Chapter 17

1. Chapter 17 Writing as a Problem-Solving Process

2. How Experts Compose & Revise • In the early stages of writing, experienced writers typically discover what they are trying to say, often deepening and complicating their ideas rather than clarifying them. • Experienced writers keep revising their work until they feel it is ready to go public.

3. Multiple Drafts • A writer’s need for multiple drafts results partly from the limitations of memory. • Writing a draft captures ideas from your short-term memory and stores them on paper. When you reread these stored ideas you can note problem areas, think of new ideas, see material that doesn’t fit, recall additional information and so forth.

4. Revising to Change Ideas • Sometimes writing a draft leads a writer to reformulate the initial problem. • A writer’s ideas deepen or shift under pressure of new insights stimulated by the act of writing.

5. Revising to Clarify Audience & Purpose • As they draft, experienced writers as questions such as: • Who am I picturing as my readers? • What is my purpose in writing to them? • What effect do I want this piece to have? • How much background info will they need? • What tone and style are appropriate?

6. Revising to Clarify Structure • Whereas early drafts usually reflect the order in which writers conceived their ideas, later drafts are often reordered--sometimes radically--in consideration of readers’ needs. • Cues for the reader include point sentences, transitions, and forecasting statements.

7. Revising to Improve Gracefulness • Finally, writers have to get their grammar right, punctuate effectively, spell correctly, and compose sentences that are concise, clear, graceful, and pleasing to the ear. • Late in the revision process, experienced writers focus extensively on these matters.

8. Early in the Writing Process • Writers sense a question or problem. • Writers explore the problem, seeking focus. Writers gather data from various sources including readings, laboratory or field research, experience, conversation, and memory. • Writers compose a first draft.

9. Midway Through the Process • Writers begin to revise and reformulate. • Writers increasingly consider the needs of readers. • Writers seek feedback from readers. • Writers rewrite in response to feedback from readers.

10. Late in the Process • Writers begin to shift from discovery, shaping, and development to editing. • The writer’s sense of purpose and audience stabilizes and the ideas become increasingly clear clear, well organized, well developed. • Writers begin shifting their attention to the craft of writing.

11. Recognizing Typical Changes • Crossing out whole passages and rewriting. • Cutting and pasting; moving parts around. • Deletions. • Additions. • Recasting of sentences • Editing sentences to correct mistakes.

12. Reading Classmates’ Drafts • When you respond to a writer’s draft, learn to make readerly rather than writerly comments; describe your mental process in trying to understand the draft rather than pointing out problems or errors in the draft. • When you help a writer with a draft, your goal is both to point out where the draft needs more work and to brainstorm with the writer possible ways to improve the draft.

13. Practicing Composing Strategies • Use expressive writing for exploration. • Talk about your ideas. • Invent with research. • Schedule your time. • Exchange drafts with others. • Discover what works best for you. • Revise on double-spaced hard copy. • Save correctness for last.