This document outlines the stages of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. It describes various prewriting techniques like freewriting, clustering, tagmemics, topoi, and outlining to generate ideas. Drafting is the initial organization of information. Revising refines content, structure, and thesis. Editing eliminates grammatical errors. The goal is to move from idea generation to polished writing through these iterative stages.

3. Stages of Writing
Prewriting
Drafting
Revising
Editing

4. Prewriting
Prewriting is the process of coming up with ideas for
your essay.
This is not formal, polished writing.
There are many prewriting techniques, but we will be
discussing:
Freewriting
Clustering
Tagmemics
Topoi
Outlining

5. Freewriting
Write as much as you can as quickly as you can without
worrying about grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. Try to
keep your hand moving or fingers typing for fifteen or twenty
minutes. When you are freewriting, do not worry if it’s right or
wrong or good or bad. You are just trying to generate ideas.

6. Clustering
A way of narrowing your thoughts by connecting your
ideas
Great techniques for visual learners

8. Topics to choose from
My goals five years from now…
My biggest fear…
Something this school really needs is . . .
An unforgettable dream

9. Tagmemics
Tagmemics is a system that allows you to look at a
single object from three different perspectives. The
hope is that one of these perspectives (or even all
three) can help you to determine a subject for writing.
Tagmemics involves seeing your topic:
As a particle (as a thing in itself)
As a wave (as a thing changing over time)
As part of a field (as a thing in its context)
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/topic.shtml#topoi

10. Tagmemics: As a Particle
As A ”particle” a thing in itself:
Let's say that you want to write a paper on Malcolm X . If
you use tagmemics as a system of invention, you will begin
by looking at Malcolm X as a thing in himself. In other
words, what are the characteristics of Malcolm X as a
man? The characteristics of his philosophy?
From http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/topic.shtml#topoi

12. Tagmemics: As a Wave
As a wave (one thing changing over time)
You next might consider Malcolm X in terms of how his role in the civil rights
movement changed over time. Certainly Malcolm X experienced a radical shift
in his beliefs about civil rights; you might explore this shift and the
consequences both for Malcolm X and for the movement as a whole. You
might also consider how history has viewed Malcolm X over time. You might
have discovered in your reading that there exists today some division of
opinion as to whether or not Malcolm X ought to be considered a civil rights
leader. What forces have contributed to this dispute, and how has the nature
of the dispute changed over time?
From http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/topic.shtml#topoi

13. Tagmemics: As a Field
As a field (one thing in context with something else)
Finally, consider Malcolm X as a thing in context. Relate him to his
culture, to his moment in time. Look for the causes that produced
Malcolm X, as well as the effect he had on his own historical period.
Or compare or contrast him with other civil rights figures to see what
special contribution he made to the movement and its history. You
might even connect Malcolm X with unlikely events and figures in
order to provide a wide context for his work and his life.
From http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_papertopic.shtml#topoi

14. Aristotle’s Topoi
Topoi are tools for thinking about a topic. They were used in ancient
Greek times to advance in an argument. They can be used as a
prewriting/brainstorm tool. If you are having a difficult time
thinking about a topic, try applying the topoi as a way of generating
ideas.
Definition
Comparison
Relationships (Cause/Effect)
Testimony

15. A few examples of applying topoi to generate ideas about Malcolm X.
 Definition: How could you define Malcolm X? You could consider
definitions of leaders, social activists, a father, etc.
 Comparison: Who else could you compare Malcolm X to in terms
of social activism or civil rights? What other leaders were similar
or different?
 Relationships (Cause/Effect): What were the causes that led
Malcolm X to develop his ideology or beliefs? What were the
effects?
 Testimony: What have other written about Malcolm X? What
does the research say?

17. Topic to choose from
Use any one of the prewriting techniques
(brainstorming, freewrite, clustering, topoi,
tagmemics) to generate ideas for one of the following
topics:
Someone that inspires me…
Some that I inspired…

18. Outlining
Outlining comes after you already have the ideas
for your paper.
It is a way of laying out your thoughts before you
begin writing.
Use bullet points to write down each concept you
want to mention in the order you want to mention
them.
For more detail, see the Writing Center’s handout
https://app.box.com/s/cu8wlcb3isb2faro51t0

19. Thesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses depend
on larger questions that I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work.
I. Two decisions described
A. Art history or chemistry
1. Professional considerations
2. Personal considerations
B. A third year of French?
1. Practical advantages of knowing a foreign language
2. Intellectual advantages
3. The issue of necessity
II. Definition of the problem
A. Decisions about occupation
B. Decisions about a kind of life to lead
III. Temporary resolution of the problem
A. To hold open a professional possibility: chemistry
B. To take advantage of cultural gains already made: French

20. Drafting
The draft is the first attempt to organize information.
Typically called a rough draft for a reason.
YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES!
Your essay structure does not need to be perfect.

21. Revising
Reworking your essay so that the ideas are expressed
in the best way possible.
Revising is not the editing stage.
Global Revision Local Revision
Content
Structure
Thesis
Strong supporting points
Grammar, spelling, etc.

22. Editing
Editing is eliminating punctuation, grammar, and
spelling mistakes.
Should be saved for the end of the writing process.
SpellCheck can be a false friend!

23. Checklist for Editing
Have you read your work aloud to listen for
problems?
Did you check every possible misspelling in a
dictionary?
Have you avoided run-ons?
Are you using verbs, pronouns, and modifiers
correctly?
Have you used your punctuation correctly?
Are your capital letters correct?