
Look for:
• Grammar mistakes
• Punctuation mistakes
• Spelling mistakes
• Bad word choices
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

21. Edit:
Peer-edit: trade your story with the person next
to you. Read someone else’s story in order to
look for errors and make helpful suggestions.
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

22. Publish:
Turn your
story in!
Prompt: Write a story that is at least 7 sentences long. Your story
must be about a character facing a scary situation.

23. Review:
Publish
Edit
Revise
Draft
Prewrite
What activities should you
do for each step of the
writing process?
Which part of the writing
process do you think is
the most difficult? The
most enjoyable?
Which part of the writing
process do you think is
the most important?