The document discusses the writing process, including defining writing, describing the characteristics of good writing, different types of writing, common difficulties with writing, and outlining the stages of the writing process from prewriting to publishing. It also provides background on writing systems and lists references used.

1. UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA EXPERIMENTAL LIBERTADOR
INSTITUTO PEDAGÓGICO DE CARACAS
DEPARTAMENTO DE IDIOMAS MODERNOS
CATEDRA DE METODOLOGÍA
WRITING
Author:
Luis Villar
CARACAS, JUNE 2012

2. What is writing?
Writing is a method of representing
language in visual or tactile form. Writing
systems use sets of symbols to represent
the sounds of speech, and may also have
symbols for such things as punctuation and
numerals.

3. Writing systems
A set of visible or tactile signs used to
represent units of language in a systematic
way, with the purpose of recording
messages which can be retrieved by
everyone who knows the language in
question and the rules by virtue of which its
units are encoded in the writing system.

4. 8 Characteristics of Good, Effective Writing
A common misconception among writers is that good writing can only be
achieved with years of experience, which is far from the truth.
1. You make a clear point. Don’t let your readers have to ask themselves
what your point is.
2. A common mistake is length. Good writing is never too long, never too
short. It is concise, not elaborating on too many separate areas.
3. There is information to back up your point. No one is able to store the
world’s information in their head. It’s a simple fact. You need to link to
sources within your content, include images, diagrams, and other forms of
media to draw in the readers.
4. The writing is logical. Understand that some
people don’t want to read through the entire
post. Few people do, especially as the content
length increases. Although words are words, a
paragraph blurred together with no spaces
between any sentences or words is just a
long word. People won’t read it.

5. 5. Good grammar, English, and spelling. Just because you can’t
accomplish these two to three main areas of good writing doesn’t mean that
you have “failed” as a writer. Simply improve on these, and readers will
thank you.
6. Readers become engaged. With the focused point and effective writing
style that you have developed (remember, it takes time), readers will become
engaged in what you have to say.
7. Rules are broken all over the place. Writing like everyone else is easy.
Writing as yourself; creating, developing, and mastering a style is the hard
part. Similarity is the greatest enemy for writers – once you become unique,
there is little to stop you from reaching great heights.
8. Finally, and one of most important of all, is that great writers and the
writings that they create are from their heart, not just created to profit or
for gains. Text is one of the most powerful mediums out there. When you
read text, you can get a good idea of how the writer feels about what they are
writing about, even though no clear evidence is given. Readers can draw
conclusions that you aren’t writing your best copy due to the fact that you are
tired and exhausted from writing. This is something that can’t happen as long
as you run your writing.

6. Types of Writing:
•Cause/effect: Writing about meaningful relationships
between events and their results. A cause is what
made an event happen and an effect is what happens
as a result of that event.
•Comparison/contrast: When you write about
similarities and differences, you are writing a
comparison/contrast essay.
•Definition: Writing that tells what something means.
•Description: When you are writing a description essay,
you are "painting a picture" with words.
•Narration: A narration essay is a writing that tells a
story.
•Persuasive: In persuasive essays, you are writing to
convinces others by presenting solid, supported
arguments.
•Process analysis: In a process analysis essay, you
write to explain how to do something or how something

7. Difficulties with Writing
Attention Problem
Spatial Ordering Problem
People who struggle with spatial ordering
have decreased awareness regarding the spatial
arrangement of letters, words, or sentences on a page.
Sequential Ordering Problem
People who struggle with sequential ordering have difficulty
putting or maintaining letters, processes, or ideas in order.
Memory Problem
Because so many writing processes need to be automatic,
active working memory is critical. People may have difficulty
recalling spelling, grammar, and punctuation rules, accessing
prior knowledge while writing, or organizing ideas.

8. Language Problem
Good writing relies on a person language abilities improving
steadily over time.
Graphomotor Problem
People with graphomotor problems struggle to coordinate
the small muscles of the fingers in order to maneuver a pen
or pencil, especially as assignment length increases.

9. Stages of the Writing Process
•Prewriting. Students generate ideas for writing: brainstorming;
reading literature; creating life maps, webs, and story charts;
developing word banks; deciding on form, audience, voice, and
purpose as well as through teacher motivation.
•Rough Draft. Students get their ideas on paper. They write
without concern for conventions. Written work does not have to
be neat; it is a 'sloppy copy.'
•Reread. Students proof their own work by reading aloud and
reading for sensibility.
•Share with a Peer Revisor. Students share and make
suggestions for improvement: asking who, what, when, where,
why, and how questions about parts of the story the peer does
not understand.
•Revise. Improve what the narrative says and how it says it: write
additions, imagery, and details. Take out unnecessary work.
•Editing. Work together on editing for mechanics and spelling.
Make sure the work is 'goof proof.'
•Final Draft. Students produce their final copy to discuss with the
teacher and write a final draft.
•Publishing. Students publish their written pieces: sending their
work to publishers; reading their finished story aloud, making
books, etc.

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writings Systems
10 Characteristics of Good, Effective Writing by Kevin
on January 7, 2009
Writing Resources
http://ksdl.ksbe.edu/writingresource/typeswriting.html
Gardner and Johnson (1997) Stages of the Writing
Process