The writing process involves several steps: pre-writing such as brainstorming ideas; organizing ideas with an outline; writing a first draft without worrying about grammar; revising the content and organization; and editing for spelling, grammar, and punctuation in the final draft. The goal is to move from general ideas to a specific thesis through multiple drafts that develop and support the central argument.

1. Is it hard to write?

2. The Writing Process
Steps in Writing an Essay
Revising and
Writing the
Editing
first draft
Pre-Writing
Planning and Final Draft!
Organizing

3. Introduction
What is the writing process ?
Writing an essay takes time. That’s why writing is often
referred to as a process. In other words, there are several
steps to go through before you have a complete essay ready
to turn in for a grade. In this lesson we will talk about those
steps. They are:  Pre-Writing
 Organizing
 Writing the First Draft
 Revising and Editing
 Final Copy

4. Pre-Writing
Step One
Pre-writing literally means, “before writing.” Before you
actually begin writing your essay, you will need to do the
following things:
 choose a topic to write on
 brainstorm or generate ideas for
your topic
 focus in on central ideas

5. Organizing
Step Two
Making an outline can help you organize what you want to
write. This is a rough plan for your essay and can help make
the process of writing much easier.
Essay Outline
I. Introduction Thesis: _____________________
II. Body 1. Topic Sentence: _____________
- supporting idea
- supporting idea
2. Topic Sentence: ____________
- supporting idea
- supporting idea
3. Topic Sentence: ____________
- supporting idea
- supporting idea
III. Conclusion

6. Writing the First Draft
Step Three
After getting ideas and making an outline of your essay,
it is time to start writing the essay. When you begin writing
your rough draft, try to remember the following guidelines.
 Don’t worry about writing the ‘perfect’ paper
the first time.
 Your goal in writing a rough draft is to develop
and support the ideas listed in your outline.
 Don’t focus on spelling and grammar as you
write your rough draft. You can check this later
in the writing process.

7. Revising and Editing
Step Four
After you write your first draft, go back over it and look for
ways to improve your essay.
Revision Editing
Spelling,
Content and Grammar,
Organization Punctuation,
etc.

8. The Final Copy
Step Five
The last step is turning in your essay to be graded. Look
at the guidelines below for turning in the final draft of your
essay.
 word-processed
 all new paragraphs indented five spaces
 8 ½ by 11 inch white paper
 double spaced, size 12 font
 one inch margins on all sides

9. Pre-Writing
How do you organize your ideas when you
are preparing to write?
• Brainstorming • Asking Questions
• Discussing • Outlining
• Free Writing • Charting
• Concept mapping • Timeline

10. Homework (1 whole sheet)
How does your school life
influence your future?
What is the importance of
the school to your life?
Why do you need to go to
school?
Why do you go to school?

11. Creating Your Title
• Your essay’s title should:
– Be original
– Be a reasonable length
– Reflect your topic
– Be lively and attention-getting
• Your title should NOT:
– Be generic/repeat the assignment
– Be in ALL CAPS
– Be in boldface, “quotation marks,” underlined, or
italicized
– Be followed by a period

12. Write Your Introduction
• Your introductory paragraph should do the
following:
– Be a minimum of 4-6 sentences
– Move from general to specific, with the thesis as the
last sentence in the intro
– Get the reader’s attention
– Set the tone for the rest of the essay
• Strategies for developing an Introduction include
– Providing background information
– Telling a personal anecdote
– Beginning with a quotation
– Using an opposite
– Asking a question

13. Thesis Statement
• The thesis statement expresses the MAIN
IDEA of your essay, the central point that your
essay develops/supports.
• Your thesis SHOULD:
– Accurately predict your essay’s direction,
emphasis, and scope
– Make no promises that the essay will not fulfill
– Be direct and straightforward.

14. Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentence
• A Topic Sentence expresses the main idea of the body
paragraph.
• Begin each body paragraph with a Topic Sentence that
– Narrows the focus of the paragraph
– Accurately predicts the direction of the paragraph
– Refers back to the Thesis statement
• Each BP should contain:
– Topic Sentence—main idea of BP
– Primary Support—explanation
– Secondary Support—examples

15. Body Paragraphs continued
• Body paragraphs must have
– Unity—everything refers back to main point
– Support—examples and details
– Coherence—all points connect to form a whole;
one point leads to another
– Concise - brief

16. Write Your Conclusion
• The concluding paragraph should
– Contain a minimum of 4 sentences
– Refer back to the main point, but not simply repeat
the thesis (rephrase/restate)
– NOT introduce any new ideas
– Create a sense of closure
– Call to action

17. Assignment
1. Bring your formal theme.
2. On a whole sheet of paper,
front - prewriting activity
back - first draft

18. First Draft
First paragraph:
Introduction
Thesis statement (last
sentence)
Second/Third/Forth Paragraph:
Topic Sentence.
Explain. Give examples
Fifth Paragraph:
Conclusion