The Writing Process

The Writing Process

Quote from Joseph Pulitzeron Technical Writing “Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. “

Why do you need a writing process? It can help writers to • organize their thoughts. • avoid frustration. • use their time productively and efficiently.

The Writing Process Pre Writing Pre Writing Writing Writing Re Writing

Pre Writing Prepare to Write !

Pre Writing • Examine your purpose • Determine your goals • Consider your audience • Gather your data • Determine how the content will be provided

Examine your purpose • Why are you communicating ? • External Motivation • If someone asks you to write • Internal Motivation • If you write on your own

Determine your Goals • What is your reason for communicating? • Persuade an audience • Instruct an audience • Inform an audience of facts, concerns, or questions • Build trust by managing work relationships.

Consider your audience • What type of audience are you addressing in your communication? • Management • Sub ordinates • Co workers • Customer • Multi cultural group of individuals

Gather your data • Decide what you have to say • Brainstorming/Listing • Mind Mapping • Answering the reporters questions • Researching • Outlining • Organizational Charts

Brainstorming Brainstorming / Listing • All ideas are respected and recorded, no matter how wild. • Write down everything that comes to your mind; don’t worry about sorting out “good” and “bad” ideas. • Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. • E.g What can you do if you win one million dollars today?

Mapping • “Mapping,” sometimes called “semantic/ idea mapping” or “webbing,” is another way to organize your ideas. • Start with your topic in the center, and branch out from there with related ideas. • Use words and phrases, not complete sentences.

Instill a love of education in my children Eventually get a PhD education work Never stop learning My future Learn to love whatever work I am doing Make them a priority Stay at home while raising children family Use the skills I have learned in as many ways as possible Stay close to my in laws Raise healthy, happy children Example Map

Answering the Reporter’s Questions • To use questioning at its best, try projecting yourself into the role of a reporter. • What questions could you ask to elicit information from other people? • The traditional “five W’s and H” can be expanded to full-fledged questions. • Who? • What? • When? • Where? • Why? • How?

Doing Research • Using search engines • Literature and Magazines • Conducting interviews • Libraries

“Outlining” is a more organized form of pre-writing than the others we discussed. When you start placing ideas in order, you are beginning a scratch outline. It can be used after you have generated ideas through brainstorming or other pre-writing techniques. It works well for structured types of writing such as essays, thesis and reports. OUTLINE I. Introduction A. Grab attention B. State thesis II. Body A. Build points B. Develop ideas C. Support main claim III. Conclusion A. Reemphasize main idea Outlining

Example Outline I. Introduction: Internet chatting has advantages and disadvantages. II. Advantages a) meet people around the world b) not based on appearance III. Disadvantages a) can you trust them? b) may be too far away to meet in person IV. Conclusion: Some success stories, but too risky

Charting • Charting works very well for comparison/ contrast writing or examining advantages and disadvantages. • You can use many different kinds of charts, depending on your topic and the kind of writing you are doing.

Example Chart

Determine how the content will be provided • Decide which way will be best for communicating ? • Email • Memo • SMS • Web • Letter • Brochure • Newsletter • Etc

Writing Time to Write !

Writing • Organization • Organize the draft according to some logical sequence that your readers can follow easily. • Formatting • Format the content to allow for ease of access.

Re Writing Improve Your Writing

Re Writing • Revising • Editing • Proof reading

Revising • Review higher-order concerns: • Clear communication of ideas • Organization of paper • Paragraph structure • Strong introduction and conclusion

Is purpose clear? Is audience clear? Is thesis strong? Is thesis supported? Is tone appropriate? Transitions between ideas and paragraphs? Sentences smooth? Words vivid? Grammar? Punctuation? Spelling? Revision

Editing Strategy COPS C Capitals O Overall Appearance P Punctuation S Spelling COPS COPS COPS COPS

Proofreading • Review later-order concerns: • Spelling • Punctuation • Sentence structure • Documentation style

Proofreading tips • Slowly read your paper aloud. • Exchange papers with a friend. • NOTE: Spell check will not catch everything, and grammar checks are often wrong!

Let’s Revise !!

What we studied today? Pre Writing Writing Re Writing

Writing • Organization • Organize the draft according to some logical sequence that your readers can follow easily. • Formatting • Format the content to allow for ease of access.

Re Writing • Revising • Editing • Proof reading

The Writing Process